Last year, I was over the moon for Salomon’s Q-105 skis. I found them to be awesome as daily drivers at Alta with enough float for powder days and carve-ability for groomers when it hasn’t snowed in a while. Well, the Q-105 has been dethroned, as my NEW favorite ski, the Salomon Q-LAB, is far and away the most fun and aggressive ski I’ve ever clicked into. I’ll get into the reasoning why below, but first, the details:
The Salomon Q-LAB feature the following:
- Utility Rocker (rockered tip and tail, traditional camber underfoot)
- Wood S-Core (poplar and ash) with two titanium laminates
- Hook-Free Taper five-point sidecut
- Sandwich construction
- Sidewalls
- Tapered tip and tail
- Honeycomb tip
- Glossy topsheet
- Three sizes: [176cm] 135/10 /124 mm, [183cm] 138/104/127 mm, [190cm] 145/109/134 mm
I’ve skied the 182cm length at Alta in many different conditions from hard pack, to groomers, and even some shallow powder. I have not tested the Q-LAB on a really deep storm day yet, but I eagerly await the chance.
Groomers: From the first run, I knew I liked these skis. Turn initiation is immediate and the tails have a slarvy feeling from turn to turn without any hints of hookiness. On a warm-up run beneath Alta’s Collins chair, the Q-LAB were chomping at the bit to go go go. They are fast and directional, but even at speed, I could stop on a dime without much effort. In fact, I got yelled at by ski patrol above Corkscrew for going too fast. I couldn’t help it… these skis are just monsters.
Chop: On tracked up runs with chop and bumps, the Salomon Q-LAB gobbled up everything in their path. They are very, very stiff and bulldoze over all terrain features without any flap or fear of losing control. Actually, on most skis terrain features are something to make turns around, but with the Q-Lab, terrain features became something to ski over or through. My perspective on line choice evolved after only one day on these babies.
Powder: Although I haven’t skied these on a deep powder day, I did get to take them out with 4 inches of new snow over hard pack and sun crust. Flotation seems to be on par with other rockered skis at 104mm underfoot. What did impress me is how playful the Q-Lab get on soft snow. They have that “fun shape” but still remain burly. Skiing tight trees is no problemo as again, turn initiation is very quick – they like to make both wide, sweeping turns as much as tight, short turns.
So what’s the deal? Why did I fall in love with these skis? The secret lies between the sandwich construction. What the white coats at Salomon did in their laboratory is take the insides of the company’s super stiff LAB race skis, then re-designed them with lighter construction and freeride dimensions. So imagine the stiffness of race skis complete with a double layer of titanium, and add a honeycomb tip, rocker, tapered tail, and all-mountain dimensions to the stew. The effect needs to be skied to be believed.
The Good: Very stiff, playful, quick turn initiation, confidence inspiring, fun, gorgeous top sheet design, huge sweet spot, easy to get on edge, light for such a burly, stiff ski.
The Bad: You may draw angry, verbal assaults from ski patrol.
Final Word: Solomon has thrown down the gauntlet with these stiff, all-mountain skis. They shred in the groomers and absolutely kill it in the chop. The Salomon Q-LAB are confidence inspiring and actually turned me into a better skier. They are almost dangerous in that regard. I would trade any of my current skis for a pair of Salomon Q-LAB sticks.