Salomon Teams With Its Freeride Athletes To Revamp Qst Ski Collection
Salomon called on its team of freeski athletes—guys like Chris Rubens, Alexi Godbout, Stan Rey, Cody Townsend, Drew Peterson and more—to help re-design the award-winning and best-selling collection of QST freeride skis. For the Fall/Winter 2021-2022 season, the QST range features four models: the all-new QST Blank (112 mm waist), the QST 106, the new QST 98 and the QST 92.
The ski of choice for Salomon’s freeski athletes will be the most progressive and playful freeride powder ski on the mountain: the all-new QST Blank, a pillow-popping, powder-loving 112 mm waist ski built to slay everything on deep days at the resort or in the backcountry.
Freeski athlete Chris Rubens, who spent countless hours working with Salomon ski engineers on the development of the QST Blank, says the design team paired the best attributes of two great skis—the tip from the QST 106 and the tail of the QST 118—to create a do-everything ski that will initiate turns and float through deep pow, but also respond when you want to shut it down with a quick slide turn.
“To me, in our part of the world, I would call the QST Blank the quiver-killer because it’s all you need,” says Rubens, who is based in Revelstoke, British Columbia. “That 112 mm width is the perfect blend between the QST 106 and the QST 118 if you are going to just buy one ski that does it all.”
The QST Blank has a progressive shape that enhances the flotation and playfulness of your turns, and a construction that delivers the stability you need. By adjusting the shape of the ski from previous QST models, lowering the widest points and lengthening the rocker, Salomon engineers were able to create a ski that brings playfulness to any type of turn while maintaining power and stability in any conditions.
At 112mm under foot, the QST Blankhas the versatility to confidently go from skiing pillows to skiing powder and steeps. Camber underfoot and an early rise in the tip and tail adapt to whatever the mountain throws at you. C/FX carbon in the tip and tail adds power, but also means you can make quick, pivoting turns. Double sidewalls and Cork Damplifier create confidence-boosting stability when dropping in. Use the QST Blank for charging resort laps, or mount it with S/LAB Shift binding for ski touring.
From Rubens’ perspective, the process to complete the QST Blank was an arduous one for two reasons. First, because designing a ski that balances between surfy, playful and hard-charging is a sort of holy grail project. Second, the team of Salomon skiers offering final validation of the new ski has long been enamored with the QST 118 and 106 skis that they were evaluating the QST Blank against.
“We went through a lot of editions of the QST Blank for several years and the Salomon designers kept pushing and that balance was hard to attain because those are super small details. Finally, the final version that I skied I said, ‘OK, now you’ve found it,’” Rubens says. “We knew that if we were going to come out with a new QST, it had to be really good. The QST 118 is a really good ski that we all love, so to make something that we would choose over that is not easy, but they did it with the QST Blank.”
The QST Blank takes its name from The Blank Collective, an upstart group of Salomon athletes in British Columbia who were instrumental in the design of the ski. With seven ski films in the can and an eighth on the way in the Fall of 2021, The Blank Collective is now an established crew whose films are featured at festivals worldwide.
“I think the QST Blank is a bit like our crew at The Blank Collective,” says Salomon athlete Alexi Godbout, who started the Collective. “It charges hard, but it’s also playful. If you watch any of our films, you’ll see people sending big-mountain lines, skiing pillows and ski-touring on crazy-deep powder days in the BC backcountry. You will also see that we are a pretty lighthearted group. We ski hard and take what we do seriously, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously.”
From chasing natural features in the morning to slaying glades until après, the QST 98 is another all-new offering in the QST range. It’s a playful yet powerful ski that takes on the entire mountain. The QST 98 is designed for hard-charging everywhere on the resort, from powder mornings to tight tree runs and even bumps, and it butters turns on a dime while remaining reliable at speed. A new, modern shape and versatile 98 mm waistmake it highly versatile while ABS double sidewalls transmit power to your edges, whether dropping cliffs or buttering lips.
