Ride Impressions

Riding the Dispatch 110 is a tale of two skis, and it all comes down to snow conditions. This one shows its true colors when the snow stacks up.

Groomers:

My first outing on the Dispatch 110 was a classic Spring day at Alpental with conditions ranging from firm to sticky to slushy. On barely softened groomed surfaces, it was immediately clear that the Dispatch 110 won’t be winning any awards for its carving ability. This shouldn’t come as a surprise for a 27m radius ski with minimal camber, but it confirmed my suspicion there are better options out there for all mountain resort riding. The ski takes some effort to engage on edge, and once there, a fair amount of concentration to hold through the turn without washing out. It also lacks the snappy, energetic feel I look for in a fun carver. On firm snow, the ski has a somewhat dead, planky feeling underfoot, which I put down to the stout flex and tiny sliver of camber. Camber helps give a ski pop and energy, and this didn’t have much of either.

Things improved as the sun strengthened and the snow became more forgiving. Growing piles of slush allowed the Dispatch 110 to showcase its dampness and composure blasting through chop and chunder. I’m a firm believer that mass is not always a bad thing in a ski, and K2’s Titanal Hex Beam construction strikes a great balance between weight and performance. The Dispatch 110 never felt floppy or chattery, and nor was it ever deflected or knocked of course by heavy snow - seriously impressive for a sub 1800g ski. Nevertheless, Day 1 left me feeling unfulfilled. The Dispatch 110 felt too much like hard work on firm snow, and never quite veered into “fun” territory as things softened up. That all changed on Day 2.

Powder:

April was kind to the PNW. A series of monster storms slammed into the Cascades, piling multiple feet of snow on the tail end of an otherwise disappointing season. It was ideal testing grounds for the Dispatch 110, and a few turns in 12” - 18” of fresh snow turned this review on its head. The Dispatch 110 is a revelation in powder - a whole different animal. Where before the ski felt unwieldy, lifeless, and one dimensional, suddenly it felt loose, effortless, and brimming with possibility. It was easy to pivot and schmear turns, and even the stiffer flex felt great, giving the ski a precise, responsive character that still felt nice and smooth when suspended in deep powder. The long, straight sidecut and ample rocker put me firmly in control of my ride, and the tapered tails meant the ski never got hung up in the deep. I harvested fresh turns until my legs gave out, happy to have been enlightened.

Soft Chop:

I’m a big fan of leftovers. You’ll often find me rooting around in the fridge for the remains of yesterday’s dinner, and in the trees hunting for yesterday’s pow. In soft, chopped up powder, I tend to enjoy skis that hit the sweet spot between power and playfulness. In these conditions, the Dispatch 110 lost some of the maneuverability it displayed in 3D snow, but was still capable of slashing turns and blowing through soft piles of snow with ease. I appreciated the damp, stable feel, and never felt like I had to slow down and carefully pick my way through the chop. With that said, I generally prefer a more versatile, agile shape for this kind of skiing. If the snow is still good and soft, I’m out there trying to squeeze the juice and enjoy every turn. On the Dispatch 110, traversing groomers and navigating tight trees to find hidden stashes can feel more like filler rather than moments to be enjoyed in their own right.

Overall Impression:

It’s clear that the magic of the Dispatch 110 lies in its shape, and the way that shape interacts with deeper snow. You don’t need tons of sidecut to have a good time, and in powder its absence can be an asset that improves directional stability and control. Get the Dispatch 110 in the right conditions and it all comes together with a pleasingly loose, pivoty feel that still has the guts to charge. To be sure, this is not an easygoing all mountain ski, and those looking for a do-it-all resort daily driver may want to look elsewhere. It is, however, an excellent soft snow ripper, and skiers who regularly dabble in 6+ inches of fresh will find a lot to love. Weighing in at 1750g in a 184, the Dispatch 110 feels light on the feet, and is more than capable of doing the business in a midwinter touring rig. My setup included the Salomon Shift bindings, but I’m confident that a lightweight tech binding would work well for those spending more time in the backcountry.

Rating: ☆☆☆☆

From the Brand

Introducing the all new Dispatch Collection

 

When backcountry conditions get spicy, you'll be glad you picked the Dispatch 110. A mid-fat waist width and our all-new Titanal Hex Beam construction make this ski the most versatile in the Dispatch line, while the Steadfast Base and Uni-Directional Flax work together to create dependable stability. Long and variable pursuits are no match for this confidence-inspiring ski.

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