Editor's Note, 27 September 2026: New review from our Whistler Blackcomb test week.
A surfy, pivot-anywhere soft-snow ski that feels twitchy on long groomer turns, at a premium price. It averages 78 out of 100 across our six ratings in our best all-mountain skis guide.
Amazon does not sell the Kaizen 100. The button goes to the 2025 DPS Wailer 100 with bindings, the ski the Kaizen replaced. It is not the ski we tested: the Wailer used DPS's older, more rigid carbon construction.
Most Playful Premium Ski
DPS Kaizen 100
- Status: New for 2026, replacing the Wailer 100
- Weight: About 1,850 g per ski (179 cm)
- Construction: Split ash and poplar core, carbon and fiberglass hybrid
- Best for: Playful skiers in soft snow and trees
- Sizes on Amazon: Listings are size-specific, check the length
Bottom Line : A surfy, pivot-anywhere soft-snow ski that feels twitchy on long groomer turns, at a premium price.
Pros
- Pivots through trees effortlessly
- Surfy float in soft snow
- Great in bumps
Cons
- Premium price
- Twitchy on long groomer turns
How It Skied
DPS dropped its pure, rigid carbon build for a carbon and fiberglass hybrid. Tom and Libby hiked out to the Blackcomb Glacier on them, and the big rocker and short 15 m turn radius made them feel like surfing. Libby could pivot them through tight trees with a flick of the ankles.
The Downside
It is a premium-priced ski, and James found the short turn radius twitchy and nervous when he tried long GS turns on groomers.
Who It Suits
Best for: playful skiers in soft snow and trees.
Compare With
- Völkl M7 Mantra: strong, forward-driving experts.
- Blizzard Rustler 9: freeriders who smear, surf and pop.
- Armada Declivity 92 Ti: carvers on firm snow.
See all ten in our best all-mountain skis of 2026/2027 guide.
Our Testers
This review was edited by Sean Williams and tested at Whistler Blackcomb by our lead tester and ski crew.
- Sean Williams, Editor-in-Chief. Sean built the team of researchers and testers behind our reviews and edits every guide. His rule: we say what we actually found.
- Ryan Williams, Lead Tester. An aggressive, heavy charger who hunts for steep, punishing terrain. Ryan has led our field tests from Whistler Blackcomb to the shore of Lake Louise.
- James Warburton, Tester. On skis since he was 3 and an ex-racer, James drives gear hard and has no patience for anything that lets go. He also tested our fat bikes at Lake Tahoe.
- Libby Louise, Tester. An expert freerider with several seasons behind her, Libby would rather surf, smear and pop off features than straight-line. She also tested our fat bikes at Lake Tahoe.
- Tom, Tester. A strong advanced skier who loves bowls and glades.
- Amy, Tester. A progressing intermediate who wants gear that builds confidence without exhausting her legs.
- The wider crew. Intermediate resort skiers who give us the everyday-skier view.
