2021 Salomon QST Stella 106

With a wide platform and some good built-in rocker, the 2021 Salomon QST Stella 106 bridges the gap between the freeride and powder skiing division. They're a bit wide for an eastern every day ski, but for western skiers who are looking for a do-it-all ski, this could be the one. Us easterners will likely need a narrower complement in our quiver, but hey, that's okay. For fresh, soft, and broken snow, there's a lot to like about these QST 106's. Built just like the men's versions, the Stella has the built-in tail rocker as well as the cork damplifier to keep the skis steady and floaty all day long. Built with a full sandwich sidewall construction, these poplar cored skis have carbon and flax laminates to stiffen and dampen without adding weight. This results in a smooth, stable, and confident feel in the ski that many seekers of the fresh will certainly enjoy. They're not too stiff so they won't get bounced around in the snow and at the same time, they're burly enough to handle high speeds and aggressive skiing. That tail rocker, though, really sets the 106 apart from the competition. Easy to smear and slarve turns in the pow, the 106 releases easily from turns, and with the increased taper of the tips and tails, the skis float easily and smartly. They cut right through the crud and chop, and since they don't have metal, the flex is well-tuned for this type of ski experience. Get this thing on the right day, and you'll be pretty darn stoked that you've got that substance and profile underfoot. Our testers loved the ski and its ability to make all sorts of turns in various conditions. It is unchanged for 2021, however we were not able to feature it in last year's test, so this is all new input and information from our contributors (both named Allison).

Allison Ruschp skied the 167 and found that it skied true to its size. She loved the flotation, maneuverability, and overall impression of the ski with all of those categories earning 5's out of 5. Versatility was the low score on the sheet, with a still-average score of 3. 4's for the rest of the categories, showing that the 106 is more versatile than its shape may let on. Alli said that she "felt very confident on these! Wide enough to go over everything, still light (ish) and fun! Larger turn radius of 17-meters, but could make quicker turns easily." In terms of the grip, Alli notes that the skis "held an edge beautifully and did not chatter." To reiterate, "Again, very confident skiing this-a feel good ski!" A lot of skiers value confidence as it allows you to push your own boundaries as well as those of the ski. If you feel more comfortable, you're likely to use the fall line and be a bit more aggressive. If that's something you value, you're probably going to have a bit more fun and that's what it's all about.

Allison Kozar didn't get the best day to test out the 106, mostly wind-scoured snow and hard pack, so she did feel that "on a groomed trail that was scratched off, going at moderate speed, they felt a bit squirrely and wanted to turn when I wanted to go straight." Likely the softer snow would help keep Allison more on line, as her score of flotation from her 167 cm test length ski was a 5 out of 5. A 4 for forgiveness shows the ski's ability to bend and flex in that softer snow, and was also a likely culprit for some wandering on the ice. She found them to be damp and noted that they'd be "a great backcountry and touring option." Sometimes the test conditions just aren't right for the ski, and we see that more with fatter skis on low-snow days as well as narrow skis on soft days, and we do our best with what we have!

For soft snow, it's hard to beat a smooth and stable ski like the QST Stella 106. Salomon has done a great job with the tapered shape and the extended rocker profile and skiers who spend most of their time in the fresh will love these things.