In the world of all-mountain skis, two models stand out: the Völkl Blaze 94 and the Salomon QST 98. Both 2024 models, these skis are designed for intermediate to advanced skiers who crave versatility and performance. The Blaze 94, with its light swing weight and 3D radius sidecut, is a freeride-friendly ski that can handle jumps and rip turns with ease. The QST 98, on the other hand, is a playful yet powerful ski that excels in powder and off-piste conditions, thanks to its significant early rise and 98mm waist. While both skis are versatile and maneuverable, the Blaze 94 is more freestyle-oriented, while the QST 98 leans more towards freeride. The final verdict? It depends on your skiing style and preferences. If you're a freestyle enthusiast who loves to adventure backwards, go for the Blaze 94. If you're more into freeriding and love to play in powder, the QST 98 is your ski.

Völkl Blaze 94 Skis · 2024 summary

The Völkl Blaze 94 Skis are a newer model from Völkl, designed to be more freeride-friendly. They feature the 3D radius sidecut, a unique design that allows the ski to excel in any turn shape or size. This means you can make quick, tight turns or long, sweeping arcs with equal ease. The Blaze 94 also has a small amount of metal under the foot, keeping them light but stable. This makes them an excellent all-mountain ski, capable of ripping turns, handling jumps, and even venturing backwards, thanks to their partial twin tip design.

The Blaze 94 has a slightly wide waist width, making it suitable for freestyle riding and light powder skiing. Its light swing weight ensures easy maneuverability, while its average turning radius of 17 at the 179cm makes it a versatile ski that performs well in various conditions. The ski also features a Titanal binding platform for direct power transfer, a suspension tip for improved resistance to disruption and flotation, and a hybrid multilayer wood core that adapts to any riding style.

Salomon QST 98 Skis · 2024 summary

The Salomon QST 98 Skis are marketed as an all-mountain, freeride freestyle type of ski. They are also considered a potential hybrid backcountry touring option. With a midwidth of 98mm, the QST 98 is a versatile ski that can handle groomers and ski resorts really well, while still being wide enough to handle some powder.

The QST 98 is described as playful yet powerful, with a quick edge-to-edge rollover and good powder flotation. It features carbon fiber stringers and a fiberglass laminate for additional stability and dampening. The ski also has a significant early rise in the nose and tail, which helps with floatation in powder.

The QST 98 is a great all-terrain ski that can handle groomers, moguls, trees, powder, or backcountry. It's a great tool for powder and softer snow conditions, but it can also carve fine. However, if you're looking for a really stable ski that you can just rip, it might not be the best choice.

Similarities

Both the Völkl Blaze 94 and the Salomon QST 98 are designed for intermediate to advanced skiers who want a versatile, all-mountain ski. They both feature a slightly wide waist width, making them suitable for freestyle riding and light powder skiing. Both skis also have a light swing weight for easy maneuverability and a versatile design that performs well in various conditions.

In terms of construction, both skis feature a hybrid multilayer wood core that adapts to any riding style, providing solid edge hold and stability. They also both have a Titanal binding platform for direct power transfer and a suspension tip for improved resistance to disruption and flotation.

Differences and Who They're Good For

While both skis are versatile and maneuverable, they cater to slightly different skiing styles. The Völkl Blaze 94 is more freestyle-oriented, with a 3D radius sidecut that allows it to flourish in any turn shape or size and a partial twin tip design for those who want to adventure backwards. This makes it a great choice for skiers who love to play around on the mountain and try different tricks and turns.

On the other hand, the Salomon QST 98 leans more towards freeride, with a significant early rise in the nose and tail for better flotation in powder. It's also marketed as a potential hybrid backcountry touring option, making it a good choice for skiers who love to explore off-piste and backcountry terrain.

In terms of persona, the Blaze 94 is perfect for the adventurous freestyler who loves to mix up their turns and tricks, while the QST 98 is ideal for the off-piste explorer who craves powder and backcountry adventures.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

When it comes to versatility, both skis perform well in various conditions, but the Salomon QST 98 takes the edge with its better flotation in powder and potential for backcountry touring.

In terms of freestyle performance, the Völkl Blaze 94 is the clear winner with its 3D radius sidecut and partial twin tip design that allows for adventurous backwards skiing.

For stability and edge hold, both skis offer solid performance thanks to their wood core and Titanal binding platform. However, the Blaze 94's 3D radius sidecut gives it a slight advantage in this dimension.

Finally, for maneuverability, both skis are easy to handle thanks to their light swing weight. But the QST 98's significant early rise in the nose and tail makes it a bit more agile and easy to pivot, giving it the win in this dimension.

Overall, the winner depends on your skiing style and preferences. If you're more into freestyle, go for the Blaze 94. If you're more into freeriding and backcountry, the QST 98 is your ski.

Conclusions

In conclusion, both the Völkl Blaze 94 and the Salomon QST 98 are excellent all-mountain skis that cater to intermediate to advanced skiers. They both offer versatility, maneuverability, and solid performance in various conditions. However, they cater to slightly different skiing styles. The Blaze 94 is more freestyle-oriented, making it a great choice for skiers who love to mix up their turns and tricks. On the other hand, the QST 98 leans more towards freeride, making it a good choice for skiers who love to explore off-piste and backcountry terrain. Ultimately, the best ski for you depends on your skiing style and preferences. So whether you're a freestyle enthusiast or a backcountry explorer, you can't go wrong with either of these skis. Happy skiing!