REVIEW: DP Lotus 120

[Yossarian]

Aight! Got another AM sneak attack in on the DP 120 Lotus 190cm Flex 2.
Gawd is this a bad bad pair of boards! Shithot fun. I don't have a lot to add, but here's a couple thoughts...

This past weekend I was at the Str8line camp at Snowbird and Alta. The first two days were spent on hardpack and windbuff, getting my technique thrashed and then rebuilt properly. Sunday and Monday the payoff came, and a nice wet storm came in and laid down around a foot of thick, creamy pow. I spent all four days on the one pair of skis I brought - 190cm Gotamas.

Today, I hit the tail end of the same storm here in CO, at Breckenridge. 6 inches of fluffy new snow overnight, and despite the fact that I intended to bring out the DP 120s only for the big days, I figured it wouldn't hurt to push them around again in variable snow.

First run, boots unbuckled, top to bottom on the super smooth Peak 8 groomer which had been covered by the new snow. OoooooOOooh! Sublime. The float on these babies is awesome! But were they really significantly better than the Goats would have felt in the same? Honestly? Hard to say. They were certainly as FUN, and maybe a little more surfy feeling. So, it was on to more interesting terrain.

Up the T-bar to Horseshoe Bowl. Light SW winds loaded parts of the bowl nicely, and after getting off the top, I tucked back in to the left under the ridgeline to grab the good stuff. Focusing on all the teachings of the past weekend, I pushed my hands forward into an aggressive body position, widened my stance slightly, and dropped into the soft bumps at the top. Bump, bump, bump, rail, rail, smear, carve, and I'm down to the shoulder above the gut of the bowl.

Affirmation #1: In any kind of moderately soft snow surface, the Lotus 120s are just as easy to ski and make quick turns and short radius cuts as the boards in the 100mm underfoot range. The super light swing weight, high torsional stiffness underfoot, and progressive tip flex allow this huge ski to manage variable terrain very well for the girth.

Now I'm standing on the low shoulder, with 500 vertical of reasonably pitched pow below me. It's far from bottomless - when I drop in, I do scrape - but these float me more than a smaller ski would. When I do hit bottom, the mild sidecut, torsional stiffness, and pintailed and half-twinned tail shape allow me to release the turns easily without getting thrown off by the transition from pow to hardpack and back.

Affirmation #2: I don't think that the 120s handled the pow on crust any better than the Goats, but they certainly didn't handle it any worse, and when I DIDN'T hit bottom, there's no question the ride was softer.

Four turns down the barely noticeable sub-ridge running down into the bowl, and I spot a launching pad another 100 feet ahead. The little 5-10 foot rock that everyone hits in the middle of the bowl has a perfectly packed take off, and only one set of tracks. So much for warm up runs. I slash another couple turns, then hit the throttle. Fuck it, let's take this with some speed! Final turn, line it up, hands forward, let the boards run. I come FLYING off the little hit, far faster than I'm usually prone to taking even small airs (I'm kind of a pussy about hucking sometimes), sail through the air, and rocket out the bottom of the bowl. I barely notice the landing.

[Yossarian]

(continued)

Affirmation #3: I think this is maybe the biggie. The most noticeable distinguishing factor in my testing so far (sample size = 2). Whereas performance in variable terrain is not noticeably better or worse than the Goats, the Lotus 120s provide a distinctively superior platform for high speed/fast air landings. The stability underfoot and in the forebody of the ski, combined with the tapered and rockered tip shape and progressively softer rising flex pattern really allow you to DRIVE forward without getting bucked into the back seat on the takeoff, nor risk burying a tip or having a ski yanked sidewise on the landing. You can really PUSH forward through the approach, takeoff, air, and landing. My Goats are mounted a little forward, both for more all-around performance (as they are my all-mountain ski ), and for a little more centered feel in the air (because I've always struggled to get out of the backseat in the air). Even so, the Lotus 120s feel better in this situation. Because of the design, I find I can stay in a much more aggressive body positioning throughout, accelerating and looking ahead through the landing and into the next turn instead of preparing to recover from the drop. Perhaps for a better skier, this wouldn't make a difference. But for me, it's a sweet feeling.

