Liberty Origin 106 Review: A Playful 106 mm Freeride Ski for Soft Snow

Introduction

The Liberty Origin 106 is a mid-fat freeride ski built on a 106 mm waist, and it is aimed at skiers who chase soft snow. Its construction carries over from the previous version, with a graphics refresh rather than a structural redesign, so the recipe stays familiar: a bamboo and poplar wood core, vertical metal reinforcement, and vertical carbon stringers running tip to tail.

The result is a ski that floats well for its width while still holding together on groomed terrain. In snowier regions it can work as a daily driver. For most skiers it will more likely be the wider, more playful option in a quiver.

Who the Liberty Origin 106 Is For

This ski suits riders who are leaning toward something wider, more playful, and more heavily rockered. The 106 mm platform gives it genuine soft-snow float, and the rounded shape makes it easy to drift and smear rather than lock into a carved arc.

Because of that width, it makes the most sense for skiers who regularly ride fresh or soft snow. If your home mountain sees consistent snowfall, the Origin 106 has the all-mountain capability to handle most days. If you mostly ski hardpack, it is better treated as a second or third ski rather than the narrowest thing in your lineup.

Riders stepping up from a narrower all-mountain ski will notice the extra platform immediately, especially in deeper snow, while the camber underfoot keeps the ski manageable on the way back to the lift.

Core Construction: Bamboo, Poplar, and Vertical Metal

The core pairs bamboo with poplar, and the bamboo is the detail that sets this ski apart. Bamboo is a very light, energetic material, and it is also notably quiet in the way it is used here. The thickness of the bamboo in the core contributes to a stable, smooth ride that feels different from a conventional wood core.

Between the bamboo stringers sit two strips of vertical metal, double the amount used two seasons earlier. Running the metal vertically stiffens and damps the ski without the weight penalty of a full horizontal sheet of metal, and it helps prevent counter-flexing and unwanted vibrations from interrupting the ride.

Shape and Rocker: Rounded, Playful, Floaty

The shape is rounded from tip to tail, with a relatively high taper point and a symmetrically round tail. The rocker starts low and long, with moderate splay at the tip and a long, low rocker in the tail. Camber underfoot holds the ski together between the soft-snow sections.

That combination produces rounded, clean turns that are easy to drift and smear, and it makes the Origin 106 a strong floater for a 106 mm ski. The turned-up tail is not a freestyle twin tip, but it supports modern freeride technique in soft snow.

Sidewall, Carbon Stringers, and Ride Quality

Two vertical carbon strips run from tip to tail, adding stiffness and responsiveness on top of the metal and wood core. The sidewall is thicker from base to top sheet, which means more material in the build and a quieter, more damped ride as a result.

Together these details give the Origin 106 a distinctive snow feel. The ski stays composed when the snow gets cut up, and it does so without the heavy, dead sensation that a full sheet of metal can create.

Turn Radius and Sizing Notes

The 176 cm length comes with an 18 meter turn radius. Longer lengths stretch that figure by a meter or two, so the size you choose has a direct effect on how the ski turns.

A radius in this range fits the ski’s rounded shape and rocker, keeping turns easy to shape and simple to release. If you want a tighter, more agile feel, the shorter length is the more direct route. If you want more stability at speed and a slightly longer arc, size up.

Either way, the camber underfoot and the long, gradual rocker work together to keep the ski predictable in mixed conditions.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The main trade-off is the width. At 106 mm underfoot, the Origin 106 is a wide platform, and it is not a frontside ski. On firm, groomed snow it will feel like the wider, more rockered tool it is rather than a precise carving ski.

The rockered, rounded profile also favors soft snow over hardpack precision, so the ski rewards riders who have access to fresh or soft conditions. And while the turned-up tail supports modern freeride skiing, it is not a freestyle twin tip, so park-focused riders should look elsewhere.

Buying Advice

Start with how you intend to use it. If the Origin 106 is going to be your daily driver, you are likely skiing in a snowier region where a 106 mm waist makes sense most days. If it is going to be your wider option, think about how it fits alongside a narrower ski in your quiver.

Then pick the length based on the turn radius you want: 176 cm for an 18 meter radius, with longer lengths adding a meter or two. Skiers who prioritize float and playfulness in soft snow will get the most out of this ski, while skiers who want a firm-snow carving tool should look at a narrower design.

Conclusion

The Liberty Origin 106 is a well-rounded freeride ski for soft snow. Its bamboo and poplar core, doubled vertical metal, and vertical carbon stringers give it a quiet, damp, and responsive feel, while the rounded shape and long, low rocker make it playful and easy to float for a 106 mm ski. If you ski soft snow often and want one wider ski that still handles the rest of the mountain, it deserves a close look.