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Salomon Depart- brief review, AMA

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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7915 - Karma: 22,700
Borrowed some Salomon Departs for a few runs at Lake Louise. Here are a few observations:

The ski is super fun. The shape really does facilitate unconventional lines in the park and playfulness on the rest of the mountain.
They felt light and responsive everywhere and are a perfect platform to get funky if that’s your thing. They did feel fairly short for me at 180 cm.

- Very short turn radius makes the ski quite nimble. Short and medium radius carved turns were a joy. For a ski 106 under foot they were fairly quick edge to edge. While versatile, the skis don’t want to charge and start to feel a bit floppy at higher speeds on the very firm groomed runs I skied.

-Flex is reasonably stiff under foot, considerably softer towards the ends of the ski. The rocker combined with the flex pattern makes these butter like a dream. The ones I skied were mounted fairly far back. Nose butters were money- it felt like there was a platform supporting me when I got a certain point pressing the noses. I had to modulate pressure on the tails a little more, having looped out a few times from pressing hard on the tails.

-rails were really fun. The ski provides a great platform while still being quick on the metal. Hitting larger jumps was a bit scary, I had one very spooky tail heavy landing. I think they would feel more fun on jumps once I got more used to them, I had been on a longer, stiffer, narrower ski the previous run and I usually don’t have access to large jumps.

I wouldn’t want the depart to be my only ski but will definitely buy a pair of these for days when I want to be more funky if I can find a good price on them.

For reference I’m 6’1”, 210 lbs and skied the 180.

**This thread was edited on Apr 22nd 2024 at 1:44:07am

**This thread was edited on Apr 22nd 2024 at 1:45:19am
Apr 22 2024 1:42AM
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freestyler540
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Sounds like “right in the middle” kind of ski. Would that be accurate?
Apr 22 2024 7:24AM
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Evancantspin
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Apr 22 2024 8:20AM
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Vish-shoe
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How do thy compare to wides
Apr 22 2024 2:05PM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7915 - Karma: 22,700
freestyler540Sounds like “right in the middle” kind of ski. Would that be accurate?

Not sure what you mean by “right in the middle”. They are different than any ski I’ve been on. Super playful, fun in the park, not necessarily a park ski. I’d guess they are similar to a Line Blade or Black Crows Mirus Core in being a short turn radius freestyle ski.
Apr 22 2024 5:22PM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7915 - Karma: 22,700
Vish-shoeHow do thy compare to wides


I mean they are pretty wide. But no 189 ;(
Apr 22 2024 5:22PM
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melkon
Posts: 80 - Karma: 835
Would you ski them in powder or some chopped up powder?
Apr 23 2024 11:30AM
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JC_PEI
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You described the ski itself but how does the ski make you feel? Emotion, childhood memories etc
Apr 23 2024 11:54AM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7915 - Karma: 22,700
JC_PEIYou described the ski itself but how does the ski make you feel? Emotion, childhood memories etc


On the departs I felt like a younger version of myself, as if the roots of my skiing style and philosophy developed years ago were being reshaped or healed. I simultaneously felt older, being offered a glimpse of my future skiing self with the understanding of how my current skiing would shape my skiing as an elder.
Perhaps the reason they are called the Depart is their ability to help us depart from the illusion of linear time.
Apr 23 2024 12:26PM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7915 - Karma: 22,700
melkonWould you ski them in powder or some chopped up powder?


I would. I think they’d be real fun in softer snow, especially at the further back mount point I skied. Some extra length for sure wouldn’t hurt though. I think they’d be one of the best skis out for having fun on a very slushy spring day.

