2027 Ski Test Behind the Scenes: 2027 Salomon Départ.02 Skis

Flexible, fun, and surprisingly steady, the all-new Salomon Depart 02 is a fun-loving freeride ski that has both park and all-mountain implications. While it’s more of an athlete-driven ski, the Depart 02 at 100 mm underfoot will suit the needs and wants of many creative and playful skiers. Built with a blend of karuba and poplar in the wood core, the Depart 02 uses wide steel edges, a titanal binding reinforcement zone, and fiberglass fibers to power the ski. The shape is an even bigger story, as the pointy tip is book ended by a round tail, giving the ski a unique look and feel. We also see a fair amount of early taper in the shovel which adds float and tightens the turn radius. Even in the 188, the 16-meter turn radius is quite short, giving the ski a mobile feel and one that does place a good deal of emphasis on a carved turn. Make no mistake, though; this is a freestyle-focused ski through and through as it feeds off of shenanigans and other creative skiing styles.

Playfulness and creativity certainly ooze out of this ski.  As soon as you start sliding, you feel the urge to smear, drift, or jump.  The more central mount gives the skier great balance in the air and if you are looking to do more groundwork with your butters and whatnot, this ski has the flex and the pep needed to deliver all sorts of steeze to the mix.  This ski really opens up the mountain, and that’s a big part of the allure. There is no dedicated or certain way down the mountain; the Depart 02 puts all of that in your hands.  In addition to freestyle creativity, these skis operate at a high level in trees, softer snow, and powder.  The taper in the shovel makes quick work of deeper snow and adds an agility component in tighter and more technical spaces.