The 98mm waist adds flotation in pow and the finesse needed to ski glades and bumps. Double sidewall technology provides the edge grip and power transmission you’d expect from a hard-charging ski, while C/FX carbon in the tip and tail allow for quick pivots, along with strength and power. The Cork Damplifier creates confidence-boosting stability when arcing at high speeds. Throw some skins on and some S/LAB Shift bindings to take it touring.
The new Stance 84 ski for men and women add to the award-winning Stance range that was unveiled in 2020-21 season (Stance 90, 96 and 102 mm waist skis). The Stance range is made to charge all over the resort by blending what Salomon knows about edge grip from the alpine racing world and maneuverability and forgiveness from years of developing freeride products. Now, the Stance 84 has been added to the mix for those looking primarily to carve with confidence in a variety of conditions.
As at home carving the icy steeps as it is on perfectly groomed corduroy, the Stance 84 ski allows you to cruise with confidence regardless of speed, terrain, or conditions. A progressive sidecut coupled with a lively karuba/poplar core makes the Stance 84 agile and reliable, while the all-new Titanal and carbon construction grips the snow, making for an engaging snow-feel when carving on piste. The full poplar wood core construction maximizes liveliness, stability and ski-to-snow contact while filtering vibrations. The Titanal laminate underfoot delivers a strong edge hold so you don't wash out of turns on- or-off-piste and the TI-C Frame combines carbon windows and a Titanal laminate to create a damp, charging ski that inspires confidence. A single layer of titanal reinforcement on top of the core for great edge grip, efficient energy transfer and liveliness.
The QST Stance 84 ski is designed for carving anything from icy steeps to groomed corduroy, and it’s still wide enough to charge off-piste.
Built with a special core construction designed to make it lighter for women skiers, the women’sStance 84 ski is at home carving the icy steeps as it is on perfectly groomed corduroy, allowing you to cruise with confidence regardless of speed, terrain, or conditions. A progressive sidecut coupled with a lively karuba/poplar core makes the Stance 84 agile and reliable, while the all-new Titanal and carbon construction grips the snow, making for an engaging snowfeel when carving on piste. The wood core is a mix between poplar and karuba, a specific lightweight construction for women. The Titanal laminate underfoot delivers a strong edge hold so you don't wash out of turns on- or-off-piste and the TI-C Frame combines carbon windows and a Titanal laminate to create a damp, charging ski that inspires confidence. A single layer of titanal reinforcement on top of the core for great edge grip, efficient energy transfer and liveliness.
The QST Stance 84 women’s ski is designed for women who want to carve everything from icy steeps to groomed corduroy, yet wide enough under foot to charge off-piste
Quick and confident the new Stance 80 ski extends the charge-ability of the Stance range to a more piste-focused audience by offering this narrower waist width to the Stance range. With a progressive sidecut, and confidence-building stability, the Stance 80is designed to take on everything the resort offers by delivering a quick and reliable ride. The TI-C FRAME combines carbon windows and a Titanal laminate to create a damp, confidence-inspiring ski regardless of speed, terrain or conditions. A progressive frontside sidecut combines with a poplar wood core and Carbon to create an engaging, unmatched snow-feel when carving all over the piste, while a Titanal laminate underfoot brings a strong edge hold when laying down turns on or off piste. The Stance 80 is available in men’s and women’s models.
The minimalist Husk Pro helmet combines a sharp and stylish design with top-notch safety, ventilation and fit technologies. A Thinshell combines with Smart Safety and EPS4D technology to offer a high level of energy absorption and exceptional level of protection where you need it most. The strategically placed Active Flow vent creates a steady airflow that keeps your head comfortable and helps your goggles stay fog-free. MaxFit construction offers instant comfort and improved hearing, while the Custom Dial 360 offers adjustable fit. The seamless goggle integration will means you will be ready to go as soon as you step off the chair.
