Salomon continues to expand their rocker skis beyond the very popular Rocker 2 lineup. The new Q series came out this year and includes the Q-90, Q-98, Q-105 and Q-115 models, as well as women’s versions including the 103 Stella, 96 Lumen, and 88 Lux. I tested the 105 and 115 before the skis were even announced and found the Salomon Q-105 to be my sticks of choice, so I jumped on it once it was officially released to the masses. With Alta as my playground, I skied on the Q-105 on different terrain and through variable snow conditions from powder to groomers. But did my love of the Q-105 change or stay the same?
Features of the Salomon Q-105 skis include:
- Utility Rocker with traditional camber underfoot
- Gentle rise tail
- Edgy Monocoque semi-cap construction
- Full wood core
- Hook-free tapered shape
- Edge-free extremities
- Honeycomb tip
- Wide edge
- 133 / 104 / 125 in size 181
My first impression of the Salomon Q-105 is that they are really light for a wide, rockered ski. Not only are they light when carrying them to the Collins lift, but also underfoot. Those honeycomb tips make a huge difference in swing weight when turning.
On a typical day, I take the skis on the High-T over to High Greeley and Greeley Bowl for a few laps. The rockered tips float sufficiently well in deep powder and play around on cut-up pillows. They’re whippy and fun, and although I’d prefer something wider underfoot on super deep days, the Q-105 are really all I needed.
On powder days, for me, skiing groomers is simply a means to get back to the lift line. But on these skis, I actually had fun carving corduroy under Collins and Sugarloaf for the first time since I don’t know how long. They felt super snappy going from edge to edge and were very quick to respond. I actually couldn’t believe I was skiing wide skis considering their performance. I think I may have even giggled. With that flatter, tapered tail, I was able to engage the full edge and whip myself out from one turn to the next, whether I wanted to swing wide or carve tight crescents in the hardpack.
But the powder is where I feel most at home, and the same can be said for the Q-105. Off the groomers, like at Wildcat, they furiously gobbled up any soft snow that Alta threw at them. The rocker tips float nice in both the powder and choppy snow, and the practically non-existent swing weight in the tips made fast turns possible, which was especially important in steep, tight trees. In fact, I only had to think about turning, and they responded.
My favorite moment on the Salomon Q-105 was when I made it over to Supreme right when it opened for the season. The entire area was untracked with the seasons-worth of snowfall, ready and waiting for those honeycomb tips to shred it. I made several laps on Challenger and the Erosion Gullies through deep fluff and the Q-105s gobbled it all up with ease. I was very happy to have them clicked onto my ski boots that day instead of my old Salomon Shoguns, which I normally ski. The Q-105 are much more fun.
The only downside I could find is that the awesome honeycomb tips do come at a price as I noticed they would deflect easier in chop than other skis. If I wasn’t careful or paying attention, the skis could get tossed around really easily. So while the Q-105 skis have the dimensions to be tanks, they are not monsters that can steamroll through any and all heavy crud.
As far as Salomon’s new 2013/14 models are concerned, I think the 105 is where it’s at. The versatility, powder capability, and actual snappy performance on groomers make the Q-105 the perfect, all mountain ski that can handle anything in both the resort and backcountry. In fact, if I had the money today, I would buy them.
The Good: Fun on everything from groomers to powder to variable conditions. Perfect 1-ski quiver.
The Bad: Light-weight tips can deflect easily in really heavy crud. Despite the dimensions, they’re not tanks.
Final Word: The Salomon Q-105 skis are perfect for most days at Alta thanks to utility rocker, hook-free taper, honeycomb tips, full wood core and semi-sandwich construction. The slimmer waist and flatter tail makes them versatile as a one-quiver resort ski that are more than capable to float on deep days.