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We couldn't post this before because of embargos from brands. Plenty more to come but the full Faction Skis Prodigy/Candide lines are in there, as well as the new QST models from Salomon.
any chance you know what wood they are putting in the candide 3.0 and 5.0?
I can’t believe they actually changed the shape of the 5.0, but atleast it keeps its large radius. Looks like they just added a tiny bit of taper.
Added to the description but they are different. The 2.0 and 3.0 get a paulownia/poplar core, the 5.0 get's an 'air poplar' core which seems to be to do with the milling.
Its a pretty sad when Salomon one of the brands that really helped kick off twin tip skiing, no longer has a twin tip in their line up. Perhaps more so a recognition of how the industry has changed and brands are becoming even more focused on what they market too, but I did find it interesting.
We couldn't post this before because of embargos from brands. Plenty more to come but the full Faction Skis Prodigy/Candide lines are in there, as well as the new QST models from Salomon.
tomPietrowskiIts a pretty sad when Salomon one of the brands that really helped kick off twin tip skiing, no longer has a twin tip in their line up. Perhaps more so a recognition of how the industry has changed and brands are becoming even more focused on what they market too, but I did find it interesting.
I have been thinking this^ for a while now, and I agree totally,
Ever since they dropped the Rocker2 series down to just the 100, then their twin-tip line to just the NFX, then nothing at all, I have been progressively disappointed.
I was just kicking this idea around in my head the other day: Speaking with some of my peers at Salomon, they say that each Amer brand gets to operate independently... But I wonder if that is not entirely true. Atomic has 4 twins in their line (possibly more in the future... 110mm Bentchetler?!), Armada is still very much a freeride brand with over 50% of the lineup being twins. Salomon also has its hand in backpacking gear, trail running, snowboarding, footwear, and a few other facets for a while now, all of which can generate year-round cash flow. AND they have three winter specific divisions: Snowboard, Nordic, and Ski. So I am thinking that the Alpine team has to focus on product that is super commercial. The alpine division has gone through several rounds of SKU reduction, just focusing on winning categories... Hence the Stance series, going after that Kendo/ Mantra market, no twin-tips and now their widest ski is 112 underfoot.
And I think it is notable that even though the QST line-up has the same number of SKUs, they reeled in the extremes. The cap construction 85 is basically a rental ski now (essentially writing it off), and the 118 has been killed to make room for a more widely accepted waist width. The S/Lab division used to make some cool shit. But now the Shift is the only S/Lab product.
We couldn't post this before because of embargos from brands. Plenty more to come but the full Faction Skis Prodigy/Candide lines are in there, as well as the new QST models from Salomon.
Sweet man, thanks!
Looks like the prodigy 3.0/4.0's remain the same except for graphics?
skidemon22Ever since they dropped the Rocker2 series down to just the 100, then their twin-tip line to just the NFX, then nothing at all, I have been progressively disappointed.
skidemon22I have been thinking this^ for a while now, and I agree totally,
Ever since they dropped the Rocker2 series down to just the 100, then their twin-tip line to just the NFX, then nothing at all, I have been progressively disappointed.
I was just kicking this idea around in my head the other day: Speaking with some of my peers at Salomon, they say that each Amer brand gets to operate independently... But I wonder if that is not entirely true. Atomic has 4 twins in their line (possibly more in the future... 110mm Bentchetler?!), Armada is still very much a freeride brand with over 50% of the lineup being twins. Salomon also has its hand in backpacking gear, trail running, snowboarding, footwear, and a few other facets for a while now, all of which can generate year-round cash flow. AND they have three winter specific divisions: Snowboard, Nordic, and Ski. So I am thinking that the Alpine team has to focus on product that is super commercial. The alpine division has gone through several rounds of SKU reduction, just focusing on winning categories... Hence the Stance series, going after that Kendo/ Mantra market, no twin-tips and now their widest ski is 112 underfoot.
And I think it is notable that even though the QST line-up has the same number of SKUs, they reeled in the extremes. The cap construction 85 is basically a rental ski now (essentially writing it off), and the 118 has been killed to make room for a more widely accepted waist width. The S/Lab division used to make some cool shit. But now the Shift is the only S/Lab product.
it must suck to be a solomon athlete, good luck skiing big mountain features like spines on a 112 ski with a 16m radius
Amer has been owned by a Chinese company since 2019 and their ceo is now Chinese. Could be a totally different structure and bottom line for them now. This is probably just because the Newschoolers and Prime skiing don’t have the info yet - but I didn’t see the trace or tracer series. That would be upsetting to me and a sign of the times if they discontinued it.
