Part of the Quattro concept is to offer a choice of waist width, length and sidecut for a given construction and price point. The Quattro W 8.0 Ca has a sister ski, the 7.4 Ca, with the identical build, baseline and sidecut radius for each size, but an overall narrower silhouette. That both skis feel stable yet flexible is partly attributable to Blizzard’s IQ binding system that centers the integrated binding between two shoulders and fixes it to the ski with a single screw in the middle. A shock-dampening suspension system keeps the ride calm but doesn’t inhibit the Quattro W 8.0 Ca’s unusually sensitive snow feel.
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.
