These two ski series are akin to celebrities of our new collection. They’ve basked in the spotlight on the world stage with some of the finest athletes of the Collective. At freeride and freestyle comps, athletes have taken home a range of hardware on these skis to fill their trophy cabinets. Yeah, they’re twin-tip skis, but that is where the similarities mostly end.
The next thing to decide is which one is right for you.
What’s the Studio Series?
The Studio Series is the result of two decades of close athlete cooperation. Every model has been developed, tested and refined with Faction athletes. The result is a precise, supportive series built for skiers who value direct feedback, dependable edge hold and stability, ranging across park, pipe, all-mountain and freeride terrain.
The Studio is the more precise and supportive of the two series. Its stiffer tips and tails, full-length carbon stringers and carbon/rubber stomp pads provide direct feedback, stability and impact resistance. The Studio 0 Pro and Studio 1 use a symmetrical twin-tip shape for park and pipe, while the Studio 2, 3 and 4, use a slightly more directional twin shape for all-mountain and freeride performance
GOOD FOR
- Skiers looking for a stable, supportive feel at higher speeds.
- Big airs and heavy landings.
- Strong pop, precise edge hold and quick response.
AVOID IF
- You want a softer, more relaxed ride.
- You want the easiest ski to press and butter.
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What’s the Prodigy Series?
The Prodigy Series has made an impression on freeskiing in a way not many skis can claim. It’s a freestyle-inspired all-mountain ski series that’s opened doors for countless riders, and yet is a choice ski for those at the top of their game: to create moments in competitions that make time stand still. It’s well known for its a progressive flex with easy turn initiation and directional shape.
It suits skiers who want to butter, pivot, ski switch and add new skills to their arsenal. For picking up new things, you may want an easygoing ride feel - with Prodigy, this comes in buckets.
GOOD FOR
- Playful all-mountain freestyle skiing.
- Butters and side hits
- Skiing backwards – AKA “switch”.
- Smooth, progressive flex and easy turn initiation.
AVOID IF
- You want the more supportive, precise feel of the Studio.
- You prefer a stiffer, more locked-in feel.
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Not all twin-tip skis are made equal…
Aside from the familiar turned-up tips and tails that give these skis their names, the shape of the ski also massively influences how the ski feels in riding in either direction. You can group any twin-tip ski into one of two types; symmetrical or directional.
Symmetrical (Studio 0 Pro and Studio 1)
As the name suggests, these skis are identical in the tip and tail, with the line of symmetry down the center of the ski. On a symmetrical twin-tip, you’re certain that the ski will behave exactly the same, running forwards as well as backwards - a certainty that is needed when you’re riding pipe and park.
Directional (Prodigy Series and Studio 2, 3 and 4)
These skis retain the upturned shape in the tips and tails, meaning they still ride great in switch. However, you’ll find that the tip is wider than the tail. This favors forward performance, which is something you’ll be grateful for when navigating steeps and technical fall lines. The magic, however, is that you’ll still be able to land those occasional natural features in switch.
Let’s talk about bending skis
A ski’s flex - how it bends - is a critical part of figuring out how a ski behaves when turning, or how it feels working your way through variable snow, including ice, corn and powder. This is where the Studio and Prodigy Series differ the most in how they feel.
Studio Series: Supportive and Built for Impact
The Studio uses stiffer tips and tails with more flex underfoot. This creates a stable platform for landings, helps absorb vibration and allows the ski to load up for strong pop.
Studio's flex pattern.
Prodigy Series: Smooth and Progressive
The Prodigy Series uses a progressive flex, with stability underfoot and a smoother flex through the tips and tails. This supports edge hold while keeping the skis intuitive for butters, presses and variable snow.
Prodigy's flex pattern.
What’s inside each ski
Both series use wood cores and fiberglass to balance pop, flex and vibration absorption. The biggest construction difference is how the two series use carbon to reinforce the ride feel.
Prodigy Series features a playful, progressive build
The Prodigy keeps its construction straightforward to retain an easy, maneuverable feel. The Prodigy 1 and 2 add a carbon/rubber stomp pad underfoot for impact strength, stability and vibration absorption. The Prodigy 3 and 4 use a lightweight poplar and fiberglass core without the Studio’s full-length carbon stringers.
The Prodigy ski construction.
Studio is supported with carbon fiber in its core
The Studio adds 8 to 12 full-length, unidirectional carbon stringers around the wood core, plus a carbon/rubber stomp pad underfoot. These reinforcements add strength, stability and impact resistance without unnecessary bulk.
The Studio ski construction.
The Narrowest of the Bunch: Studio 0 Pro and Prodigy 0
The two narrowest models share a freestyle-focused feel but are designed for very different skiers.
Studio 0 Pro is at home on the halfpipe
It’s made with an 83 mm waist, symmetrical twin-tip shape, carbon stringers and underfoot reinforcement. Halfpipe skiing demands a huge amount of precision, edge hold and durability, and this ski is selected by world-class halfpipe athletes for that reason.
Prodigy 0 is the entry point to freeskiing
With an 85 mm waist, lightweight Fusion wood core and sidewall construction underfoot, the Prodigy 0 offers an accessible platform for younger progressing freestyle skiers, and for those looking to make their first steps into freeskiing
So, Which One Should You Choose?
CHOOSE THE STUDIO SERIES IF
- You want a precise, supportive ski that rewards confident input.
- You want the confidence of a stiffer, poppy ski for big airs and heavy landings.
- You want a symmetrical shape in the Studio 0 Pro or Studio 1 for a balanced feel when skiing switch.
- You want a high-performance twin tip for park, pipe, all-mountain or freeride terrain.
CHOOSE THE PRODIGY SERIES IF
- You want a more accessible, less demanding feel.
- You want a ski that progresses with you as your freestyle skills develop.
- You prefer a smoother flex for butters and presses.
- You want a playful twin tip for park laps, side hits and all-mountain skiing.
Choosing Your Width
Once you have chosen the feel you want, select the width based on where you ski. The narrower models focus on park and hard snow, while the wider models add float and off-piste capability.
Go narrow : The Studio 0 Pro is a dedicated halfpipe ski, while the Studio 1 is built for high-level park skiing. The Prodigy 0 is the most accessible freestyle option for intermediate skiers, and the Prodigy 1 combines park performance with precise handling on hard snow.
Go for a medium width : Choose a 2 for the broadest mix of park and all-mountain use. Move to a 3 for more float and a stronger off-piste focus while retaining a freestyle feel.
Go wide The Studio 4 (122 mm) and Prodigy 4 (116 mm) are powder-focused twin tips, built for float, smearing and playful skiing in deep snow.
