Quick impressions from a few runs on the new 112 foundation ski which is essentially a storied Wailer 112 in the new Foundation construction, heavier and cheaper than the regular 112RP
Wailer 112 was and remains a huge hit for DPS, so looks like the extended it to the mid-range Foundation line which is supposed to be a more mass market product. The snow feel- well, it's a Wailer, so it skis spretty nicely especially with the newer shape that doe not have quite as much rocker (it's still a lot of rocker though, it's a Wailer...). You get all the standard Wailer goodness, playfulness, quickness, and good edge hold for a wide ski. It's more damp than a regular wailer and feels certainly heavier. I did notice a bit less of torsional stiffness, which the regular Hybrid or Nano DPC construction have in spades. I have no doubt that it will ski powder like a normal wailer, which means automatic turns, non-hooky tip and general feeling of invincibility.
The question Phil and I discussed was whether it's the one to buy if you only ski powder at the resort. The thought was that the increased dampness is just about makes it a perfect ski for that purpose. Then I got home and stated to think...one thing is that the increased dampness would make the most difference at high speed, at which point I'd rather be on an entirely different ski anyway. I'd rather have a lighter ski with SOME damping than to be on a heavier ski or on a much lighter ski that bounces around. The Hybrid maybe that Goldilocks model, not too light but not too heavy either. Now, if you put price into the equation, the decision gets a lot more complicated, the F112 is all the powder ski an average Joe Good Skier may need and hopefully it won't break the bank as the other DPS models tend.
Wailer 112 was and remains a huge hit for DPS, so looks like the extended it to the mid-range Foundation line which is supposed to be a more mass market product. The snow feel- well, it's a Wailer, so it skis spretty nicely especially with the newer shape that doe not have quite as much rocker (it's still a lot of rocker though, it's a Wailer...). You get all the standard Wailer goodness, playfulness, quickness, and good edge hold for a wide ski. It's more damp than a regular wailer and feels certainly heavier. I did notice a bit less of torsional stiffness, which the regular Hybrid or Nano DPC construction have in spades. I have no doubt that it will ski powder like a normal wailer, which means automatic turns, non-hooky tip and general feeling of invincibility.
The question Phil and I discussed was whether it's the one to buy if you only ski powder at the resort. The thought was that the increased dampness is just about makes it a perfect ski for that purpose. Then I got home and stated to think...one thing is that the increased dampness would make the most difference at high speed, at which point I'd rather be on an entirely different ski anyway. I'd rather have a lighter ski with SOME damping than to be on a heavier ski or on a much lighter ski that bounces around. The Hybrid maybe that Goldilocks model, not too light but not too heavy either. Now, if you put price into the equation, the decision gets a lot more complicated, the F112 is all the powder ski an average Joe Good Skier may need and hopefully it won't break the bank as the other DPS models tend.
). What I did like the most about the F112 was it's playfulness and I liked it better than the other 112's I have skied, enough to the point that this would be on my short list of powder skis that I woudl choose. The 184 was perfect for me, Alex felt it was short, but he skis the 112 in a 190, so that is understandable. 
Such a fashionista ! 