Race-bred skate construction sits within reach in the Salomon RS8. Built one tier below Salomon's S/Lab World Cup platform, the RS8 pairs a synthetic stringer core with fiberglass reinforcement and a balanced camber profile, delivering the snappy, responsive feel of a true race ski without demanding World Cup technique to enjoy.

Why we like it:

The G5 Universal base with a World Cup grind is the standout here, the same fast race base that ships on the next ski up the line. The adjustable mounting platform underfoot also lets you slide your mount fore and aft, which is a nice tuning lever between training laps and race day.

Who it's for:

Advanced and expert skate skiers who race regionally, compete in masters events, or train hard enough to want a real race ski under their boots. Skiers stepping up from a recreational skate setup feel the response and acceleration of the RS8 immediately.

Highlights:

The synthetic stringer core is the heart of this build. Lightweight and torsionally stiff, it gives the RS8 its quick edge-to-edge feel under a hard skate stroke. Fiberglass reinforcement and a balanced camber profile finish the layup, which means the wax pocket lifts cleanly off the snow during the glide phase and seats firmly on push-off. The base is a G5 Universal, Salomon's premium sintered race base, ground with a World Cup pattern and finished with D2FC treatment and MyCustomSki compatibility for skiers who want to fine-tune their grind selection. Underfoot, an adjustable mounting platform lets you shift your mount position to match training and race conditions, and the ski arrives pre-waxed by Swix and ready to slide.

Things to consider:

The RS8 sits a step below the Equipe Pro Skate and S/Lab Equipe Skate in the Salomon race hierarchy, so national-level racers and pros will want to look further up the line. It's also a dedicated skate ski; plan on a separate classic setup if you ski both techniques.

Fit & sizing considerations:

Sizing follows Salomon's body weight chart closely. A longer ski adds glide, while a shorter one feels quicker under tight, fast skate strokes.