2023 Salomon QST Spark

Unchanged for 2023, the Salomon QST Spark is a fun ski that allows intermediate to advanced skiers an energetic and poppy ski that can handle a wide variety of all-mountain conditions and terrain. Thanks to the shape, construction, and profile of these skis, a broad range of skiers will find a whole lot to like about the true well-rounded format of the Spark. Taking the place of the QST 85 from two seasons ago, the Spark sets itself apart in a few different ways.

At 85 mm underfoot, it occupies that mid-range in the all-mountain line, and this makes it easy and fun to use as a one-ski quiver for most conditions and terrain. Wide enough to float through some fresh, and narrow enough to still bite on the firmer snow, this shape of ski has a whole lot to do with the future success of the model and the skiers who find themselves on it. One of the bigger changes from the QST 85 to the Spark is a more twin-tipped shape that allows for a more playful release from the turn, and a bit more of a freestyle application. Since these Sparks are available in shorter lengths overall, they serve more as a tweener, or a bridge, between the junior skis in the Salomon line and the longer and burlier QST adult versions. This is all good news for intermediate skiers who are somewhere in between the youth models and the adult ones.

Built with a poplar wood core and a half-cap construction, this is where the Spark has some similarities with the outgoing 85, and that's good news for skiers who enjoyed the snappy and poppy nature of the 85. As one of those skiers, I really appreciated how Salomon could get so much performance out of such a simple construction. The amount of positive camber underfoot has a lot to do with it as it builds energy into the ski, and doesn't require as much power from the skier. With each and every turn, you can feel the ski come around, making clean and quick arcs, and these Sparks have a lot of that same character, as the step-down sidewalls gives the ski great grip underfoot and more quickness and agility in the tips and tails. In the 164, the 15-meter turn radius is right on par with the type of arc this skier will like to make, which is great for both on and off-trail skiing.

With a wider range of sizes, but still a great and fun-loving personality, the replacement to the QST 85 has a bit more playful nature, while retaining the energy and agility that a lot of skiers really loved about the older model. The Spark bridges the gap a bit better, and the branding seems to be right on. Thanks to the shape, build, and profile of the skis, the Salomon QST Spark ushers in a new generation of skiers to the QST line, creating life-long fans of the brand and the model lineup.