Ski: Dynastar MFree 99 2023
Reviewer height/weight: 5’9, 145lbs
Ski weights (per ski): 1991/1999g
Length skied: 179
Actual length (with straight tape): 177.8
Dimensions: 128-99-120
Mounted: -2.5 cm from true center
Bindings: Tyrolia Attack 17
Locations: Sunshine Village, Zermatt, Saas-Fee
Conditions skied: Powder, slush, deep slush, park, steep lines
Days Skied: 7
The Dynastar MFree 99 is marketed towards “fans of fast-paced descents, kick turns between pine trees and wild sessions beside the piste can now find their perfect ski.” In other words, it should be a freeride ski with a smidge of fun, an accessible freeride ski, and a daily driver. So I was somewhat surprised, at the NS ski test, to find the MFree 99 one of my favorite skis of the test… in the park. And it wasn’t just me, Mark, founder of 4West co and homie of NS, found the same. Such a revelation required closer examination. Dynastar agreed to send me a pair at the end of last season, then the planet melted for 6 months and there was no snow at all in Europe over the summer. Now, I’ve finally have enough days on the MFree to put this review together and yep, this ski was a bit of a revelation.
Shape/Flex/Construction:
The MFree 99 has a slightly deceptive topsheet which makes the skis look more directional than they are. The rocker length is fairly symmetrical tip and tail and while there is more splay in the tip, there is a lot of tail rocker too. We’re in Vishnu/ON3P territory here, shape-wise. At 128-99-120 they are far from the fattest of skis but they have plenty of taper and slightly pinned tips borrowed from their powder-oriented bigger brothers.
They feature sintered bases, plenty of fiberglass and interestingly, a poplar/polyurethane core. It’s not so common to see PU in cores these days but the MFree series all use it to balance the poppiness of poplar and keep the weight down. When drilling (4.1x9 recommended), it felt like there was some kind of mounting plate in the ski too, but that isn’t listed by Dynastar. Edges are pretty standard (around the 2mm mark).
The resulting ski feels stiff to hand flex, probably in the ballpark of the K2 Poacher. They soften slightly towards the tip and tail but feel relatively stiff throughout with no obvious hinge points. The flex also feels relatively symmetrical. The recommended mounting point was way back, but I ignored it and went -2.5cm anyway. I think you’d be mad to go as far back as recommended on a ski with so much tail rocker.
On snow:
Groomers:
With a relatively short contact length, groomers were never going to be the strongest suit of the MFree, and realistically, in the
Reviewer height/weight: 5’9, 145lbs
Ski weights (per ski): 1991/1999g
Length skied: 179
Actual length (with straight tape): 177.8
Dimensions: 128-99-120
Mounted: -2.5 cm from true center
Bindings: Tyrolia Attack 17
Locations: Sunshine Village, Zermatt, Saas-Fee
Conditions skied: Powder, slush, deep slush, park, steep lines
Days Skied: 7
_
The Dynastar MFree 99 is marketed towards “fans of fast-paced descents, kick turns between pine trees and wild sessions beside the piste can now find their perfect ski.” In other words, it should be a freeride ski with a smidge of fun, an accessible freeride ski, and a daily driver. So I was somewhat surprised, at the NS ski test, to find the MFree 99 one of my favorite skis of the test… in the park. And it wasn’t just me, Mark, founder of 4West co and homie of NS, found the same. Such a revelation required closer examination. Dynastar agreed to send me a pair at the end of last season, then the planet melted for 6 months and there was no snow at all in Europe over the summer. Now, I’ve finally have enough days on the MFree to put this review together and yep, this ski was a bit of a revelation.
_
Shape/Flex/Construction:
The MFree 99 has a slightly deceptive topsheet which makes the skis look more directional than they are. The rocker length is fairly symmetrical tip and tail and while there is more splay in the tip, there is a lot of tail rocker too. We’re in Vishnu/ON3P territory here, shape-wise. At 128-99-120 they are far from the fattest of skis but they have plenty of taper and slightly pinned tips borrowed from their powder-oriented bigger brothers.
They feature sintered bases, plenty of fiberglass and interestingly, a poplar/polyurethane core. It’s not so common to see PU in cores these days but the MFree series all use it to balance the poppiness of poplar and keep the weight down. When drilling (4.1x9 recommended), it felt like there was some kind of mounting plate in the ski too, but that isn’t listed by Dynastar. Edges are pretty standard (around the 2mm mark).
The resulting ski feels stiff to hand flex, probably in the ballpark of the K2 Poacher. They soften slightly towards the tip and tail but feel relatively stiff throughout with no obvious hinge points. The flex also feels relatively symmetrical. The recommended mounting point was way back, but I ignored it and went -2.5cm anyway. I think you’d be mad to go as far back as recommended on a ski with so much tail rocker.
_
On snow:
Groomers:
With a relatively short contact length, groomers were never going to be the strongest suit of the MFree, and realistically, in the
