SKI CANADA TEST 2022
SALOMON QST 98 * METAL ALL-MOUNTAIN * EDITOR’S CHOICE
BEST FOR: Advanced to expert skiers who want a playful ski.
The QST 98 straddles the line between all-mountain versatility and the playful soft-snow performance of a freeride ski. So much so that we were torn between including it here or with our freeride skis in the Fall 2021 issue of SC. An update to Salomon’s popular QST line, the 98 replaces the 99, while the 92 and 106 remain unchanged (as do the women-specific equivalents). The update includes a deeper rocker and more taper at the tip and tail, making the ski feel shorter, more forgiving and more surfy. Testers had no problem making quick adjustments and were able to wash out the tails to dump speed with little effort—but not at the expense of pop. “Fun and lively with a springboard tail to launch you out of the snow whenever the urge arose,” wrote Tobin Leopkey. All that playfulness impacts the ski’s stability on hard snow and in crud. But with an extra layer of ABS sidewall underfoot and cork at the tip for dampening, testers found it held an edge just fine for carving groomers.
LENGTHS: 169, 176, 183, 189
DIMENSIONS: 132/98/120 @ 176
RADIUS: 16 @ 176
OTHER MODELS: Spark, 92, 106
SUGGESTED RETAIL: $699
