Two modifiers keep coming to mind as we ponder the predominant traits of Salomon’s new QST 92: lightweight and value. At a most probable price of $499, the QST 92 delivers confidence and a measure of competence to eternal intermediates and early-stage advanced skiers who want to break the bonds of boring groomed trails and tackle off-trail terrain. That’s it’s as light as a salad for lunch makes it all the easier to toss around in tight quarters like trees and chutes.
While the 2017 Pearl is assuredly lighter and flexier, it’s essential character hasn’t changed. By nature an off-trail ski, it has enough torsional rigidity to cut crisply into hard snow. Its ability to instantly adapt to changes in terrain and snow conditions make the Black Pearl the perfect pick for the woman who is ready to try off-trail skiing but also expects to partake of an equal measure of groomers.
Every key feature of the Cham 2.0 W 87 is tuned to hit its high notes in new, or at least recent, snow. The short-radius sidecut for tight trees, the long-ski surface area for flotation, the rockered baseline to facilitate a quick swivel, are all better suited for choppy snow than groomage. It’s Paulownia core is also lightweight, so lithe lasses can push it around in heavy spring snow.
Kästle’s reputation for otherworldly edge grip was established by its MX models, fully cambered assault vehicles that tore groomed terrain to tatters. The FX series, here represented by the FX85 HP, despite using all but identical materials used in the MX mix, could not be more different.
Where the MX89 tries hard to adhere to terrain, the FX85 HP works overtime to keep the connection loose. Its pivot-friendly attitude begins with the baseline, a double rockered affair dubbed Dual Rise by Kästle. On a 173cm, the forward contact point is pulled back 361mm and the tail begins to elevate 217mm before it’s done. (We know these numbers because Kästle helpfully prints them on the topskin.)
The new Enforcer 93 is a spin-off of the widely lauded Enforcer 100, with whom it shares an appetite for all recipes for crud. One look at it’s amply rockered baseline tells you that no matter how well it performs on prepared slopes, it’s personality is definitely inclined to travel off-trail where the broken, irregular terrain actually has a calming effect
Like many skis with two sheets of Titanal in its guts, the Enforcer 93 likes to have some wind in its sails before its helmsman tries to maneuver. Once rolling, it’s relatively short contact area makes it feel quicker edge to edge than expected from a ride with a fairly portly 93mm waist.