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Expert Comparison: Salomon Stance 96 Skis · 2023 vs Elan Playmaker 91 Skis · 2024

Published on 01/18/2024 · 6 min readCompare Salomon Stance 96 Skis · 2023 and Elan Playmaker 91 Skis · 2024. Get expert insight below!

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In this comparison, we are looking at two high-performance skis: the Salomon Stance 96 Skis · 2023 and the Elan Playmaker 91 Skis · 2024. Both skis are designed for advanced skiers and offer a versatile design that can handle a variety of conditions. The Salomon Stance 96 is a well-balanced, metal-reinforced, all-mountain ski that is smooth and quiet while remaining energetic and playful. It is perfect for skiers who love to charge but want something with just enough forgiveness to be fun in less-than-ideal conditions. On the other hand, the Elan Playmaker 91 Skis are designed to be fun and playful, offering a stable ride underfoot with forgiving tips and tails. They are perfect for those who want a ski that can handle both carving turns and hitting the park. Both skis offer excellent value for money and are a great choice for advanced skiers looking for a versatile, high-performance ski.

The Salomon Stance 96 Skis · 2023 is a well-balanced, metal-reinforced, all-mountain ski that is smooth and quiet while remaining energetic and playful. This ski is designed for skiers who love to charge but want something with just enough forgiveness to be fun in less-than-ideal conditions. The ski is built with a poplar wood core, carbon and flax materials, and double titanal layers, making it stiff, responsive, and stable at high speeds. Its full sandwich sidewalls provide excellent edge grip and a smooth carving experience.

The Salomon Stance 96 excels at long, fast carves, but as an expert skier, it also allows for really fun, high-energy, short turns. It is built to ski groomers, no matter how recently groomed, and does it with poise and power. The ski is also durable, with Salomon being known for making some of the highest-quality skis in the world. The topsheet material is beautiful and durable. Despite being a heavy, metal, directional ski, it is not meant to be taken into the park nor backcountry and does not excel at riding switch.

The Salomon Stance 96 is a directional all-mountain charger that stands out from its competition thanks to its reasonable price point and nuanced construction. In a category where most skis do the main thing well—carve really fast on all snow—the Stance does the other things really well. It is happy to ski the additional bump and it loves to make all lengths of turns.

These skis have no speed limit, just as I would expect from a burly big-mountain carver.

Evan K.
Ski Expert

The Elan Playmaker 91 Skis · 2024 are designed to be fun and playful, offering a stable ride underfoot with forgiving tips and tails. They are perfect for those who want a ski that can handle both carving turns and hitting the park. The ski is built with a wood core and carbon rods underfoot, providing stability and forgiveness.

The Elan Playmaker 91 Skis are narrow enough for tight trees, wide enough for new snow, and perfect for dropping into the terrain park. They are incredibly quick edge-to-edge, and despite being lighter in construction, can lay down some aggressive turns efficiently. This ski shines on the days between storms and can also confidently tackle every side hit and lap the park too.

The Playmaker 91 Skis are a new offering from Elan this year, designed to be a more play and jib-oriented option to the all-mountain Ripstick line of skis. Elan is notorious for making very light skis, and the Playmakers live up to that, resulting in a poppy, lively, and full-on fun twin tip ski.

New to the 2024 season, the Elan Playmaker is based off the Ripstick (known for it's on-piste performance) but with freeride rocker and balanced design, these are capable of going into the great beyond!

Brandon Wachter
Ski Expert

Similarities

Both the Salomon Stance 96 Skis · 2023 and the Elan Playmaker 91 Skis · 2024 are designed for advanced skiers and offer a versatile design that can handle a variety of conditions. They both have a wood core and provide a stable ride underfoot with forgiving tips and tails. Both skis are designed to be fun and playful, offering a balance between grip on hardpack/ice with the added versatility needed to handle off-piste duty. They are both quick edge-to-edge and can lay down some aggressive turns efficiently. Both skis are also known for their durability and high-quality construction.

Differences and Who They're Good For

While both skis are designed for advanced skiers, they cater to slightly different personas. The Salomon Stance 96 Skis · 2023 is perfect for skiers who love to charge but want something with just enough forgiveness to be fun in less-than-ideal conditions. It is a well-balanced, metal-reinforced, all-mountain ski that is smooth and quiet while remaining energetic and playful. This ski is not meant to be taken into the park nor backcountry and does not excel at riding switch. It is perfect for skiers who want a ski that can handle both carving turns and hitting the park.

On the other hand, the Elan Playmaker 91 Skis · 2024 are designed to be more play and jib-oriented. They are perfect for those who want a ski that can handle both carving turns and hitting the park. They are incredibly quick edge-to-edge, and despite being lighter in construction, can lay down some aggressive turns efficiently. This ski shines on the days between storms and can also confidently tackle every side hit and lap the park too. It is perfect for creative and imaginative skiers who like a light ski that can still rip with the best of the all-mountain crowd.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

When it comes to versatility, both skis perform well in a variety of conditions. However, the Elan Playmaker 91 Skis · 2024 edges out the Salomon Stance 96 Skis · 2023 due to its ability to handle both carving turns and hitting the park.

In terms of construction and durability, both skis are known for their high-quality construction. However, the Salomon Stance 96 Skis · 2023, with its metal-reinforced construction, offers a bit more durability and stability, making it the winner in this category.

For performance on groomed terrain, both skis offer excellent performance. However, the Salomon Stance 96 Skis · 2023, with its ability to make long, fast carves and high-energy, short turns, edges out the Elan Playmaker 91 Skis · 2024.

Finally, when it comes to price, both skis offer excellent value for money. However, the Salomon Stance 96 Skis · 2023 comes in slightly cheaper than the Elan Playmaker 91 Skis · 2024, making it the winner in this category.

Comparison Table

Side by side comparison

Out of stock
Salomon Stance 96 Skis · 2023
Out of stock
Elan Playmaker 91 Skis · 2024
Price
$419.97
40% off
from:$359.40
40% off
User rating
5(3)
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The Curated Take

Best for advanced-expert skiers seeking high speed stability and versatility in variable snow conditions.

Best for skiers who want a versatile, playful ski that can handle various conditions and terrain, from carving turns to hitting the park.

Ski type
All Mountain
Freeride, Freestyle, All Mountain
Skill level
Advanced, Expert
Intermediate, Advanced
Rocker profile
Rocker/Camber/Rocker
Rocker/Camber/Rocker

Conclusions

In conclusion, both the Salomon Stance 96 Skis · 2023 and the Elan Playmaker 91 Skis · 2024 are excellent choices for advanced skiers looking for a versatile, high-performance ski. The Salomon Stance 96 Skis · 2023 is perfect for skiers who love to charge but want something with just enough forgiveness to be fun in less-than-ideal conditions. On the other hand, the Elan Playmaker 91 Skis · 2024 is perfect for those who want a ski that can handle both carving turns and hitting the park. Both skis offer excellent value for money and are known for their durability and high-quality construction. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on the specific needs and preferences of the skier.

Curated experts can help

Have a question about the article you just read or want personal recommendations? Connect with a Curated expert and get personalized recommendations for whatever you’re looking for!

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