I wanted to say something about Salomon not putting R&D into new skis but then it occurred to me that they wouldn’t have to even put that much into a new twin tip. A lot of tried and true tech is still, roughly, the same. They’re just really invested in the directional dad charger. Also, their hiking shoes sell like absolutely crazy. I would say their market is the outdoorsy person moreso than the park rat and they’ve leaned into it.
skidemon22I have been thinking this^ for a while now, and I agree totally,
Ever since they dropped the Rocker2 series down to just the 100, then their twin-tip line to just the NFX, then nothing at all, I have been progressively disappointed.
I was just kicking this idea around in my head the other day: Speaking with some of my peers at Salomon, they say that each Amer brand gets to operate independently... But I wonder if that is not entirely true. Atomic has 4 twins in their line (possibly more in the future... 110mm Bentchetler?!), Armada is still very much a freeride brand with over 50% of the lineup being twins. Salomon also has its hand in backpacking gear, trail running, snowboarding, footwear, and a few other facets for a while now, all of which can generate year-round cash flow. AND they have three winter specific divisions: Snowboard, Nordic, and Ski. So I am thinking that the Alpine team has to focus on product that is super commercial. The alpine division has gone through several rounds of SKU reduction, just focusing on winning categories... Hence the Stance series, going after that Kendo/ Mantra market, no twin-tips and now their widest ski is 112 underfoot.
And I think it is notable that even though the QST line-up has the same number of SKUs, they reeled in the extremes. The cap construction 85 is basically a rental ski now (essentially writing it off), and the 118 has been killed to make room for a more widely accepted waist width. The S/Lab division used to make some cool shit. But now the Shift is the only S/Lab product.
any chance you know what wood they are putting in the candide 3.0 and 5.0?
I can’t believe they actually changed the shape of the 5.0, but atleast it keeps its large radius. Looks like they just added a tiny bit of taper.
TwigThe 5.0 get's an 'air poplar' core which seems to be to do with the milling.
DensecloudsSweet man, thanks!
Looks like the prodigy 3.0/4.0's remain the same except for graphics?
Prodigy 3.0/4.0 unchanged.
It turns out Faction have made the call since sending us the info to keep the 5.0 the same as previous years. Candide apparently likes it too much to change it for now. The graphic in the guide is correct, but otherwise the ski is the same as '20-21.
BradFiAusNzCoCaAmer has been owned by a Chinese company since 2019 and their ceo is now Chinese. Could be a totally different structure and bottom line for them now. This is probably just because the Newschoolers and Prime skiing don’t have the info yet - but I didn’t see the trace or tracer series. That would be upsetting to me and a sign of the times if they discontinued it.
I wanted to say something about Salomon not putting R&D into new skis but then it occurred to me that they wouldn’t have to even put that much into a new twin tip. A lot of tried and true tech is still, roughly, the same. They’re just really invested in the directional dad charger. Also, their hiking shoes sell like absolutely crazy. I would say their market is the outdoorsy person moreso than the park rat and they’ve leaned into it.
I know about the Chinese conglomerate take over, and from what I have heard, they have largely let Amer brands function as before. However, that isn't to say that the Amer executives haven't stepped in and said that they want Atomic and Armada to focus on race, freeride, and freestyle and Salomon to focus on commercially popular products, like the Shift, Dad skis and hiking boots... Also, their Alpine ski boots have a ton of market share.
To make a new SKU is a lot of work. So while they may have the molds to one of my favorite all-time skis, the Rocker2 100, the actual administrative, logistical and marketing costs may not be worth it to sell
tomPietrowskiIts a pretty sad when Salomon one of the brands that really helped kick off twin tip skiing, no longer has a twin tip in their line up. Perhaps more so a recognition of how the industry has changed and brands are becoming even more focused on what they market too, but I did find it interesting.
I mean I have respect for the brand, but nowadays you go to their website and it barely looks like a ski brand. You have to click a few times in their drop down menu to even find skis.
We’re a bit bummed with them right now. Don’t have a single Salomon product in the shop. We hope that changes soon.
.nastyI mean I have respect for the brand, but nowadays you go to their website and it barely looks like a ski brand. You have to click a few times in their drop down menu to even find skis.
We’re a bit bummed with them right now. Don’t have a single Salomon product in the shop. We hope that changes soon.
Aren’t they still the number one boot manufacturer? I believe they were proud of that back about two maybe three years ago.