And just to prove myself right, I go back and do it three more times before I go on to find more soft snow.

Day 2, and I still give the 120s two big thumbs up.

[Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo]

^^^I'm so jealous, thanks for a more extended review. Mine finally arrived last night and I couldn't get them mounted in time for all the snow we got for today. They'll be just sitting around waiting for the next dump.

[Raps]

Thanks for the review Yoss - very interesting cause i'm thinking of adding the 120s to my quiver right next to my Goats as well..........seems like they are similar enough buttttt they could be worth it

[MakersTeleMark]

Rontele has 120's, it's snowing in Colorado, and he's in Chicago (where it is also snowing which must constantly remind him of what he is missing). Ah haa!

[Deep Days]

Max\DeepDays has some.

Bah! Wish I had the skis for tomorrow! Would be a great test day (except for the whole semi-bum knee thing).

I sent Rob at DP an email today in hopes I'd get an update on the shipping status. I'll definitely post a review of the Women's Model 120 as soon as I get a chance to spend a couple days on them. Fingers are crossed that that day is soon!

Very VERY stoked. I knew these boards would be sweet in the un-/barely tracked stuff, but what I was unsure of was the high speed performance through crud. This has upped my confidence and made me more excited for the potentially inevitable: that I will ski some crud at high speeds on the Lotus-jr. and will smile a big smile.

Nice writing in the review, btw, Yoss. Poetic language can apparently help in an objective/scientific style review. Stoked to hear I'll have a crutch for dropping airs when my knee is stronger.

[upallnight]

that I will ski some crud at high speeds on the Lotus-jr. and will smile a big smile.

Stoked to hear I'll have a crutch for dropping airs when my knee is stronger.

And I hope we won't have to hear an "i was going faster than my skills allow and am now out for (another) x weeks" statement afterwards... ;-)

My 120s are still sitting here. I was going to drill them tonight but was too tired.

[Yossarian]

And finally, P.S., regarding durability and construction:

After 20 runs or so, I do have some very small topsheet nicks at the edges, however this is very normal for my skis and skiing. The small (2"long) area of delam topsheet up at the beginning of the shovel on one side of one ski appears to be staying put, and I plan to epoxy it down later today or tomorrow. Seems to be no big deal, just one little bubble, easily fixed.

Most importantly, I'm happy to report that the bases and edges seem to be quite bomber. I raked to a stop over a some rocks later in the day, and then sidestepped my way down through the buried scree-field, and I have only very minor scratches in the base, and no damage at all to the edges.

On a cosmetic note, the sidewalls are beautiful.

[marshalolson]

Rontele has 120's, it's snowing in Colorado, and he's in Chicago (where it is also snowing which must constantly remind him of what he is missing). Ah haa!

they are also sitting in my garage, taunting me into mounting them alpine and skiing them for him.

[pechelman]

yoss, seriously nice reviews and thoughts there about the skis.

[Yossarian]

Post Post Script: the Goats are more fun on the groomers. It should be obvious, but the 120s are for POW and VERY SOFT SNOW. They are not a replacement for a ski that's fun to ride on hard/packed snow conditions. Can they manage it? Of course. Would I choose them for that? No way.

50%-50% groomer/pow, I'd still go Goat.

[Rontele]

they are also sitting in my garage, taunting me into mounting them alpine and skiing them for him.

Don't you have two pairs of Lotuses? I am hoping to finally mount them in March when I am back for a while and ski them

and yes, it is snowing in Chicago, it is cold. there is nothing to do with this snow and I am over it.

[KANUTTEN]

Me: 5'10" 175lbs, pretty strong skier. Everyday ski is a 190cm Gotama. First day as well on the 190cm Lotus 120 Flex 2, mounted +.75cm with s916s.

