2027 Salomon Stance Pro 96

For 2027, the Salomon Stance Pro 96 is a carryover ski with the same shape, build, and graphics as last year. The Stance Pro 96 still relies on an energetic wood core and two sheets of metal to deliver amazing all-mountain performance and versatility. This is a great option for advanced and expert skiers who are looking to boost their directional skiing experience and want a lot of stability and power to go along with surprisingly good flotation. Skis in this width range with two sheets of metal are generally on the burlier side, but the Stance Pro 96 allows for some easier turning and softer snow opportunities. It has a flatter overall profile and a traditional shape that makes it incredibly versatile in soft and firm snow.

Salomon uses a fun layering system to get the uniqueness of these skis. Built with a blend of poplar and karuba in the core, the Stance Pro 96 strikes a balance between smoothness and energy. The bulk of the smoothness and damping comes from the use of two sheets of titanal. The upper laminate is milled out in rectangular areas in the forebody and the tail, and those zones are replaced with carbon and basalt fibers. This boosts the pop and snap of the ski to go along with the karuba’s zippy feeling. While burly, the skis aren’t terribly heavy, with the 182 sitting on the scale at a stated weight of 1920 g/ski. Tester Michael Rooney states that “The Stance 96 was easy to get on edge and carve where needed. Groomers even with some ice this ski can perform for all of them easily. A skier who is experienced and ready to have a ski that will perform to their level.”

Skis in this width and shape range are very versatile but often don’t stand out in one particular zone. The Stance Pro 96 is a mid-width ski that can easily blend the attributes of all-mountain and freeride use. It has a relatively longer turn radius of 20-meters which puts more emphasis on the skier and their intended turn styles and shape. It can make quick and short skidded turns really well, and then you can open it up and let it run in wider spaces. Salomon states a rocker profile of 17% in the tips and 12% in the tail so the side view of the ski isn’t overly dramatic. It works surprisingly well in crud and chop with a nice balance of power and agility. Tester Bob St.Pierre notes that “I really like the quickness and agility of this ski especially for how strong and stable it feels in a carved turn. It's not as powerful as I think I'd like, and it does bleed into the QST line a bit more than it used to. This is an all-mountain and all-terrain ski for sure. It's happy making all sorts of turn shapes and styles on groomers and then it can wade through fresh snow and trees with a lot of confidence.”

Traditional skiers looking for a powerful and zippy ski will love this thing. The Stance Pro 96 has always been an awesome ski for advanced and expert skiers, and it’ll continue to hold that title into 2027. For whatever reason, it’s never really caught on as a very popular ski, probably because it’s overshadowed in its own brand by the QST line, but for those looking for more power and carving performance, the Stance Pro 96 is a very strong and capable ski. It’s fun to get up on edge and feel the full power of the carve and the damping of metal to go along with a wider-bodied shape in softer snow.