The technologically advanced Radium Prime Sigma goggle features an oversized spherical lens with Anti Fog + to maximize field of vision and keep fog away. The magnetic lens-changing system makes it easy to switch between the two lenses, so it only take seconds to adapt your goggles to the day’s conditions. Sixteen strong magnets hold the lens in place, while rubber grips allow you to remove it without smudging it. The SIGMA™ lens offers enhanced contrast and a field of vision that is eight degrees larger than any other Salomon goggle for superior vertical and horizontal vision. The medium-tone coloring offers great protection from the sun and heightened visibility in lower-light conditions, while the Anti Fog + technology ensures four times more fog resistance than usual treatments. The Custom ID Fit technology provides superior fit even when worn with optical glasses, while the no-slip silicone strap keeps your goggles in place through all the action.
Designed for skiers who love to charge through unspoiled powder at high speeds, but also look for the occasional hiking adventure to a new peak, the new four-buckle Shift Pro 130boot combines the stability and power of a true alpine boot with the versatility of a touring boot that lets you enjoy the whole mountain. The Shift was designed with the Salomon S/PRO’s 100 mm inclusive fit and anatomically designed seamless liner. Those features, combined with a softer Sensifit insert, provide an exceptionally easy entry and anatomical wrapping. The Coreframe insert delivers improved terrain feedback and power transmission for a unique downhill performance. At just 1.63 kg, the Shift Pro is light enough for hiking, while the Surelock mechanism and walk function increase cuff mobility. Integrated tech inserts help to ensure direct power transmission. The Shift Pro range also includes the Shift Pro 120 and Shift Pro 100 for slightly softer flexes than the Shift Pro 130.
The all-new STH2 MNC 16 binding offers more power and versatility with a customizable dampening platform, while retaining its renowned safety and reliability standards, no matter the terrain or boot type. The MultiNorm Certified AFD makes it compatible with all normed boots on the market, providing a reliable lateral release and perfect re-centering when you need it. The Dual Transfer Switch allows skiers to create a fine-tuned connection between boot and binding. Choose dampening modes based on boot sole material and desired on-snow feel. In addition, the STH’s 52mm of elastic travel absorbs impact, preventing the binding from pre-releasing, creating a safer ride for all levels of freeriders in variable conditions.
Protective yet comfy, the women’s Stance 3L jacket features weatherproof fabric for big powder days and an interior that is brushed for maximum comfort. A versatile, modern jacket, it will take you from the city to the backcountry. A longer, regular fit offers more freedom of movement, while still protecting you from the elements. The weather-resistant three-layer shell is 160 denier and 20K / 20K waterproof, featuring Japanese premium Mitsui fabric and waterproof zippers. It’s also packed with all-mountain features like an adjustable & helmet compatible hood with visor, waterproof chest pocket, a removable snow skirt and integrated google wipe.
A weather-resistant shell ski jacket for powder days or cold urban winters, the men’s Stance 3L long jacket for menis Salomon’s first longer length all-mountain shell jacket for skiing. Protective yet comfy, it’s brushed on the inside and ideal for layering. The longer, regular fit means you can move freely, while also being protected from the elements. The air tunnel at the back brings more breathability to your layering. The three-layer shell is 160 denier and 20K / 20K waterproof, featuring Japanese premium Mitsui fabric and waterproof zippers. The Stance 3L is also packed with all-mountain features like an adjustable and helmet-compatible hood with a visor, a waterproof chest pocket, a removable snow skirt and integrated google wipe.
The Gravity GORE-TEX Anorak jacket for men combines warmth, waterproof protection and freestyle inspiration from Salomon freeskiers Nico Vuignier and Ugo Troubat. With a longer cut, relaxed fit and bold branding, it’s perfect for powder chasers. Not only is the GORE-TEX® great at keeping the wind and precipitation out, it’s also fully recycled so it protects you and is good for the planet. With 80g insulation on the main body and 60g on the collar, hood and sleeves, you’ll get just the right amount of warmth. The Gravity GORE-TEX® Anorak is fully equipped with everything you need out in the mountains, including a clever air-vent system integrated into the zip openings.