**This post was edited on Apr 23rd 2024 at 9:07:13pm
Apr 23 2024 9:06PM
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iang
Posts: 171 - Karma: 3,446
We need more ski reviews in this format
JC_PEIYou described the ski itself but how does the ski make you feel? Emotion, childhood memories etc
Apr 24 2024 11:10AM
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captainslack
Posts: 310 - Karma: 558
For people who have ridden these, how do you think they'd hold up as a 1 ski touring quiver? I'd throw on a pair of casts and use them for holidays where I have to travel to the the alps and can only bring one ski. Would only be for shorter tours. Any touring specific trip I'd bring my Faction Agents.
Apr 26 2024 5:00AM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7915 - Karma: 22,700
captainslackFor people who have ridden these, how do you think they'd hold up as a 1 ski touring quiver? I'd throw on a pair of casts and use them for holidays where I have to travel to the the alps and can only bring one ski. Would only be for shorter tours. Any touring specific trip I'd bring my Faction Agents.


They wouldn’t be my first choice for touring, but they are pretty light. I think you should do it and report back. They for sure didn’t feel like a ‘chargy’ ski to me, but if you want something more swervy and fun to jib around the mountain they’d go.
From what I hear the QST 106 has a similar feel with more big mountain chops, so that could be a solid option for your one resort ski

**This post was edited on Apr 26th 2024 at 10:49:57am
Apr 26 2024 10:47AM
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lil.Boye
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if they make a longer version is would buy them so hard
Apr 29 2024 6:33PM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7915 - Karma: 22,700
lil.Boyeif they make a longer version is would buy them so hard


Hopefully next year. I think a 184 would be $
Apr 30 2024 3:48PM
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tdollo
Posts: 3858 - Karma: 19,468
captainslackFor people who have ridden these, how do you think they'd hold up as a 1 ski touring quiver? I'd throw on a pair of casts and use them for holidays where I have to travel to the the alps and can only bring one ski. Would only be for shorter tours. Any touring specific trip I'd bring my Faction Agents.


I'm mounting some shifts on them for the spring just for the sake of touring on them
Apr 30 2024 6:25PM
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IDK2024
Posts: 33 - Karma: 47
What does a longer ski do? I see a lot off people asking for longer skis, is it just for height?

and semi-related, would a longer ski be harder to butter?
lil.Boyeif they make a longer version is would buy them so hard
May 1 2024 3:39AM
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lil.Boye
Posts: 2750 - Karma: 12,566
IDK2024What does a longer ski do? I see a lot off people asking for longer skis, is it just for height?

and semi-related, would a longer ski be harder to butter?


I am taller and a bit heavier of a dude, my riding style consists of going fast, crushing sidehits and deep carves. Which means i easily overpower shorter skis that have some flex to them. I like having some flex but also a stable ski. Best ski i have had was the lib tech ufo 100 in a 185 (measured 188cm) it was stable at high speeds but soft and light at the same time. It had no speed limit, but didn’t need to be ridden fast to be fun like the kartel 108.
another reason i like longer skis is that it tends to help float in powder.
May 1 2024 8:15AM
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IcantSki42069
Posts: 36 - Karma: 195
lil.BoyeI am taller and a bit heavier of a dude, my riding style consists of going fast, crushing sidehits and deep carves. Which means i easily overpower shorter skis that have some flex to them. I like having some flex but also a stable ski. Best ski i have had was the lib tech ufo 100 in a 185 (measured 188cm) it was stable at high speeds but soft and light at the same time. It had no speed limit, but didn’t need to be ridden fast to be fun like the kartel 108.
another reason i like longer skis is that it tends to help float in powder.


I am 6'4 230. Normally skiing something in the 190s. I got a chance to ski the 180 depart for a day and it fucking crushed. I had so much fun... it wasn't ever "not enough ski" for me. take that for what its worth (nothing)
May 1 2024 8:18PM
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lil.Boye
Posts: 2750 - Karma: 12,566
IcantSki42069I am 6'4 230. Normally skiing something in the 190s. I got a chance to ski the 180 depart for a day and it fucking crushed. I had so much fun... it wasn't ever "not enough ski" for me. take that for what its worth (nothing)

yeah, i might be wrong on the length part, especially if the ski is more stable and responsive than i thought. I have tried the sakana in a 174 (?) and it was a blast and i didn’t overpower it at all
May 2 2024 6:46AM
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