To understand where the Salomon Stance 90 fits in the All-Mountain East pantheon of Recommended models, it’s helpful to first understand its role within Salomon’s line, where it is cagily categorized as All-Mountain Frontside, a mash-up of two adjacent Realskiers categories. The blended genre succinctly captures the intent of the Stance series, to create what are essentially Frontside skis with wanderlust, always interested in what lies off-trail yet easily persuaded to lay down a neatly carved turn on corduroy. It’s the Frontside orientation that differentiates the three Stance models from Salomon’s other all-terrain series, QST, with its decidedly off-trail bias.
Within the cross-brand context of the All-Mountain East genre, the Stance 90 stands apart from the crowd in several respects. While its twin Titanal laminates put it toe-to-toe with the eminent Power players in the genre (think: Blizzard Anomaly 88, Völkl Mantra 88), it responds to a light rein, emphasizing ease over brute force. While it’s positioned as having a Frontside bias, unlike other carving-centric AME skis – such as the Fischer The Curv GT 85, for example – it isn’t built on a Frontside chassis, but an all-mountain, double-rockered foundation.
When the Stance series was launched in the 20/21 season, Salomon’s mainstay collection in the All-Mountain genres was QST, which focused on off-trail conditions. In the marketplace, QST had to go head-to-head with models from Blizzard, Nordica, Völkl and Stöckli, who loaded their best all-terrain skis with two sheets of Titanal. While the flagship QST 106 earned a following in the Big Mountain genre, the rest of the QST series didn’t fare as well against the richer constructions of the competition. Stance provided Salomon with its own, double-Ti-laminated series, leveling the playing field in the fiercely competitive All-Mountain East and All-Mountain West categories.
Salomon made a few alterations to the Stance construction last year, to further differentiate it from the crowded field. Already a comparatively light design, the Stances shed a few more grams by mixing ultralight Karuba with the earlier Stance’s all-poplar makeup. More importantly, the top layer of Titanal has been modified to minimize full-length metal laminates’ tendency to lock onto the turn. The goal of the new TwinFrame 2 design is a little looser connection to the snow that feels more playful and maneuverable in off-trail conditions.
The latest Stance 90 still retains the essential character of its predecessor, with an uptick in its Finesse qualities, without diminishing its edging accuracy. The family resemblance is due to all the design features the 2025 Stance 90 retains, such as the sidecut, camber line and size run of its earlier incarnation. Its carryover dimensions include a more slender silhouette than is the norm among all-terrain skis, with a narrower, squared-off tail, both signs of its Frontside genome. Its shape encourages the Stance 90 to retain a fall-line orientation that maintains momentum turn to turn.
Testers detected a definite improvement in the Stance 90’s ease of operation. “Surprisingly improved ski,” said one tester who pinpointed the upgrades’ impact. “The modification of the core makes this ski extremely versatile, easy to ski while maintaining high performance ski feel and characteristics.” Another tester called the new Stance 90, “Better than the first edition. Easier initiation with the same edge grip and stability.” Overall, the 2025 Stance 90 is a more accessible ski for a wider range of skier abilities. A relative bargain at $700, the Stance 90 is ideal for any skier climbing the skills ladder who wants one tool to do it all.
Just because it isn’t as burly as the Power skis in the All-Mountain East category, doesn’t mean a less aggro expert won’t appreciate the Stance 90. As ski test veteran and active ski coach Jim Schaffner summarized its capabilities, “It’s a good all-around ski, there for you without being flashy. The 102 is probably the best execution of this re-design, but all are good, aiming at a proficient, all-terrain skier. It should give the Mindbender 89 Ti a run for its money.”
Because the Stance 90 behaves like a Power ski wrapped in velvet, able to ski any condition with minimal pilot effort, we award the Stance 90 a Silver Skier Selection.