2023 Salomon Stance 90

[SkiTalk Test Team]

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Philpug: While Salomon did make the QST 92 a little more stout at the end of it's life, it still was not the powerhouse the new Stance 90 is. Two sheets of Titanal make this new ski much more connected to the snow and a bit more biased to hard snow. Where we find the Stance 90 to shine is at speed. There is a bit longer turn radius in its design, allowing you to really open things up. I am not sure any of our testers found its top end.

Insider tip: Better skiers, do not underestimate the versatility of the ski.​

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Wade Holiday: I was excited to ski this one, as it seems an interesting move for Salomon, a French company making an Austrian ski! The Stance 90 boasts two layers of metal and is actually made in Austria. It also has a tip and rocker profile I really like, with less flare in the shovel, so it's not as hooky in off-piste skiing and 3D terrain.

It was great! With a solid feel, it can be steered well to start, but the ski was much happier once I let gravity take over a bit. It is very secure on edge, both in clean carved arcs and and shaped turn finishing with a solid edge set in the glazed snow. Very predictable and quiet, the Stance 90 gave me the most confidence and flow in variable terrain as well as groomers. The tip design is just great; it draws you into a turn without feeling overly opinionated.

Insider tip: Mount point and length feel perfect to me.​

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Tromano: Smooth. Carve great. Damp feel like the old head monster series. Ski like a head monster 88 with rocker but just better. Wondering how a 96 would compare with the m6 and ranger. Sadly these were not available in 18x. The 90s like the m6 transitioned seamlessly from moguls to fast carving. Then shut down easily when needed.

 

[DocGKR]

The Stance 90 was the biggest surprise of the 2021-22 ski season! It is quite versatile and capable in moguls, floats nicely in fresh snow, and works well in less deep off-piste conditions. Despite such versatility, it carves extremely well, but also has a friendly forgiving disposition. The Stance 90 could easily serve as my daily driver recreational ski!

 

[James]

The Stance 90 was the biggest surprise of the 2021-22 ski season! It is quite versatile and capable in moguls, floats nicely in fresh snow, and works well in less deep off-piste conditions. Despite such versatility, it carves extremely well, but also has a friendly forgiving disposition. The Stance 90 could easily serve as my daily driver recreational ski!

I’d agree. There is rather a large jump in flex between 176 and 182. The 182 is much thicker of a ski. If one is large, and skis steeps, I’d go 182. But that was last years model.

 

[Jim McDonald]

Skied the 176 for two days, liked it a lot. Flex seemed just right for my 70kg, very stable at speed and easy skiing boot-deep powder.

 

[mulva28]

I'm 5'7, 175lbs. Demoed in 176 on a firm snow day at Killington VT. This is a great 1 ski quiver ski for the Northeast. Learning curve was zero. I really like the shape/flex pattern in bumps; tips are soft enough that you can push them into the next mogul and the tails release easily without any "hookyness". Where I was really surprised was with the carving performance; even where it was icy. The Stance 90 dug in and held it's edge. The 18m radius felt about right, but I was able to get shorter turns out of it pretty easily. Overall, I was really impressed.

 

[tromano]

Got a pair of 182s incoming. I wanted to replace my aging upper 80s skis with another versatile carver that can charge and couldn't let these go. Now the new version is here for '24.

 

[mogsie]

I could have a 182 cm 2022 Stance 90 for half price to replace my 184 2016 Kendo... but wondering if I should go with the 188... 235 pounds advanced east coast skier that would use it for trees ,moguls and groomers...

 

[DocGKR]

I am 6' 210 lbs and find the 182 a touch more versatile and nimble for my size and weight--particularly in bumps and trees. For wide open bowls, the 188 rips. Note that the 2024 Stance 90 is NOT as strong as the 2023 and earlier....

 

[mogsie]

And if you ski the open bowls with the 182, it sucks?

I guess that if I go with the newer model, I will have to go to the 188 but I will have a much nicer topsheet... If I go with the previous model, I could go with both lenghts but if I go shorter, I'll have the advantage to see less of the very blaaaa topsheet...

 

[DocGKR]

Open bowls are a BLAST on the 182! Just not as ripping as the 188; however I'll take the trade off every day of the week, for the greater agility of the 182. You are a bit bigger, so might be able to zip around on the 188.

Yup going with lasts years model lets you get a couple of pairs: https://www.coloradodiscountskis.com/store/Salomon_2022_Stance90.html

 

[dropd9]

The Stance 90 was the biggest surprise of the 2021-22 ski season! It is quite versatile and capable in moguls, floats nicely in fresh snow, and works well in less deep off-piste conditions. Despite such versatility, it carves extremely well, but also has a friendly forgiving disposition. The Stance 90 could easily serve as my daily driver recreational ski!

I'm psyched, just ordered a pair of these (the burgundy ones) in 182 for eastern skiing. Crazy great price and everything i've heard and read should hopefully prove to be a great fit. The 177 monster 83's fit well, these should too. And I still have rossi 182/25's for glare ice days.

 

[DocGKR]

I am utterly ecstatic about how may two pair of green 182 Stance 90's ski--perfect OSQ, all day, all mountain ski for my resort recreational skiing needs in the afternoon after morning gate training. The current grey & burgandy version is a bit softer and more "approachable" than the previous green version. Sizes below 182 seem to be a less stable according to friends who use the shorter lengths.

 

[James]

I am utterly ecstatic about how may two pair of green 182 Stance 90's ski--perfect OSQ, all day, all mountain ski for my resort recreational skiing needs in the afternoon after morning gate training. The current grey & burgandy version is a bit softer and more "approachable" than the previous green version. Sizes below 182 seem to be a less stable according to friends who use the shorter lengths.

Very under rated ski, though I think the hige difference in construction from 176 to 182 might have something to do with it.
Lot of subtlety in the ski, with a fun tail and good balance between quick carve response and overall if you don’t want carve.

How do you find the front on the 182?

 

[tromano]

Got my first day on a pair of purple 2022? 182 salmon stance 90s with the strive 16s. Not a very heavy setup.

These things are ripers, had so much fun going fast and carving up the mountain. Only thing comparable I have is the m6 mantra 184 with px 15 but totally different feel from the stance, which have another gear for speed and stability, more robust tail and very pliable turn in from the tips so less carvy feel than the m6. The stance carve really well once locked but the shape is not very traditional and they take some deliberate moves to get there. And the ski seems very happy taking very aggressive fast lines where they just soak everything up. Powerful and also a bit loose feeling.

The official review above really nails it on this ski.

 

[dropd9]

Powerful and also a bit loose feeling.

After only two days on relatively firm snow, these words seem to ring true for me. I really like the ski, it feels a lot like my recently retired Monster 83s only a bit more "vague." 90mm is the widest ski I have owned and although I'm not completely sold on its behaviour on hardpack, I will certainly appreciate it when conditions get a bit slushier...if and when I get back on snow this spring. Of note, even at 240ish I did not find a limit. Theyre a sturdy ride!