2021 Salomon Stance W 88

All-new and ready to strike in 2021, the Salomon Stance W 88 is the ladies' version of the men's 90. Other than the 2 mm in the waist, the biggest difference is that they're made with a blend of Karuba and Poplar wood rather than straight Poplar found in the men's ski. As a result, they're a bit lighter and more flexible, giving a wider swath of lady skiers the chance to get on and enjoy these awesome new offerings from Salomon. Like the men's version, the metal twin frame technology is the big selling point. Built with two sheets of metal, the second, top layer has cutouts in the forebody and tail, allowing for less weight and more maneuverability. This does not come at the expense of edge grip and precision, as the metal frame still sits squarely above the edges of the skis. As one of the 88's, the Stance is expected to perform well in all-mountain conditions and terrain, so with a bit of tip and tail rocker and the moderate taper shape, these things will float through some fresh snow while absolutely ripping carved turns on the groomers. Eastern skiers looking for that one set of skis for pretty much all conditions should be looking in this category and if you're interested in a ski that sits on the more advanced side of the spectrum, this is yet another reason to check out the Stance W 88. Ladies who love stability, maneuverability, and all-mountain precision should definitely check out this new ski from Salomon.

Allison Ruschp had a pretty good time on her 161 cm test length Stance 88, giving it top marks of 5 out of 5 for quickness, maneuverability, playfulness, and forgiveness. Stability, versatility, and overall impression all earned 4's, so lots of high scores across the board for Alli. She calls it a "front-side beauty! Watch out Black Pearl!" It's always fun comparing skis, and the Pearl, as a long-time front-runner in the 88 category, could certainly use a bit of competition. "Light, fun, and forgiving," she continues, "not amazing in crud, a little too light, especially at high speeds I was thrown around a little by its snappiness." With that blend of Karuba wood in the core, it's not too difficult to see why this would be the case for an aggressive skier like Alli. All other things being equal, a strong lady skier would be just fine on the men's Stance 90 if they're looking for a bit of extra stability at speed. Alli agrees, stating that the Stance W 88 is "not meant for the most aggressive skier, but for just about everyone else it is a perfect front-side ski. Another confidence booster for lady skiers who want to ski all day and still be able to maneuver the ski." Perhaps a bit limited on the high end by that blend of wood, the Stance W 88 seems to split the difference between a lighter ski like the Black Pearl and something on the burlier side like the Volkl Kenja or Nordica Santa Ana.

Allison Kozar was also on the 161 and loved the ski's quickness and maneuverability as well as playfulness, just like Alli did. Actually, their scorecards are virtually identical, I even had to check that I had the correct Allison. Allison Kozar only difference was a 3 out of 5 for forgiveness, showing she felt they were a bit stiffer than Allison Ruschp. Kozar notes that she "tested during a 4-6 inch snow day, so got to test soft snow, moguls, and groomers. I was surprised by how easy and quick the transition was from edge to edge, especially in firm moguls covered in soft snow. I thought they exceled on groomed terrain with snappy, stable turns. The tip shape engages a turn well but isn't too chattery from the rocker profile. I think it will be a great ski for the lady who loves groomers but also wants to have fun in soft conditions and be able to explore." I think that's exactly what Salomon had in mind, too.

Great new start for Salomon for 2021. The Stance line, both men's and women's are poised to make a lot of skiers very happy. The men's skis do go down to a 168, so if you're an aggressive lady skier who wants more stability with the beefier core, go right ahead with the 90, but most ladies will love the quickness and maneuverability of the W 88.