The 2024 Salomon QST 98 gets a facelift for this year but remains the same build and shape, and that’s wonderful news for skiers who love the drifty profile, sturdy build, and surprising carving capabilities that make this an ideal one ski quiver for a ton of skiers out there. It’s so insanely automatic and confidence-inspiring that there’s no real need to change it up at the moment. As one of the better floaters out there at 98 mm wide, this ski has a ton of rocker to help you get through the deeper snow on the hill. Feel like ripping some groomers? The shorter turn radius makes quick work of the corduroy. Bumps and trees? This ski will make those tricky areas seem almost like flat ground due to the mix of cork and poplar in the build. Overall, this ski is an excellent choice for advanced and expert skiers who are looking for a solid and stable ski that also feels light and agile on the feet. It’s almost like nothing’s there, and that’s a pretty big feat given that it’s no feather.

Most of that has to with the build, which has not changed for 2024. We’re still getting a full poplar wood core, and while this adds a ton of stability and dampness to the ski, it’s not terribly light. For the most part, we’re okay with that, and that’s mainly due to the fact that the ski has quite a bit of rocker and taper to it that lightens the overall character. Still, the full poplar is bolstered by Salmon’s C/FX material consisting of vertical stringers of carbon and flax. These fibers are mixed into the fiberglass layer, so it makes the ski quite a bit stiffer and sturdier, especially when operated at higher speeds and by more aggressive skiers. In addition, we’re getting their cork damplifier in the tips, making the ski smooth and predictable even in crud, chop, and windblown snow. The construction of this ski certainly makes for a powerful feel, and that’s exemplified by the double sidewall technology found underfoot. By boosting the edge grip and torsional stiffness in the mid-point of the ski using a stiffer material, this generates a stouter feel in the deepest point in the carve. As such, it performs quite well on groomers and in a carved turn—especially given the dramatic rocker profile and taper shape. In the 183, the skis tip the scales at just under 2000 grams, so these skis are on the sturdy side for sure.

That said, the rocker profile, consisting of 26% in the tip and 22% in the tail is pretty dramatic. In addition, the long taper creates a relatively short turning radius of 17-meters in the 183, making it easy to turn with a strong personality. It’s the mix of the shape, taper, rocker, and build that makes this ski stand out. It’s definitely one of the smeariest, floatiest 98’s out there on the market today, putting a pretty big distance between itself and its competitors. At the same time, that short turning ability gives on-trail carvers something to look forward to when the corduroy gets laid down each night. We’ve seen this ski operate equally as well in both 12 inches of powder as well as firm early morning conditions, and that’s the mark of a fantastically versatile all-mountain ski with a freeride flair.

In addition to some eye-popping graphics, this ski stands tall when it comes to blending performance and character. Since it carries forward the build and shape, but with a fresh new look, skiers who liked it last year will continue to do so this season. Skiers who haven’t had the opportunity to get on this great ski should surely take advantage whenever possible. It doesn’t matter what kind of day it is out there on the hill, the 2024 Salomon QST 98 will make it a better one.