2023 Salomon QST 106

Updated for 2023, the Salomon QST 106, or One-o-Six as it reads on the skis, gets a lot of the similar treatment that the Blank and the QST 98 got for last year, with a few exceptions. Built with a poplar wood core, the skis also use Salomon’s Carbon/Flax (C/FX) material to stiffen and dampen the ski in a carved turn. One of the new construction methods used for this year is the double sidewalls that we’ve seen on both QST 98/Blank, as well as their S/Force carving skis. This additional, firmer sidewall material greatly increases the torsional stiffness and edge grip underfoot making the 106 carve and hold a lot better on harder snow. It’s not that the 106 is specifically designed to rip GS turns on groomers, but that certainly happens sometimes. When we were skiing the 106 in Alta, it became very apparent that this was a great choice, since the top half of your run generally consists of off-piste adventure skiing with the bottom portion containing some great cruising. As a result, a ski like this makes for an amazing option for those who ski mixed terrain and conditions within the resorts. One aspect that the 98 and Blank absorbed is a shorter turn radius, but this does not carry into the 106, allowing the skier to still have that straighter and longer arc with a more aggressive cut. The 181 generates a 19-meter turn radius while in the 98, we’re seeing 17-meters in the 183. Still with a generous amount of tip and tail taper and rocker, these 106’s are fantastic floaters, and highly maneuverable in the deeper snows.

Bob St.Pierre got to ski both the 181 and the 189. Here at Stowe, he skied the 181, noting it was “short, but not too bad.” In Alta, the 189 was available, and that was a much better fit. Regardless, in the 181 in Stowe, he got out on them on a nice powder day—about 12-18 inches—and noted that they were “highly maneuverable, incredibly floaty, and a whole lot of fun.” That 181 earned a score of 5 out of 5 for flotation, with 4’s for all other categories saves for forgiveness. In the 189, the 5 remained for flotation and added for playfulness and versatility. In Alta, Bob noted that the 189 “was the ideal length and a pretty darn good everyday Utah ski. It’s not that often that we get to test skis in other places, and this was a great experience for me/us. It was great in the chop, awesome in the trees, and pretty darn grippy on the groomers. It really made for an awesome overall experience.”

Jeff Neagle also got the dual-106 experience, both at Stowe and in Alta. He skied the 181 only, and that seemed to be a good size for him. Jeff scored it top marks of 5 out of 5 for flotation and stability, with 4’s for overall impression, versatility, playfulness, quickness, and maneuverability. Jeff notes that “while it's not the best ski when you look at individual characteristics, it's one of the best when you consider all possible characteristics and applications. For being 106 underfoot, it's impressively versatile. Playful, loose, and fun when you want it to be, but it has a serious side too. Considering how much Salomon reduced the effective edge by increasing the rocker and taper, it's impressive how stable and powerful this ski can feel. Not endless stability like a Katana or something like that, but an excellent mix of feeling both agile and strong. Absolutely loved skiing it both here at Stowe and at Alta this season. In my opinion, it's impressive when a ski can perform well and feel appropriate in such a wide range of terrain and snow conditions. Could be a go-to powder ski for an eastern skier and equally appropriate as a daily driver for a western skier. Salomon has a winner in the new QST 106 in my opinion.”

Steve McKenzie, David Carter, and Chris McClelland all skied the 106 as well and had similar experiences during our test days here in Stowe. They all commented on the smoothness and stability of the ski, noting that they performed quite well in our spring conditions, while remaining poised and sturdy when the subsurface turned firm. This type of well-roundedness was noted by all of our testers this year, with a high emphasis on versatility and playfulness. Advanced and expert skiers who dabble in soft snow, hard snow, deep snow, and other snow will love the character and personality of the updated Salomon QST 106.