I just got my Lotus 120 flex 2 warranty skis. First impression; NIIIIIICE

The colour looks black to start with, but it actually is dark dark purple. Almost black, but not quite. And also the topsheet is glossy as opposed to last years model. It is actually quite good, as snow on sunny days sticks to a non-glossy surface. And of course the bamboo vertical sidewalls look nice as well.

Flexing them; Very nice smooth even flex, a little bit more flexible in the front. Actually, I didn't feel that much difference between last years and this years model (although the front of the skis are supposed to be about 25% stiffer than last years model).

But I have a question relating to the mounting. The mid mark on the new skis are 6.3 cm further to the back than on last years model. Mounting on last years models were recommended 2.5cm back from mid mark. This year recommended mounting is 0.75 cm to the front of the (new) mid mark. That implies that the recommended mount on this years model is about 3 cms further back than recommended last year!!!! Mid mark + 0.75cm looks too far back for me, also. I felt that last years model worked really well, but maybe the mount was a bit more forward than I expected. Never experienced any tip dive though, so I have been happy.

So why should I mount the skis 3 cm further back on this years model??? The only reason would be if there has been a dramatic change in how these skis are produced, and I haven't heard of any such changes. The saying is that the tip is a little bit stiffer. That might warrant mounting them a little bit further backward, but 3 cm sounds too much to me. Also, I couldn't really feel a big change in the flex. I am a bit puzzled. I wonder if the skis I have have en error on the topsheet that makes the midmark position flawed relative to other skis from this year. I really don't want to mount the skis without further comfirmation of where exactly it should be.

So my question is, how far from the back of the ski is the actual midmark on the ski (lotus 120 - 190 cm), with tape held in a straight line from the back tip of the ski? And what is the best place to mount relative to this (+0.75cm)?

MarshalOlson, Yossarian, db reps or anyone else, please chime in....

[marshalolson]

dude, i think the +.75cm skis better than last years -3cm.

the shovel has been slightly stiffened by increasing the core profile, so you want a more rearward position to compensate.

[Dirk Diggler]

I just got my Lotus 120 flex 2 warranty skis. First impression; NIIIIIICE

MarshalOlson, Yossarian, db reps or anyone else, please chime in....

Yeah maybe you guys could chime in on why no one will answer my emails about my warranty skis. My emails to Sherry and Robs addresses have gone unanswered for weeks and the one I sent to drake was returned as a bad address. Anyone?

[Yossarian]

KAN - I think Marsha is going skiing this AM. Unfortunately, I'm not; I've got to work. When I get a chance here, I'll do a from the tip measurement. I went with DPs +.75 from the mark, and I am thrilled so far. Of course, I have no basis of comparison whatsoever.

I was going to mention the topsheet color, thanks for that. You're right, it's not black, it's blackish/purplish in the light. Like super dark eggplant almost. Pretty damn cool. Looks really good with the red stripe and my red s916s.

Dirk - I have no association, and no clue. All of my emails were always returned within a week or so.

[KANUTTEN]

This place is just amazing; 15 minutes after posting there are two replies to my question!!! I will prolly have to wait for 3 days before I hear anything from dp.

Yos and marshal; you both go with the mm+0.75. Just looking at my skis though the midmark looks really far back. Haven't compared to other skis yet, but it just looks far back. Even though it sounds like a remote possibility, I wonder if there is an error in the alignment of my skis top sheet. I really really don't want to have this skis incorrectly mounted. If any of you guys can find it in you to measure the distance from back tip to measured midmark, it would be GREAT!

[Yossarian]

Little bit hard to measure with bindings on and without a flat tape, but it looks like about 43 and 1/8 inches from front tip to mid-mark on my boards? +/- 1/8 inch. Measured on the slight diagonal from actual tip height down to topsheet mark.

Hope that gets you in the range well enough to know whether you're looking at a mis-aligned topsheet, or not.

EDIT: tail to mid-mark from tail tip down to actual mid-mark looks to be just shy of 31 inches, 30 7/8 -ish perhaps. 78cm or so from the tail? Give or take.

