ProView – Liberty Skis Origin 101 Review

During winter months I spend most of my days working as a ski guide in Central Oregon, which entails taking people backcountry skiing and instructing avalanche courses. I love skiing so much that even on my days off, I go skiing with my friends. Sometimes we tour and sometimes we ride chairs at one of our local mountains, Mt. Bachelor and Hoodoo Ski Area. For a few weeks this season, I spent my off-days testing the 2023 Liberty Skis Origin 101.

Ski Style and Choosing Length

The Origin 101 skis are an all-mountain resort ski, meaning that they’re designed to do it all: rip groomers, blast through chop, and surf untracked powder. Because we’ve had such a stormy winter in Oregon, my testing days involved a lot of soft, bumpy snow, tracked-up powder, and even some untouched stashes. And while this also included some blustery chairlift rides, rimed up goggles, and flat light, it provided a good variety of conditions for testing skis. 

I usually ski 80-100+ days per year, depending on the season, the snowpack, and spring weather. In the Pacific Northwest, winter typically gets underway in mid- to late-November and lingers until June or even July, if you don’t mind hiking on some dirt to access your turns. The bulk of my days are on touring skis, thanks to my job as a ski guide, my enthusiasm for skimo racing, and my love for spring volcano skiing. However, I usually get some sort of lift pass as well, and I’ve had the opportunity to own a few different all-mountain skis. 

My height is about 5’7 (170 cm) and I consider myself an advanced/expert skier, though I wouldn’t say I ski aggressively. Additionally, I prefer a shorter turning radius and more nimble ski at the resort, since I enjoy skiing anything from trees to bumps. As such, I opted for the 171 cm length in the Origin 101. People who are my height who like a larger turning radius and/or charging straight at a higher speed might prefer the 176 cm length. I mounted the Origin 101 skis with a Salomon Warden MNC binding.

On Snow Performance 

When I received the skis, my first thought was that they felt nice and lightweight. Once I had them mounted, I took them up to Mt. Bachelor to try them out. The snow that day was soft and the weather was stormy and cold. Initially, I found the skis a bit challenging to drive, especially in soft choppy snow. Over time, I got a feel for them, but I noticed that they require more focus and effort in bumpy snow, whereas other skis feel more intuitive or almost effortless. As a result, I believe that beginner and beginner/intermediate skiers would find these difficult to turn and may find themselves tossed into the backseat in challenging snow conditions. However, heavier skiers and more advanced skiers may find them easier to steer. 

In powder, I was happy with the Origin 101 skis’ performance. On a quiet weekday afternoon after Mt. Bachelor had received about 7 inches, I took the skis through as many untouched powder stashes as I could find. The skis were responsive, surfy, and fun. They didn’t bounce the way some of my favorite powder skis do, but they did just fine for their all-mountain category. 

These skis also held their own on the groomer, which was not surprising given their 70% effective edge. I haven’t had a chance to test them on hardpack, thanks to the 30+ inches of new snow we received in February. Additionally, while the skis show no signs of wear, I can’t confidently speak to their durability since I’ve only tested them over the span of 4-5 weeks.

What Sets This Ski Apart

This is a ski that can do a lot of things well. It’s light enough that it could be mounted with touring bindings and used in the backcountry, though I think it’s best suited for resort riding. While it may not be a powder specialist or carving tool specifically, thanks to its all-mountain shape and profile, the Liberty Origin 101 is at home pretty much anywhere on the mountain. 

Who This Ski is Best For

As previously stated, the Liberty Origin 101 demands a strong skier that can drive it with confidence. Such a skier will find that the Origin 101 can happily carve, maneuver through choppy snow, and surf across fluffy powder. 

The Liberty Origin 101 is best for advanced to expert skiers who are looking for an all-mountain resort ski, and its dimensions and profile make it a great option as one-ski quiver. Additionally, this ski is a suitable all-mountain choice for skiers in the mountain ranges of the West (including the Rockies), where skiers spend most of their days on powder and relatively soft snow. This ski’s 101-millimeter waist would be too wide for the East Coast’s generally firm conditions, where skiers typically prefer a narrower-waisted ski that can maneuver well in bumps and on hard-packed snow. 

The Final Word

Overall, I think the Liberty Origin 101 is a solid ski choice for strong, experienced skiers seeking an all-mountain ski primarily for the resort. While some skiers take this ski into the backcountry, I don’t think that touring is this ski’s specialty. However, it’s light enough that uphill and sidecountry enthusiasts could mount it with a hybrid binding and further expand its versatility. 

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If you’d like to read about the backcountry version of this ski — check out the Prolink – Liberty Skis Origin 106 BC review by Sam Chaneles