2022 Salomon QST Stella 106

The Salomon QST Stella 106 returns for another season! We get a new topsheet graphic for 2022, but the shape and construction of this versatile freeride ski remains the same. The QST series does a great job of blending stability at speed with playfulness and maneuverability and the 106 is certainly no exception. Salomon uses a lightweight poplar wood core, then adds in their patented C/FX material and Cork Damplifier tip. These two technologies work hand in hand to provide a very smooth skiing experience. Carbon is woven with flax to create a material that is energetic and responsive, but with more vibration damping than traditional carbon applications. Using cork in the tip of the ski reduces swing weight, while further minimizing any vibrations or chatter. The shape of the QST Stella 106 is designed with versatility in mind. Camber underfoot provides the necessary edge grip for firmer snow conditions while smooth rocker lines and early taper give the ski a maneuverable, surfy feel when things get deep.

Alix Klein tested the 174 cm QST Stella 106, which she thought was a great length for her. Alix absolutely loved her time on the ski, which is reflected in both her scores and written feedback. We almost saw full perfect scores from Alix, which almost never happens in our testing. Only forgiveness dropped to 3 out of 5 and torsional stiffness/edge grip to 4 out of 5. All of our other criteria received perfect 5 out of 5 scores. “This ski was poppy, hard charging easy to release any turn. Stable at high speeds, playful, loves to go straight and will make short radius turns as well. Holds an edge while also getting to the next edge easily. If I were looking to buy a ski, this is what I would get.” In all our testing on the Salomon QST skis, the theme of being both stable and playful remains consistent, and is arguably the most impressive aspect of these skis. It’s a huge challenge for manufacturers to achieve both of those characteristics in a single ski and Salomon does it extremely well.

Carly Monahan went for the 174 cm length, which she thought skied true to size, but also mentioned she might have preferred the shorter length. On that 174 cm length, Carly’s scores seemed skewed to the stability side of things, which makes sense. Flotation and stability both earned 5 out of 5 scores, with playfulness and quickness/maneuverability dropping to 2 out of 5. We would venture a guess that those scores would even out a little if she had a go on the shorter 167 cm length. “If you’re looking for a ski that will plow through anything and float like a champ, the Stella is for you. If you don’t often find yourself in powder and big terrain, keep looking.” We’ve often said that big terrain and soft snow is a prime application for the QST 106. We do see skiers on the east use it as well, but it typically fills more of a powder ski role for an eastern skier. Alli Ruschp went for the 167 cm length and her scores were more consistent than what we saw from Carly. Only versatility dropped to 3 out of 5 with all other scores at least 4 out of 5. Flotation, quickness/maneuverability, and overall impression all earned full 5 out of 5 scores. “Felt very confident on these! Wide enough to go over everything, still relatively lightweight, and fun! Larger turn radius at 17 m, but could still make quicker turns easily. Held an edge beautifully and not chattery. Again, I was very confident skiing these.” The slightly contrasting feedback from Carly and Alli is very valuable and accurately identifies how much the length you choose can affect the overall feel and perceived performance of the ski.

Whether you’re a western skier looking for a daily driver to take into back bowls, trees, and anywhere else you fancy, or you’re an eastern skier looking to fill a spot in your quiver for softer snow, the QST Stella 106 is a lot of fun to ski. As with all QST skis, it has a superb blend of feeling stable at speed without being too demanding. It’s still easy to flick side to side when you need to, but then you can point it down the fall line and let it run without any issues. It feels like a bonus that you could also match it with the Salomon Shift for a combo resort/AT ski. Simply put, you can do a lot on the QST Stella 106.