Power Picks: Shredding the Gnar
Any ski over 113mm underfoot can be thrown into a skid, but some would prefer it if the pilot knew how to point ‘em. Our Power picks not only aren’t afraid of speed, they live for it and to one degree or another, require it. Imagine you’re heli-skiing on a pitch...QST 118
The Salomon QST 118 is all about the drift. It likes to smudge the top of the turn, swivel a smidge in the middle and pivot as it drifts to the finish. If a turn were a performance of Hamlet, the QST 118 would show up near the end of Act II and leave before Act IV.
Aside from its smear tactics, the most noticeable trait of the QST 118 is its light weight, less than 2kg in a 185cm, which is a blessing considering its surface area, roughly the same square mileage as Montenegro. All you have to do to guide the QST 118 through powder is push it around; advanced technical skills aren’t required.
Cyclic
The Cyclic 115’s ample tip and tail rocker not only disengage the extremities for easier swiveling, their soft flex lets the ski bow in soft snow, compressing the cambered center section and energizing the turn exit. The Cyclic 115 knows how to set a rhythm even white guys can dance to, using its coiled rebound energy to guide the skier into the next move. Whether slashing through freshies or crushing crud, the Cyclic 115 slithers through the snow with the confidence and grace of a professional hoofer.
Confession
If the Confession feels guilty, it might be because it knows where all the bodies are buried. With two sheets of Titanal in its guts it doesn’t so much float as burrow, blasting its way through wind crust, spring porridge or ragged crud. After a run on the Confession, you’re looking for other worlds to conquer. It’s like have an army of earthmovers on each foot, rolling over once powdery pastures and turning them into pavement.