Faction is a 10-year old brand that hasn’t lost its youthful passion for staying close to the snow culture. As is the case with many start-up ski brands, Faction originally focused on making skis the big manufacturers weren’t, which a decade ago meant making wide, athlete-driven, off-trail skis. Now that the brand has achieved early adolescence, with production handled by a modern, well-equipped factory partner, it’s extending its reach into narrower shapes like the new Dictator 1.0.

That Faction’s first foray into the All-Mountain East genre is a success shouldn’t surprise, as the Dictator collection (née Standard Series) to which it has been appended are serious skis with two Titanal laminates sandwiching a lightweight poplar/Paulownia core. Every ski supplier is trying to make a lighter ski that holds like a heavy one; Faction has nailed it. If it weren’t for the tapered tip design that the 1.0 inherits from its fatter siblings, the 1.0 would be an immaculate carving tool.

The Dictator 1.0 scores a hat trick in functional ski features: it feels super light and quick, yet remains quiet on edge and it won’t wilt at speed. This is a magic formula that elevates the Dictator 1.0 into the first rank of All-Mountain East models. As the eminent bootfitter Bob Gleason notes, the Dictator 1.0 is “damp yet responsive. The shape makes it feel easier skiing than expected for this length [184cm]. Smooth at speed with an automatic feel in direction change.”

The Dictator 1.0 provides a positive answer to a question that often comes up when discussing the performance profile of AME skis: how is it in the bumps? The answer to this is usually, “as good as you are.” Which, however true, isn’t very helpful. The Dictator 1.0 actually excels in bumps, where its tapered tip works in the skier’s favor and its featherweight construction is an advantage.