2021 SALOMON STANCE 96 SKI REVIEW
It’s one thing when a ski company tweaks or updates a model, it’s a whole nother when a manufacturer just up and makes a new mold and line. Salomon’s a pretty bold ski builder with a bunch of technological advances and techniques under their belt. From the Monocoque build of the race skis to the free-wheeling 1080’s bringing the company to the forefront of the freestyle movement, Salomon has never been afraid of innovation and imagination. The all-new Stance line for 2021 doesn’t really take the sport to the next level, but rather fills a void in Salomon’s line that’s going to offer an alternative to some of the other popular lines on the market. The flagship model, the Stance 96, fits the bill of a well-built all-mountain ripper that has a ton of upside but also a lot of competition.
What sets a ski apart in a crowded field? Salomon never really had anything to go up against the Mantra or the Bonafide or the Enforcer in terms of build and stability, but that’s about to change. Our wonderful sales representative brought the whole line (90, 96, and 102 for men’s) on a fantastically snowy day here at Stowe. The woods were finally starting to fill up and the groomed terrain was packed and dry and ready to rip. We get the 30-second rundown before clicking in, and I was fortunate enough to be on the retail Warden 13 setup versus the demo plate in the 188 cm length—just right for me. From the first turns on down, I was hooked. This wasn’t just another wide all-mountain ski with some sort of metal plate and some alternative materials thrown into place (although that’s kind of what the build is like), this was a lively ski that made clean, round, and pure turns at any speed and in any terrain. Graphically it’s pretty bland, but under the hood is all about performance and precision.
Wood! Metal! Carbon! Fiberglass! Flax! This ski has got it all! As we’ve seen in Salomon’s QST line over the past few years, they certainly don’t shy away from putting assorted materials in their skis. Somehow, the concoction works and we’re left with a smooth, stable, and peppy ski that has just seemed to come out of nowhere. The Poplar wood core is bolstered by a metal sheet on the bottom and a partial metal laminate on top. Milled-out zones in the forebody and tail reveal small vertical windows in which Salomon places it’s Carbon and Flax fibers. This C/FX material is used in the QST line to boost performance and it does a pretty good job for how light it is. The full vertical sidewall completes the build so even at first glance, this ski certainly stacks up against some of the more established members of the crowd. Tip and tail rocker are pretty average for a ski of this shape and construction as is the amount of camber underfoot.
Earth-shattering? Mind-blowing? Status Quo-changing? None of these really apply to the Stance 96 but as we’ve seen over the past few years, skis begin to develop their own personalities and characters, and ultimately, a following. The performance of the ski warrants a thorough look for sure for any skiers who are entering the mid-90's all-mountain ski market. Packed powder is awesome for skiing, but can be misleading when testing skis because everything feels great on soft groomers. That said, I could tell from the start that the Stance excelled in these conditions and I felt like I was making some of my best turns of the year—mostly due to the conditions, but some part had to be the skis, right? From one side of the trail to the next, these skis carved clean, round, and smooth turns with no questions asked and no speed limit in sight. That same response you get from a Mantra or a Bonafide is well-replicated in the Stance, just with a woodier rather than metallic feel. Go right ahead and roll these things on edge—the entry into the turn brings you in predictably. I felt that I could push hard and sink in deep to the turn as it unfolded with a smooth and confident finish. Really great at transitioning to the next turn, the Stance 96 isn’t an abusive ski that requires complete and total focus all the time but certainly has the muscle and muster to provide quality feedback and abundant energy.
What about the woods, you say? Loved them. They’re easy to initiate and they’re not too heavy, so they slide around just fine in the tighter trees here in Vermont. Quick enough and nimble enough, the Stance 96 transitions cleanly from ripping GS turns on the trail to jumping in the trees and wiggling through the thicket. For me, that’s the true definition of an all-mountain ski, and Salomon really gets it right with the 96. Neither the tips nor the tails are terribly stiff, and this works great in the woods as you can easily twist the ski into a turn at any point. The stiffer skis have a bit of a delay in this application, leading to a slightly more dragged feeling in the trees. At my 188 cm test length, the 20-meter turn radius allows you to switch up the turn shape almost instantaneously, leading to the variety and versatility that are required for this type of skiing. It’s such a great shape for fun-loving skiers, and for most folks, it eliminates the need for a two-ski quiver. Although if you want to buy more than one pair of skis, you definitely should.
Skis typically evolve, they don’t always materialize. The Stance series, seemingly pulled out of thin air, fills a need in Salomon’s line as well as provides an alternative to some of the more demanding all-mountain skis on the market. The 96, sliding right in the middle of the line, offers incredible versatility and a luxury car type ride. Smooth as silk and with power to spare, the 2021 Salomon Stance 96 should develop a loyal following fairly quickly—they have a story to tell all their own, and that’s what’s needed these days to find your seat at a pretty crowded table.
