2022 Salomon S/Force Bold

The Salomon S/Force Bold is the top of the line ski in what Salomon refers to as their “Resort” collection. Another way to think about the line is that they blend the two worlds of frontside and all-mountain skis, and that’s especially true in regards to the Bold. At 85 mm underfoot, the Bold is the widest ski in the collection. If you like carving turns and don’t like being limited by softer or variable snow conditions, this is right up your alley. Salomon uses a poplar wood core with two full sheets of metal, essentially mimicking their race construction. We also get their Edge Amplifier GS technology, a better way of connecting the system binding that maximizes power transfer while in a carve. Salomon’s Crossover Tip uses TPU and C/FC inserts in the titanal that acts as somewhat of a bumper and helps absorb vibrations as soon as the tip comes in contact with something that might derail it. In regards to shape, the S/Force Bold is mostly camber with just some slight rise in the tip to smooth out turn initiation. With that build and shape, the S/Force Bold is a powerful all-mountain ski that loves to lay trenches.

Marcus Shakun tested the 184 cm length. That’s the longest available length for the S/Force Bold, and supported Marcus’ large frame nicely. Marcus’ highest score was for torsional stiffness/edge grip at 5 out of 5, while stability, quickness/maneuverability, versatility, and overall impression were right behind at 4 out of 5. Unsurprisingly, forgiveness and playfulness fell to 3 out of 5. The S/Force Bold is all business. “Bold is right!! Give it all you got! Push harder on the edge and maybe some more… Super edge grip and stable as can be. It’s kind of a tank on snow. Not super fast edged to edge, just nice and maneuverable and holds so well. Pure confidence. The tail has some beef to it so watch it off trail...stay ahead of it don’t let it ski you. An aggressive advanced skier would really enjoy what it has to offer. Wider shovel allowed it to push through anything in its way.” That’s great feedback from Marcus. When linking carving turns, the S/Force Bold provides exceptional edge grip, incredible stability, and seemingly limitless confidence. As soon as you take it off trail into more technical terrain, however, it can feel pretty demanding. An advanced to expert level skier won’t have any issues unweighting the tail and getting it to swing around when they want to, but it still requires a lot of skier input. We expect most people buying the S/Force Bold won’t be taking it into terrain like that very often as the best application for a ski like this is pairing it with an existing or planned wider, more-rockered ski.

Bob St.Pierre also skied the 184 cm length in the S/Force Bold. He described that length as feeling “very true to size--would not want much longer in this ski.” That’s notable feedback from Bob as with other skis he often prefers lengths in the high-180 cm range. No need to size up on the S/Force Bold, and for some skiers, it may be worth going slightly shorter than your typical length choice. Bob awarded the Bold 5 out of 5 scores for stability, torsional stiffness/edge grip, and overall impression. Interestingly, we didn’t get any 4 out of 5 scores, rather versatility and quickness/maneuverability landed at the 3 out of 5 mark and flotation, playfulness, and forgiveness dropped to 2 out of 5. Remember, this ski is the real deal. It’s not designed to be a forgiving ski, it’s designed to satisfy very aggressive advanced to expert level skiers. “The S-Force Bold has true tip to tail power and stability. These things absolutely rip! No speed limit or edge angle limit, feel free to tip and rip these skis and continue to push forward into the turn. I think the width works great here. Neither the build nor the taper/profile for versatility or all-mountain skiing, but the extra material underfoot does a great job in making the ski as smooth and stable as anything out there. More race-like than its competitors (Elan Wingman 86, Volkl Deacon 84), The Bold truly lives up to its name. Great for advanced and expert skiers looking for a wider carver, just be aware that versatility is not its strong suit, as the weight of the ski keeps it pretty glued to the snow, which is a good thing for the on-piste and front side skier.”

If you like the idea of mobbing around the mountain and laying impressive arcs no matter what the snow conditions are, the S/Force Bold is your kind of ski. If you’re a timid skier or someone who’s still working on their technique, the S/Force Bold is not your kind of ski. The name really says it all. It’s bold. Salomon is bold by making a ski like this. It’s a burly, powerful ski that would leave some skiers cowering in intimidation, but if you’re up for the task, it’s a powerhouse of a ski that’s super rewarding as you leave trenches of snow in your path.