The Salomon XDR 88 Ti is the widest ski in their collection of all mountain skis. The XDR line has often been referred to as more of a carving ski collection, although at 88 mm underfoot this particular ski does fall nicely into the all mountain realm. For 2019 Salomon has updated it with their newest version of C/FX. They have doubled the amount of carbon and flax in the ski, which should give it even more energy and vibration damping. A single sheet of metal is full width underfoot, then tapers as it reaches the tip and tail. The XDR 88 has quite a bit of rocker and early taper considering its carving performance. This positions it as a relatively unique ski that can carve and also perform well as a true all mountain ski.
Mike Thomas definitely agrees. He tested the 186 cm length and at the top of his test form wrote, “Great ski.” Mike didn’t give it a single score under 4 out of 5, with playfulness, torsional stiffness, versatility, and overall impression all receiving 5. “Just a super versatile all mountain ski,” commented Mike. “Does just about everything well. You can crank it up and rail mid-radius turns getting tons of energy back from the ski or relax a little and cruise or steer shorter turns. Just plain versatile. A ski I could own as an everyday, don’t-know-the-conditions ski.” We really like Mike’s response to the XDR 88 Ti, so we thought we would give you his entire response. He finished off his test form by recommending it “for an advanced intermediate on up skier looking for a ski that is 50/50 all mountain freeride and carving.”
David Raybould tested the 179 cm length and really was impressed by the ski’s ability in soft snow despite only being 88 mm underfoot. He thought the ski had a “fat shovel,” and it really does feel that way because of its shape. David described it as feeling “solid, planted, and damp.” Salomon really has accomplished an impressive feat with their blend of carbon and flax fibers. We’ve talked about it here on SkiEssentials.com quite a bit before, but the performance it achieves is extraordinary. You get the energy and responsiveness of carbon, but with a smoother overall feel thanks to being paired with flax. Despite its carving performance, David actually found it to be “best for soft snow, crud, and ungroomed.” We think it’s a pretty even mix of performance characteristics, but we have often mentioned how good we think it is as a mogul ski.
David Wolfgang was very impressed by both the ski’s carving performance and its versatility. That’s pretty much exactly what Salomon set out to accomplish. David didn’t give the ski a single score under 4 out of 5 across the board. He tested the 186 cm length and commented that “with one layer of metal underfoot this ski is damp and holds an edge.” David is giving the metal the credit, but the C/FX 3 material is definitely adding to that. He also touched on its versatility, “had the opportunity to ski it from frozen corduroy to cream cheese. The ski did not miss a beat.”
The XDR 88 Ti truly is a versatile all mountain ski. Salomon has done a great job with the design and this newest rendition of its construction has definitely taken it a step further. It feels solid and energetic on firm snow, yet can play around and maneuver in soft snow and tricky terrain with ease. It could easily act as a one ski quiver for a lot of people, and should be included in anyone’s list of options when choosing an all mountain ski.