[KANUTTEN]

EDIT: tail to mid-mark from tail tip down to actual mid-mark looks to be just shy of 31 inches, 30 7/8 -ish perhaps. 78cm or so from the tail? Give or take.

thanks for info, but this ^^ I didn't quite understand. Is "actual midmark" = midmark as defined on skis or midmark as in "midmark+0.75cm"? Also I don't understand how this measuring method differs from the straight line method I indicated. Are you maybe measuring from where the twin tip starts (where it starts to turn up)? If it is easier to measure with tape following skis, then that is ok too. I just have to have a good way of measuring myself.

Inches does my head in

Ok - I'll prolly manage that much...

[Yossarian]

Sorry. That was a not very carefully done but attempted straight line measurement from the actual tail (the end of the turned up end of the ski) or tip to the 0 mark on the top of the topsheet, and not to the mid-sole of where my boot was mounted.

Don't have a metric tape around, so the conversion roundoff adds a little more error.

Still, if when you measure a straight, stretched line between tail tip and 0 mark, and you don't get something within 1-2 cms of what I said...

If you really need, I can do this more carefully. Got to run out the door for now though.

Back in a bit.

[marshalolson]

Yeah maybe you guys could chime in on why no one will answer my emails about my warranty skis. My emails to Sherry and Robs addresses have gone unanswered for weeks and the one I sent to drake was returned as a bad address. Anyone?

did you send your ski into oregon as per instructed?

you might try administration AT dp skis dot com

stephen and rob are on the way to alaska at the moment

[covert]

Massive review. Wow.

I have ~14 days on my 120s now in everything from bottomless facets to stiff windslab to fresh pow to variable semi-skier-compacted-keeps-you-honest whatever.

Agreed, this is one of the best, most versatile skis on the market for the expert that will push the limits of his/her tools.

I began having some durability issues after ~6 days. Sidewalls and top-sheets though beautiful are showing some wear. Several large hits in sidewalls from "pilot error," probably skis clacking together or back of pick-up-abuse were alarming initially but have not deteriorated further. Top-sheet is delaminating in one tail and a bit in one tip but shows no signs of further deterioration with continued use....so far.

Bases have taken some solid hits. Full depth on two edges for 3-6cms. Edges held strong. So far.

I have about five days touring on these skis and good god they are a beautiful AT rig. Top-sheets hold snow occasionally but in general shed accumulation with little effort. The light weight combined with a chubby profile is a fucking dream come true.

There is virtually no swing weight. In variable (zipper crust, bumps, etc.)conditions i find myself simply using terrain features to pop a touch of air and swing the skis around while in the air. I've never encountered a ski that made hop turns so effortlessly.

They ski hard pack conditions just fine as far as i'm concerned. If you are looking for a ski that can do it all while you seek the pow and then excel when you get there the Lotus 120 is it.

Congrats Stefan. I hope they score as high on durability as they do in the rest of the categories.

Also have a pair of Wailer 105s w/ a Dynafit Vertical FT binder that has not been tested yet. Needless to say I am optimistic.

pray for snow...

[Dirk Diggler]

Marshal,
I was told to ski my skis until the new ones were available. I've never been told to send them to OR. The last communication I rec'd was from a Sherry Davis updating that they were still waiting on certain models and that I would receive another update. I've emailed all the people involved on multiple occasions to ask them when to send my skis in and got nothing.

You and I discussed this situation by PM and you never mentioned sending them to OR. You told me to contact Stephen to see if I could wait to send them back after I rec'd the replacements. I immediately emailed him that request and got no reply. Sounds like I got fucked.

[marshalolson]

hmmm... sounds like poor communication on stephen's end more than you getting fucked.

i'll give him a call and see what the deal is. can you pm me you address and phone number for me to pass on to stephen? oh, and which skis are you on? model and flex?

sorry if i don;t remember our exact conversation... my bad

[Dirk Diggler]

PM sent Marshal. Thanks for the help. I thought I was just waiting until the new customers got there skis since my pair was still skiable.


edit to add: Lotus 120 190 flex 2