In the world of skiing, the Salomon QST 92 Skis and the Elan Ripstick 96 Skis are two top contenders for the 2024 season. Both skis are designed for intermediate to advanced skiers and offer a blend of performance, versatility, and fun. The Salomon QST 92 is an accessible all-mountain ski that's great for carving, freestyle, and freeride. It's super maneuverable and pivoty, making it a lot of fun on groomers and off-trail. On the other hand, the Elan Ripstick 96 is a freeride ski that doubles as an all-mountain ski. It's praised for its powerful edge-to-edge turns on-piste and its ability to handle big mountain terrain. Both skis are lightweight and versatile, making them great choices for a wide range of skiers. However, the Salomon QST 92 is more forgiving and accessible, making it ideal for progressing intermediate skiers, while the Elan Ripstick 96 is more powerful and hard-charging, making it better suited for advanced skiers.

Salomon QST 92 Skis · 2024 summary

The Salomon QST 92 Skis are designed to be an accessible all-mountain ski. They don't have any metal in them, making them lightweight and easy to maneuver. The skis are 92 millimeters underfoot, which is a sweet spot for an all-mountain ski. This width allows the skis to perform well on groomers and off-trail. The skis have a good amount of rocker in the tip, providing float in soft snow. They also have a turned-up tail, which gives you some maneuverability when skiing backward. The skis have a nice camber underfoot, providing a responsive edge-to-edge turning motion.

The Salomon QST 92 Skis are great for carving. They hold an edge really nicely on blue groomers and release nicely out of the turn. They don't have a ton of energy coming out of a carved turn, but they are easy to tip onto the new edge and start a new carved turn. The skis are also great for freestyle. They're not as poppy as a true park ski, but they're fun to take on a few laps through the park. For freeride, the skis handle well in the trees and are forgiving and accessible in the moguls. However, they're not a great powder ski. They would sink pretty easily in deep snow. But in trees or in a few inches of fresh snow, the wide tips and the rocker in the tips will give you some float.

The Salomon QST 92 Skis are recommended for intermediate to advanced skiers who like cruising groomers and exploring off-piste. They're not recommended for bigger guys who like to charge hard or for beginners.

Elan Ripstick 96 Skis · 2024 summary

The Elan Ripstick 96 Skis are a freeride ski that doubles as an all-mountain ski. They have a unique asymmetrical shape with a designated left and right ski. The skis have a very wide tip shovel at 136 and a tail width at 110, making them excellent for powder days. The skis have a soft flex in the tip and a stiff flex in the tail, making them a great all-mountain ripper.

The Elan Ripstick 96 Skis are excellent at carving. They provide a fun and unique feeling while carving due to their asymmetrical shape. They're also capable of handling soft snow and float well in powder, making them ideal for glade skiing. However, they may not perform as well on hard pack moguls due to their stiffer tail.

The Elan Ripstick 96 Skis are recommended for skiers who enjoy both on-piste and off-trail skiing. They're especially good for those who favor groomers but occasionally venture off-trail. They're not recommended for beginners or for those who like to go super fast.

Similarities

Both the Salomon QST 92 Skis and the Elan Ripstick 96 Skis are designed for intermediate to advanced skiers and are versatile all-mountain skis. They both have a good amount of rocker in the tip to provide float in soft snow and a camber underfoot for a responsive edge-to-edge turning motion. Both skis are lightweight and easy to maneuver, making them great for a variety of terrain. They both excel at carving on groomers and can handle off-trail skiing. Both skis are also not recommended for beginners.

Differences and Who They're Good For

While both skis are versatile all-mountain skis, they cater to slightly different personas. The Salomon QST 92 Skis are more forgiving and accessible, making them ideal for progressing intermediate skiers who like cruising groomers and exploring off-piste. They're not a great powder ski, but they handle well in the trees and are forgiving in the moguls. They're not recommended for bigger guys who like to charge hard.

On the other hand, the Elan Ripstick 96 Skis are more powerful and hard-charging, making them better suited for advanced skiers. They provide a fun and unique feeling while carving due to their asymmetrical shape. They're also capable of handling soft snow and float well in powder, making them ideal for glade skiing. However, they may not perform as well on hard pack moguls due to their stiffer tail.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

When it comes to versatility, both skis perform well. However, the Elan Ripstick 96 Skis have a slight edge due to their ability to handle soft snow and float well in powder.

In terms of carving, both skis excel. But the unique asymmetrical shape of the Elan Ripstick 96 Skis provides a fun and unique feeling while carving, giving them the edge in this category.

For off-trail skiing, the Salomon QST 92 Skis are the winner. They handle well in the trees and are forgiving in the moguls, making them a great choice for off-piste exploration.

Finally, in terms of weight and maneuverability, both skis are lightweight and easy to maneuver. However, the Salomon QST 92 Skis are more forgiving and accessible, making them the winner in this category.

Conclusions

In conclusion, both the Salomon QST 92 Skis and the Elan Ripstick 96 Skis are excellent choices for intermediate to advanced skiers looking for a versatile all-mountain ski. The Salomon QST 92 Skis are more forgiving and accessible, making them ideal for progressing intermediate skiers who like cruising groomers and exploring off-piste. On the other hand, the Elan Ripstick 96 Skis are more powerful and hard-charging, making them better suited for advanced skiers who enjoy both on-piste and off-trail skiing. Both skis are lightweight and easy to maneuver, making them great for a variety of terrain. Ultimately, the best ski for you will depend on your personal skiing style and preferences.