Meer Teton 104 Review: A Handmade Powder Ski Built for Big Open Turns

Introduction

Deep powder days are the ones most skiers plan their season around, and the ski you bring to them shapes the whole experience. The Meer Teton 104 is a handmade powder ski from a small Colorado builder, and it takes a deliberately focused approach. Instead of trying to be competent at everything, it is tuned around one feeling: the long, smooth, open turn through deep snow. That focus is what makes it interesting, and it is also what makes it a very specific purchase.

What the Meer Teton 104 Is

The Teton 104 measures 104 mm underfoot and carries a 19 m turn radius in the 185 cm length. It is built by hand in Colorado in small batches, with a construction that includes a healthy amount of camber underfoot and gradual, tapered shapes at the tip and tail.

In the hand, the profile reads as a dedicated powder ski rather than an all-mountain compromise. There are no holes, cutouts, or structural gimmicks in the build. The intent shows up in the shape itself: a smooth, gradual tip designed to stay above deep snow rather than dive into it, with an even, predictable flex through the length of the ski.

Who This Ski Suits Best

This ski is at its best for riders who spend their powder days in wide open terrain, where long arcs and sweeping turns are the whole point of a run. If your ideal day involves big bowls, open glades, and sustained fall lines, the Teton 104 is built for exactly that. It also suits skiers who value a handcrafted, small-batch product and are willing to commit to a specialist tool rather than a single do-everything ski.

Main Strengths

Smooth, Predictable Powder Turns

The defining quality of the Teton 104 is the shape of its turn. In deep snow it produces a gradual, wrapped-out arc that builds pressure evenly rather than snapping into a carve. The sensation is smooth and consistent, and it feels distinct from most powder skis, which tend to be either quicker and twitchier or softer and vaguer.

That turn shape is what the ski is designed around, and it is where it separates itself from more versatile freeride models. In wide open powder, the long sweeping turn feels natural and repeatable rather than something you have to force.

Flotation and Stability at Speed

The gradual tip shape keeps the ski on top of the snow. Even in places where the snow looked likely to swallow the tips, the ski floated back up instead of catching. The same qualities make it stable when the pace increases. Point it down a big open face and it holds a line without feeling nervous, which is exactly what you want on a day when the conditions are worth chasing.

Even Flex and Gradual Tip Shape

The flex is even and predictable in and out of turns, which is a large part of why the ski feels so composed. It is not a featherweight build, and there is some heft to it, but in good flotation the shape carries that weight well enough that it rarely becomes noticeable.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Short Radius Turns Take More Effort

The 19 m turn radius is something you feel. In tighter terrain, and especially in trees, the ski takes longer to come around. It can be persuaded into shorter turns if you work at it, but that is not where it thrives, and a more responsive freeride ski will feel easier in that setting.

If quick, hop-style turns through tight trees are central to how you ski, this is the trade-off to weigh most carefully before buying.

Groomers, Trees, and Quiver Role

On groomed runs the ski is fine rather than special. Because the tip and tail are not dramatically different in shape, the tail can drag slightly at the end of a turn. It is a minor characteristic rather than a real problem, but it underlines that this is a powder specialist. For the same reason, it is not the best candidate for a one-ski quiver. It rewards being taken out on the days it was built for.

Price and Value

The Teton 104 lists at $995 and has been available around $795. For a hand-built powder ski made in Colorado, that sits below the price of comparably positioned European boutique powder skis, and custom graphics are available as well. Judged purely as a value proposition for a specialist powder ski, the current price makes a strong case.

Buying Advice

Buy the Teton 104 if you want a powder ski that specializes in long, smooth, open turns and you ski the terrain to match. Skip it if your priority is quick tree skiing, tight technical lines, or one ski that covers everything from groomers to bumps. It is a specialist, and it is honest about that.

If you already own a versatile all-mountain ski and want something that comes alive on the deepest days, this fills that role cleanly. It also makes sense for anyone who prefers a small, handmade builder over a mass-market option, since the craft is evident in how the ski behaves rather than in any headline feature.

Conclusion

The Meer Teton 104 earns a solid 8 out of 10. It does not reinvent the powder ski or introduce new technology. What it does instead is commit to one turn type and refine it, and on a big snow day in open terrain that commitment pays off. For riders whose season is built around chasing powder in wide open terrain, it is an easy ski to recommend.