Standing out amongst its competitors for another year in a row, the Salomon QST Stella 106 has a way of maintaining its spot in the rankings for all-mountain powder skis for advanced to expert female skiers. With so many freeride-focused, wide-bodied skis out there, it takes a harmonious blend of construction, shape and profile to deliver the ideal flex and strength to weight ratio. Bringing forth the same great features and updates as last year but with a flashy, new topsheet, this versatile, playful powder ski remains smooth, sturdy and highly responsive. Its lightweight maneuverability and powerful stability allow a wide range of skiers accessibility to terrain ranging from wide open bowls to steep, tight trees. It’s easy to see why the QST Stella 106 returns for another season with only aesthetic changes, and it’s all thanks to Salomon’s confidence and assurance surrounding the success of the ski. Female freeriders who value a high-performance ski offering agility and precision will gravitate to the Stella and be happy they did.

The high-quality build is just the start of what makes this outstanding ski so notable. It’s lightweight, highly maneuverable nature is a result of the full poplar woodcore from tip to tail, maximizing agility while also offering optimum stability. Energetic and snappy, the addition of Salomon’s C/FX material blends carbon and flax stringers with a fiberglass laminate truly enhances the flex and overall feel, giving the Stella its signature traits. Most noticeable when loading up for a turn, the boost of energy in and out of each initiation is all thanks to this specific application. To ensure a smooth, consistent ride, cork damplifier is used in the tips and tails to reduce vibrations and unwanted chatter. Not only does this material do a fantastic job at dampening vibrations but it also cuts back on the weight versus alternative materials. Lastly, for added stiffness and stability, specifically underfoot, Salomon added double sidewall technology which incorporates a stiffer portion to the sidewall drastically enhancing edge grip.

Looking at the shape of the Stella, it’s easy to see why the performance is unparalleled. With dramatic early taper and deep rocker lines, the amount of flotation that is achievable is amazing. In soft snow conditions, these skis effortlessly smear and surf like cutting through butter. Given the shape, you do lose a bit of the effective edge but thanks to the double sidewall technology, it is not noticeable in the slightest. Upon encountering crud or chunder, they have an equally easy time plowing through, which can be attributed to the use of cork damplifier in the tips. As for the turning radius, the 165 cm length produces a 17 m turn radius, which definitely determines the style of turns the Stella excels at. While it loves to lean sideways and make surfy turns, that doesn’t mean it can’t make shorter, more maneuverable turns or be pointed straight down the fall line. Further proving the Stella’s versatile capabilities, especially as a wider-bodied ski.

We love to see the return of the QST Stella 106 with refreshed graphics and otherwise no alterations. It has proven successful in the past few years and simply continues its legacy. Salomon is certainly making a name for itself in the freeride world, with lightweight, soft but high performing skis. Between the QST Lux 92, Lumen 98 and Stella 106, each with its own application and personality, skiers get a range of options to choose from in this particular lineup. As the widest women’s option, the Stella offers exceptional flotation, stability and lightweight maneuverability for soft snow conditions and everything in between.