Salomon was founded in 1947 in the city ofAnnecy in the heart of the French Alps. François Salomon launched the company by producing skis edges in a small workshop, with only his wife and son to help. More than 70 years later, Salomon has become a global leader in outdoor sports, with a diverse range of products that enable consumers to play outside 365 days per year. Along the way, the brand has developed products for trail running, hiking, alpine skiing, Nordic skiing and snowboarding. Salomon's current CEO is Jean-Marc Pambet. Heikki Takala is the CEO of its mother group, Amer Sports, headquartered in Helsinki. The US operations of Salomon are located in Ogden, Utah.
Market
Salomon produces products for various sports markets, including trail running, hiking, climbing, adventure racing, skiing, and snowboarding in over 40 countries on five continents. They used to manufacture inline skates, transferring technologies from their ski boot range, but have not released any in recent years. Many in-line skaters consider these to be some of the highest quality skates for street and vert skating.
Design
After a five-year research project, the SX series of ski boots was introduced in the beginning of the 1980s. The boot was the result of collaboration with the French designer Roger Tallon. The SX91 ski boot was launched in 1984, the result of collaboration with the young French designer Roger Pitiot. The boot contained a number of innovations such as the sliding forward-flex control. Salomon's dedicated design center is in Annecy, France.
Salomon QST Skis
QST are freeride skis that go closer to all mountain category the narrower you go. QST construction is more flexible than Salomons piste oriented all mountain range XDR. XDR 84 and 88mm models have full Titanium layer in them, QST only has Titanium under foot on some models. QST surpassed Salomon Quest range of skis. Worth mentioning is also the Salomon BBR range skis that pioneered the big shovel ski design.
Salomon QST 118
Pure powder ski with aggressive rocker, doesn't carve and is useless on piste. Have stayed physically almost unchanged and only color scheme has been updated over the generations. Exception to this is added cork to the tips and tails of the mk3 model.
QST 118 mk1 2016/2017 and 2017/2018
Blue tops and grey/blue bases.
QST 118 mk2 2018/2019
Brown/green tops and brown/yellow bases. Graphics update only.
QST 118 mk3 2019/2020
Dark grey tops and black/yellow bases. Dimensions unchanged. Added cork to the tips and tails to aid dampening.
Salomon QST 106
Off piste ski that has more traditional shape and can carve a turn on piste. Every generation has updates compared to previous one.
Red tops and orange/red bases. External dimensions unchanged to mk1, but construction is stiffer. Core: Poplar + Titanal Underfoot + Koroyd Tip/Tail Inserts + Carbon/Flax/Basalt Laminate. This ski was well praised and won several recommendations.
QST 106 mk3 2019/2020
Green tops and orange/black bases. New shape and construction again. Rocker 25% tip and 17% tail. Hevier than mk2, but better damped with koroyd changed to cork on the tips and tails.
Length cm
Tip mm
Waist mm
Tail mm
Radius m
Weight g
167
137
106
123
17
1800
174
138
106
124
18
1930
181
139
106
125
19
2080
188
140
106
125
20
2200
Salomon QST 99
QST 99 sits in the middle of the range and is the "do it all" ski of the QST range. This is considered a ski that you can do touring, off piste and piste skiing.
QST 99 mk1 2016/2017 and 2017/2018
Blue / gray tops and black bases. Core Construction: Poplar + Titanal Layer + Carbon & Flax Laminate
Length cm
Tip mm
Waist mm
Tail mm
Radius m
Weight g
167
134
99
116
19.0
1815
174
136
99
118
19.2
1990
181
138
99
120
19.4
2025
188
140
99
122
19.6
2110
QST 99 mk2 2018/2019
Black/saffron tops and black bases. Added a basalt layer. Shape and dimensions unchanged.
QST 99 mk3 2019/2020
Dark Blue tops and black bases. New shape with 20% tip rocker and 15% tail rocker. Poplar wood core now with added cork that helps dampening. Carbon Powered C/FX and basalt for rigidity. Mk3 QST 99 new construction is heavier than its predecessors, trade of between high speed caving stability and touring.
