SKI CANADA TEST 2022
SALOMON QST BLANK * FREERIDE/POWDER * EDITORS’ CHOICE
BEST FOR: The no-compromise pow day ski.
Nimble and easy-turning are not the usual descriptions for the widest ship in any brand’s fleet, nor a ski designed by pros. But that’s exactly what testers kept telling us when they reluctantly turned in the Blank. Salomon tapped its sponsored athletes and merged its carryover QST 106 and its discontinued QST 118 to create this freeride-focused toy. It retained the sheets of C/FX, a stiffness-adding carbon and flax fibre, and added cork at the tail to the cork tips, upping the vibration absorption without weight. New is a double sidewall, an extra strip of ABS inserted around the centre of the ski for smooth grip in rough snow. With lots of tip and tail rocker, the Blank floated through the deep and chop, but unlike a lot of big skis it didn’t feel sloppy or slow. Just thinking turn had it swinging around in the tight trees and bumps. Maybe most surprisingly was that it carved groomers nicely for such a big ski. Several testers described the Blank as intuitive, familiar and versatile. Even people who don’t normally like fat skis loved them. “Perfect for the trickster pow skier who loves tight trees and buttery butters,” said Tobin Leopkey. “Favourite ski of the day!”
LENGTHS: 178, 186, 194
DIMENSIONS: 138/112/127 @ 186
RADIUS: 17 @ 186
WEIGHT: 2,200g @ 186
OTHER MODELS: QST 106, QST 98, QST 93
SUGGESTED RETAIL: $849
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