Salomon has a brand new range of all-mountain and freeride skis, called Stance. The Stance range is quite different to other all-mountain and freeride skis from Salomon and SkiKitInfo’s here with all you need to know about these new toys.
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Goodbye XDR and Aira
The new Stance line of skis replaces Salomon’s XDR and Aira all-mountain skis.
The Stance selection comes in three widths for men: 90, 96 and 102mm underfoot, and two for women: 88 and 94mm.
We were fortunate to spend a decent amount of time on the Stance 90 and were blown away by just how good this ski is. Scroll down to see the review.
SALOMON STANCE MEN’S SKIS
All of the men’s widths have a full poplar woodcore along with a layer of Titanal metal above and below the core. The top layer of metal has a cut-out in front of, and behind, the binding.
These windows frame Salomon’s C/FX fibre, which is a laminate of carbon and flax with basalt, maintaining some stiffness along the window and enhancing dampening.
All Stance skis have rocker front and back, with a longer rise in the forebody, along with a decent sidewall along the length of the ski and camber underfoot.
Finally, there’s a layer of rubber under the mount area to further improve the ride feel.
TESTED: Salomon Stance 90 all-mountain ski
Lengths: 168, 176, 182, 188cm
Sidecut: 126-90-108mm in 176cm
Radius: 18.0m in 176cm
Weight per ski: 1,775g in 176cm
Price: £520 / €550 / $800*
We gave the Stance 90 a full test in March 2020, as this is a key model for the UK and European market, and in North America works perfectly for those seeking a firm-snow focussed all-mountain option.
The Stance 90 really is a beautiful ski. The XDR skis were good but the Stance skis are very different. From the very first time you step in, you can feel the quality of this ski; it feels like a really premium product.
The Salomon Stance 90 is incredibly smooth, down to a well judged construction. The poplar wood is accompanied by two layers of Titanal, and Salomon’s C/FX carbon, flax and basalt laminate, and this construction really dampens down any unwanted vibrations without the ski being overly stiff. A full sidewall and camber underfoot further enhance the grip on firm snow.
The cut-outs it the top sheet of metal mean you have a little bit of a forgiving nature in the front and back, which makes sense as this is not a race ski and you want it to be more playful.
Easy to steer at lower speeds, can rail when you open the throttle, and is a heap of fun when you head off the sides; a new benchmark for all-mountain skis.
Stance 90 conclusion
One of the stand-out skis from all brands for this winter . The Salomon Stance 90 is an incredible ski; sublimely smooth with a beautiful snow feel.
If you want to ski mostly on the groomers, but want the option of taking on some of the softer stuff when the mood takes you, then the 90 is a sure bet.
The sidecut changes depending on the length, and this is the same for all Stance models. You can see all the stats for each length on Salomon’s site.
The Stance 90’s tip rocker runs for 16% of the ski and tail rocker for 12%.
Weight Comparison
The Stance 90 is a little lighter than the Salomon QST 92, which tips the scales at 1,850g in a 177cm ski, but granted it’s a little longer and a little wider. The QST 85’s even heavier though, at 1,890g per ski in 177cm.
Stance 96
Lengths: 168, 176, 182, 188cm
Sidecut: 132-96-114mm in 182cm
Radius: 20.0m in 182cm
Weight per ski: 1,940g in 182cm
Price: £580 / €650 / $850*
Sitting a little wider, the Stance 96 is referred to as their ‘marquee’ ski of the three. As it’s a little wider it does float more in softer snow, but the profile of the ski is just like the Stance 90 (17% tip rocker, 11% tail rocker) and, while not as quick edge-to-edge, it still behaves well on groomed terrain.
For comparison, the QST 99 is 2,090g in a 181cm length, but again it’s a wider ski; weights are pretty similar though.
Stance 102
Lengths: 176, 183, 190cm
Sidecut: 134-102-121mm in 183cm
Radius: 23.0m in 183cm
Weight per ski: 2,210g in 183cm
Price: £680 / €750 / $900*
At over 100mm, it is wide for an all-mountain ski by European standards, but closer to the mark for North America. The Stance 102 has a longer 21% tip rocker and at the rear you’ve got 16% rocker. As you’d expect for something over 100mm, with a fair amount of tip rocker, it picks up well in soft snow, but due to the construction and camber you can still carve longer turns on the pistes.
SALOMON STANCE WOMEN’S SKIS
The women’s skis share construction points from the men’s skis, apart from they have poplar and karuba for the wood laminates inside.
Stance 88
Lengths: 154, 161, 168, 174cm
Sidecut: 120-88-102mm in 161cm
Radius: 17.0m in 161cm
Weight per ski: 1,520g in 161cm
Price: £520 / €500 / $725*
The Stance W 88 is the flagship model in the Stance W duo. It’s very much the Stance 90, but with a lighter, softer core (due to the mix of karuba and poplar). It’s 88mm underfoot in the three shorter lengths, then 90mm in the 174cm. The 174cm ski has the same sidecut as the men’s 176cm Stance 90.
The rocker profile of the Stance W 88 is very similar to the men’s Stance 90 ski, with 16% front rocker and 11% rear.
The key length for Salomon in the Stance W 88 is 161cm. Interestingly this is markedly lighter than the narrower Salomon QST Myriad 85, which is 130g heavier at 1,650g in 161cm.
Built to perform on firm, groomed snow yet nimble and versatile off the sides, the Stance W 88 is a great ski for female skiers wanting a piste orientated, go-anywhere ski.
Stance 94
Lengths: 154, 161, 168, 174, 182cm
Sidecut: 124-94-106mm in 161cm
Radius: 18.0m in 161cm
Weight per ski: 1,720g in 161cm
Price: £580 / €600 / $800*
As with the 88, it’s only the three shorter lengths of the Stance 94 that have a 94mm width underfoot. The two longest lengths are exactly the same sidecut and radius as the men’s 96 equivalent lengths.
The rocker profile is quite different though, with a long 20% rocker in the nose of the ski, combined with an 11% tail rocker. This hints at the soft snow leaning of this model. As with the 88, the core’s a little lighter and softer than the men’s 96, but you don’t miss out on the other features.
The Stance W 94 is a little wider than the comparable Salomon QST Lux 92 model, which is a little lighter at 1,610g per ski in 161cm.
The twin metal layers, woodcore, full sidewall and C/FX laminate mean this ski performs, without being punishing.
Want something you can use all season, no matter whether it’s puking or you’re cruising around the groomers with your friends? The Stance 94 is there for you.
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Want to find out more about the Stance range, or anything else from Salomon, you can visit their site at Salomon.com
Quoted Prices
*Prices quoted here can be a mixture of recommended retail price from the brand and prices that you can currently get the skis for from retailers in that territory. The prices may therefore be less or more than you can find in-store / online and are only intended to give you a guide as to what you may expect to pay for the skis.
Always ensure you do adequate research when buying ski equipment to ensure you’re getting the best service and advice from the retailer, combined with a price that works for your budget. Don’t always assume that cheaper means better value.
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