Those who are tuned in to the freeskiing world know Faction quite well. Founded in 2006, the company has quickly yet quietly risen through the ranks, amassing a team of talented athletes and becoming a respected player in the snow sports realm. Names like Simon D’Artois, Tim McChesney and Adam Delorme appear on the company’s stacked roster alongside Candide Thovex, one of the most esteemed names in all of skiing.
While the company has been steadily making a name for itself over the last few years, it made quite a bit of noise last season, releasing the We Are the Faction Collective web series. During the three-part series, the team traveled the globe putting on an impressive display of skills at locations that ranged from Colorado to Poland. Each of the edits had a different flavor, showcasing park, street, big-mountain or backcountry skiing, and concluding with the whole team getting together for what appeared to be the funnest day ever, in La Clusaz, France. You could say it was an overwhelming success with the series averaging over 100,000 views per episode.
The diversity showcased by Faction’s team translates directly into its ski line, which is built on a platform of versatility. At the headquarters, which are just steps from the gondola in Verbier, Switzerland, a team of talented individuals concept and design products that envelop their passion for the sport. As shown by the web series, the line of skis caters to all types of skiers in every type of terrain.
The newly expanded Candide Thovex Signature Series has four skis (plus two junior models) that range from a 90-mm waist for on-piste assaults all the way up to a 122-mm waist for powder- filled adventures. Lightweight construction in the 3.0 and 4.0 make these skis light and playful yet stiff enough to charge big lines. The narrower 1.0 and 2.0 have a traditional poplar and ash core with tip and tail rocker for a fun and user-friendly ride. The 1.0 is reinforced with carbon and extra thick steel edges to ensure that it can handle anything thrown at it in the park or on urban missions.
Another of Faction’s new models this year, the Chapter, is a five-point ski built with a burly poplar and ash core. The large tip cruises over powder and blasts through crud with ease while a tight turn radius links up easily when back on piste. The design received rave reviews in early testing.
Faction is also now in its second year of apparel production, which has expanded to include a women’s line for 2014-15. Along with men’s outerwear, the line includes three-layer shells, down-filled puffies and micro-puff midlayers. Taking a leap forward, the company introduces Aerogel panels into its high-end pieces this season. Also used as an insulator by NASA, Aerogel is a gel in which the liquid component has been replaced by a gas. “It results in a higher thermal performance than any other widely used insulation material, at a fraction of the thickness and weight,” says Jesse Ambrogi-Yanson, Faction’s North American marketing director.
For a brand that was just a blip on the radar only a few seasons ago, Faction has picked up some serious momentum in recent years. Now armed with an impressive combination of top-tier athletes, sought-after skis and innovative young minds, the company is shifting into overdrive and might just blow the doors off.
Faction Chapter
“The Faction Chapter ski is the company’s first foray into five-point ski design, and the result is a hard- charging, full-sandwich pow slayer that doesn’t disappoint….” Click for full review.
Faction Candide 1.0
“Faction’s whole Candide series was a big hit with our testers thanks to its buttery playfulness. The Faction Candide 1.0 skis have slightly more camber than…” Click for full review.
Faction Candide 2.0
“The Faction Candide 2.0 is a lightweight ski that stays true to Candide Thovex’s fun-loving style of skiing. A slight amount of camber underfoot combines with…” Click for full review.
