FACTION is a freeski brand that was founded in Verbier, Switzerland in 2006. Influenced by the free and playful spirit of snowboarding culture, the brand was started with the aim of expanding the possibilities of freeskiing and freeride
The company started small, with only 190 units produced in its first year, but has since grown to operate in over 31 countries worldwide. Furthermore, through collaborations with 1% for the Planet and POW (Protect Our Winters), the company is actively involved in environmental conservation activities, demonstrating its commitment to going beyond being just a gear brand
Building a Collective
This new ski brand was created by Alex Hoye and Tony McWilliam. As the brand name "The Faction Collective" suggests, it has a strong connotation of being a group formed through faction, and their mission is to place importance on community based on connections with users
When it was first established, it was a small brand that produced only 190 skis. At the time, it had been less than 10 years since twin-tip skis first appeared on the world stage. Most manufacturers, including long-established manufacturers, entered the scene, but they were unable to adapt to customer needs as flexibly as the traditional brands
In this regard, FACTION was an early adopter of wide twin-tip skis, introducing skis that combined elements of both freestyle and freeride, capturing the hearts of core skiers
Right: Kalle Fredriksson, one of FACTION's early contract riders
The FACTION community has expanded along with video culture
This early trend gave birth to a vibrant community all over the world. Driving the movement were skiers like Duncan Adams, Adam Delorme, and Tim Mackenzie, who pushed the boundaries of skiing with new tricks and moves. As Faction gradually gained recognition through DVDs and other media, a major boost came from their partnership with Candide Thovex, which they continued for around 10 years from 2012. FACTION had been building a grassroots fan base, but his arrival put them on the radar of freeskiers around the world
It was around this time that the brand began to take the lead in producing video works. Up until then, the brand had mainly supported works produced by film labels, but they changed their policy and began to produce and distribute high-quality videos featuring FACTION riders
The video wasn't just a series of tricks and thrilling riding scenes. By focusing on storytelling that delved into the riders' backgrounds, it expressed the community that FACTION values and helped deepen understanding of the brand. At the time, this style was a direction that was rare among other brands
"The Faction Collective" brings together talent from around the world
The riders at the heart of the community are what shape FACTION's identity. By promoting video projects, FACTION has attracted a steady stream of up-and-coming talent. These include Eileen Gou and Alex Hall, who have shown remarkable success at the X Games and the Olympics. Led by Mathilde Glemaud, the group also includes young riders Mark Forehand and Matej Svansa. In freeride, the group boasts world-class riders, including Martin Brender, who placed second overall in the FWT
On the other hand, the field was filled with riders of all ages, categories and nationalities, including Sam Anthamatten and Elisabeth Gerritsen, who are respected legends in the freeride and big mountain scenes
From Japan to the world: Riders in the spotlight
In particular, Japanese riders have been attracting attention from around the world in recent years. FACTION has a rich diversity of skiing Taisuke Kusunoki Koga Hoshino who has made an impact in videos and photos, Kori Nichols and Ruya Ito , who are making a name for themselves in the slopestyle and other competition scenes, each expressing their own originality.
Additionally, the production team and the rest of FACTION visit Japan every year to deepen their understanding of the country's ski scene. They not only spend time at ski resorts and on the mountains with riders, but also listen to and communicate with shops and fans at events. They aim to promote what they do in Verbier, their home base, and in Europe, in Japan and apply it to their product development
By visiting movements happening all over the world, visiting the scene, and getting to know the communities, FACTION has continued to evolve skiing while accompanying the progress of skiers. Next season, in 2026, FACTION will celebrate its anniversary
Creative brand movie
FACTION's brand movie began in 2014. The first, "We Are The Faction Collective," was made every season until 2016, with three episodes released in succession. From 2017, the style changed to releasing videos every other year
Each film has a different theme and was shot in locations around the world. It features a stellar lineup of riders across categories, including freestyle, freeride, and powder, regardless of age, gender, or nationality. The films function as a community hub, with preview screenings held upon completion. All films can be viewed on FACTION's YouTube channel
FACTION's greatest machines of all time
FACTION is a brand known for its innovative freeski designs, and here we look back at some of the most iconic skis of all time
Royale (2007)
This model determined the direction of the brand. In 2007, when twin-tip and fat skis were gradually becoming more popular, this pioneering model adopted a twin-tip with a wide waist and incorporated elements of freeride and freestyle
The arrival of these skis offered a new style to the younger generation, demonstrating that FACTION was a force that would revolutionize the image of skiing. The fact that they were produced in small quantities also resonated well with hardcore skiers
Candide 1.0 (2013)
A signature model created in collaboration with freestyle skiing legend Candide Thovex
With its innovative shape and flex pattern, it attracted attention for its versatility, being able to handle any terrain, not only in the park or pipe, but also on and off the slopes. This model, which embodied his own riding style, influenced many freestyle skiers and became a highly popular signature model
Dancer (2022)
The Dancer series represents the brand's evolution as an all-mountain freeride ski. Lightweight and stable, it's capable of handling a wide range of snow conditions, from powder to groomed slopes and spring snow
The Dancer 2 in particular is well-balanced and has been praised by many skiers as a ski that can do anything. The company is also highly conscious of sustainability, and has been an early adopter of environmentally friendly skis that use recycled materials
'25-26 Season FACTION Series List
This season, the FACTION lineup offers an excellent balance of fun and performance. As the epitome of freeskiing, it offers a wide range of models for park, powder, all-mountain, and touring. Here, we introduce the entire FACTION ski series for the 2025-2026 season
DANCER
The poplar core and titanium provide excellent stability. It's perfect for high-speed skiing and hard runs. The 79mm waist is the slimmest in the brand's history
STUDIO
The poplar core and carbon fiber make it lightweight and highly resilient. It's designed for trick performance in the park, and even the thicker sizes retain that same quality
PRODIGY
The poplar core provides resilience and stability. Perfect for a variety of skiing experiences at the park or on the slopes. Durability is also noteworthy
AGENT
It features an ultra-lightweight carb core and woven carbon fiber. Its versatile design makes it perfect for touring, offering both effortless climbing and stable gliding
LA MACHINE
Lightweight Paulownia core and dual carbon layer construction. Lightweight and soft flex. Excellent float and maneuverability in powder
MOGUL
This series brings back popular designs from the past to the present. They continue to create mogul skis that pay homage to the roots of freestyle skiing
Information
FACTION
Official website: https://jp.factionskis.com/Official
social media: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
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