The ludicrous imbalance between the number of Power versus Finesse models in the Frontside genre can best be explained by two interrelated factors. One, the Frontside category places a premium on Power characteristics like continuous carving and stability at speed and downplays Finesse qualities like drift and low-speed turning. Two, the Frontside family of almost every brand has a hierarchy with a Power ski or two on top while the rest of the clan is built to hit lower price points, dropping their performance sufficiently to knock them out of our Recommended ranks. If you want a Finesse Frontside ski, just pay less.

But Salomon as always had a soft spot for soft skis with a short turn radius. It made its mark as a ski brand with its monocoque shell design that over time became synonymous with softer flex. Some of its more popular series, like X-Scream and X-Wing, were sought out by skiers who liked their ability to maneuver in tight corners, like those found in the never-groomed moguls on High Rustler at Alta. Which brings us to the XDR 84 Ti, which depends on a weave of carbon and flax fibers (C/FX), square sidewalls and a patch of Titanal underfoot to provide enough substance to handle firm, Frontside conditions, with an emphasis on ease over aggression. Pat Parraguirre from Bobo’s, who might know more people in Reno on a first-name basis than any public official, is a lightweight expert who prefers skis that have a high response to low-pressure input. “Very predictable and smooth feeling on snow. It’s like putting on an old pair of leather gloves: damp and smooth,” says the de facto Mayor of Reno.

“Shockingly fun,” avers the pleasantly surprised Mark Elling, of boot testing fame. “Super nimble,” says one of the few skiers who can say they are a PSIA Level III instructor and a Board Certified Pedorthist. On the other side of the country, Rob Parent from Sun & Snow was “surprised to feel so much rebound” in a ski that was also so “smooth and relaxed.” If you’re a highly skilled skier who hits the gas the second you’re off the lift, the XDR 84 Ti probably isn’t your ski. You’re a better candidate for the new Salomon S/Force Bold, which is in many ways the polar opposite of the XDR 84 Ti.

One of the best options available for Finesse skiers of any age, we again signal its suitability for seniors with a Silver Skier Selection.