2022 Salomon Stance 96
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Ski Stats

Sidecut 132/96/114
Radius 20m@ 182cm
Lengths 168,176,182,188
Weight 1940g @ 182cm
MSRP $850
FIND
Power Score: 8.51

Finesse Score: 8.49

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One way to grok the role played by the Stance 96 in Salomon’s line is to look at its counterpart in Salomon’s QST collection, the new QST 98. Earlier versions of this QST included on-trail features like super-wide tips and multiple doses of shock-dampening fibers, but the new QST 98 has a clear bias for off-trail conditions. Salomon can afford to tilt the QST towards side-of-the-trail conditions because the Stance 96 is so rock-solid on groomers. If you want to play with the big boys at the head of the AMW pack, you have to use the same materials, so the Stance 96 sandwiches its poplar core with laminates of Titanal and carbon-flax fiber (CF/X), a double dose of dampeners that keep the Stance 96 planted on the planet. The only acknowledgement that it’s up for heading off trail is a rockered tip that feels a little lost when it hasn’t any loose snow under it to give it something to do. The Stance 96 handles speed well, which is a good thing as it likes to hew closely to the fall line. A rectangular cutout in the Titanal topsheet pares off a few ounces so the Stance 96 feels a little more agile than its girth would suggest, but it imparts a sensation of imperturbable solidity more than playfulness.

One way to grok the role played by the Stance 96 in Salomon’s line is to look at its counterpart in Salomon’s QST collection, the new QST 98.  Earlier versions of this QST included on-trail features like super-wide tips and multiple doses of shock-dampening fibers, but the new QST 98 has a clear bias for off-trail conditions.  Salomon can afford to tilt the QST towards side-of-the-trail conditions because the Stance 96 is so rock-solid on groomers.

Vis-a-vis its competition from other brands, the Stance 96 takes dead aim at the wood-and-Titanal chargers from Blizzard, Nordica, Kastle and Stöckli.  If you want to play with the big boys, you have to use the same materials, so the Stance 96 sandwiches its poplar core with laminates of Titanal and carbon-flax fiber (CF/X), a double dose of dampeners that keep the Stance 96 planted on the planet. The only acknowledgement that it’s up for heading off trail is a rockered tip that feels a little lost when it hasn’t any loose snow under it to give it something to do.

The Stance 96 handles speed well, which is a good thing as it likes to hew closely to the fall line.  Its long natural turn shape is the product of an unusually narrow tail that helps keep the skier oriented downhill. A rectangular cutout in the Titanal topsheet pares off a few ounces so the Stance 96 feels a little more agile than its girth would suggest, but it imparts a sensation of imperturbable solidity more than playfulness.

Tester comments confirm the Stance 96’s affinity for hauling ass downhill. “Silky smooth and confident in long turns where it’s solid at high speeds,” notes a Footloose foot soldier. “Very solid feel,” echoes Jim Schaffner from Start Haus. “Predictable, powerful edge grip makes it a home run!”

All in, the Stance 96 possesses an almost perfectly balanced blend of Power and Finesse properties with a slight bias towards hard snow in a genre obsessed with the soft stuff.  The Stance 96 may not reside at the top of the All-Mountain West pile, but at least it has membership in the exclusive club of outstanding all-terrain skis.

Test Score Data

Total Score: 85.00
Early to Edge:
Continuous Carve:

Rebound/Turn Finish:

Stability/Accuracy @ Speed:
Short-radius Turning:
8.44
9.00
7.89
9.22
7.67
Off-piste Performance:
Low-speed Turning:
Forgiveness/Ease:
Drift/Scrub:
Finesse/Power Balance:
8.67
7.89
8.89
8.67
8.67