More 2014 Ski Reviews: Rossignol Star/Super and Salomon Q-103
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| On the same day that I tested the various backcountry carbon skis, I also spent time testing a few other models geared toward resort skiing. Two of them were women’s skis. To be honest, I’m not a big lover of women’s skis. But, many companies are recognizing that women need a burly ski like the guys, but with slightly smaller size options. This is the case with companies like Rossignol and Salomon. For the sake of comparison, am a 5’3″ skier, weighing 125 lbs. |
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Rossignol Star 7 / Super 7 I am a Rossi S7 lover. So, when Rossignol said last year that they were doing away with this best-selling ski and improving their line, I was skeptical. I tried out the narrower Soul 7 last year, but was unable to try out the larger Super 7 due to some size limitations in their demo line. The Star 7 is the women’s version of the Super 7 and both share the same construction but with different size options. I tested this ski in a 170. This ski is designed to be lighter than the S7 due to the paulownia wood core and honeycomb Air Tip technology. The Star 7 also has a rockered tip and semi-rockered tail and versatile demensions (140-116-130). Right away, I noticed that the sweet spot on this ski is in the center of the foot, whereas the S7 is more in the front of the foot. But, I had a little bit of trouble driving it through the crud. I decided this was not due to the construction of the ski itself, but more of a limitation of the length. 170 cm is pretty short for me for a ski that has 50% rocker length.
So, I upgraded. A larger version of the Star 7 was not available, so I opted for the men’s Super 7, in a 180 length. Right away, I noticed that it was snappy and responsive and held a decent edge on hard pack. While the length improved the skis performance in crud, the Super 7 simply did not drive through crud at the same level that the S7 does – which honestly surprised me. In addition, the tail does not schmear as easily as the S7. It tended to hold on through the turn, but did smear when “told” to do so. The tail was not nearly as hooky as the Dynastar Chams which we tried last year. All in all, the Star 7 / Super 7 is a good ski for those looking for a wider model. Although the ski is geared toward powder, I think it’s a decent performer in all conditions. Both the Star 7 and Super 7 are currently available for $749.95. The Super 7 comes in lengths 164, 172 ,180, 188. The Star 7 comes in lengths 162,170,178,188. |
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Women’s Salomon Q-103 Stella The Salomon Q-103, I am told, is the same construction as the men’s Q-105, but with different sizing options. It is part of Salomon’s new “Q-Line” of skis being released for next season. Similar to the Rossi 7 series, this new Q series has their own version of a honeycomb tip to cut down on weight. The Stella has more sidecut and a slimmer waist than the Rossi Star, with dimension for the 174cm at 130-103-122 (Note: the dimensions change with the length of the ski, and the men’s Q-105 is 105 mm underfoot at a length of 188 cm, but identical to the dimensions of the Stella at a length of 174 cm). After testing the Q-103 Stella, two words come to mind – “new favorite”. Yes, this ski is top notch. It’s good at everything. It carves well and rails right through crud. The sweet spot is from the middle of the foot to the toe. And the tail can hold through the carve or it can schmear when told to do so. Salomon did their research on this one and did a great job. A lot of people are going to love this new ski. The Salomon Q-103 Stella 2014 version is currently available for $599 in three different sizes (160, 167, 174). |
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