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Nobody is immune to the allure of good design. Not even skiers, though some will tell you they don't care about what their skis look like. "It's all about the feel," they'll say—and then you'll catch them drooling over the annual gear guides when they come out. Ski companies know this and that's why they put out new designs every year even when the ski beneath doesn't change beyond a minor tweak or two.
In this way, ski releases are like shoe drops, and Salomon is getting a head start on next year's season by revealing the 2025/26 QST ski collection, now sporting some rather eye-catching topsheets by designer Victor Brousseaud—in addition to some noteworthy adjustments under the hood, too.
The QST has become the top choice in Salomon's lineup for all-mountain freeride skiing since it debuted in 2016 (and it's picked up a few awards along the way as proof). Previous versions have used subtle, monochromatic designs but the new class wilder, thanks to Brousseaud. "We went for very recognizable topsheets to accompany this spirit," he said. "Starting from a weather storm, each pattern tells a story of what the ski will provide. It comes in waves from under your foot, giving a strong feeling when you’re on it." Textile-inspired pixelation on top contrasts with a smoothed-out aural glow beneath, hinting at the versatility of the QST.
There's another important graphical element in the new QST collection too: the elimination of men's and women's models. Many skis come in gendered variants and while there can be small differences between them—different lengths, lighter weights—oftentimes the graphic is the only contrast. It's usually presented just how you might imagine too: pink, teal, purple, and pastel for women and well, everything else for men. The thing is, not all women like those colors, and the call for more options has been loud and clear for a long time. So, Salomon is going unisex and maxing out choice by making each version of the ski in two color options.
For those who are curious what's going on beneath the graphic layer—which you can see thanks to Brousseaud's use of transparency—the new QST does include some new tech. The shapes are slightly different and Salomon has added Cork Damplifier 2.0, an adjusted system for dampening vibrations and reducing ski weight.
Salomon's 2025/26 QST ski will be available in four waist widths: the QST 94 for on-piste resort skiing, the QST 100 for all-mountain versatility, the QST 106 for bigger mountains and deeper snow, and the S/Lab QST Blank, a powder ski with a 112mm waist. The QST 100 and S/Lab QST Blank are available now at Salomon's website with the other models to follow this fall.
Published 01-29-2025
