S lab equipe sl review

Overview

The Salomon S/Lab Equipe SL is the top slalom ski in Salomon's new Equipe race line for 2026/27, the line that takes the place of the S/Race models in Salomon's range. It is not the FIS race-stock ski (that is the separate S/Lab Equipe FIS SL). This is the non-FIS version for expert skiers who want World Cup-style short turns on an ordinary piste. It comes flat on Salomon's P98 race plate with no binding, in 155, 160, 165 and 170 cm. The shape is 121/68/105 mm in the two shorter lengths and 121/68/104 mm in the two longer ones, and the radius runs from 11 to 14 m.

On-snow performance

On paper this is a short-turn specialist. The radius grows with length: 11 m at 155 cm, 12 m at 160, 13 m at 165 and 14 m at 170. Together with a 68 mm waist and a 121 mm tip, that points to a ski that hooks up quickly and finishes slalom-length arcs without being forced. Salomon's racing profile pairs camber with an 8% tip rocker and no tail rocker. The shovel should engage smoothly, and the ski should hold its full edge to the end of the turn and release cleanly into the next one. The weight tells the other half of the story. At 2130-2280 g per ski it is heavy for a 68 mm ski, which points to a calm, damp ride on hard and icy pistes rather than a light, flickable one. Expect a ski that rewards a strong, centred stance and early edge angle, and that needs speed and commitment to come alive.

Construction & specs explained

• Core: full ash woodcore, which Salomon says is inspired by its race woodcore.
• Metal: double titanal, with 0.6 mm and 0.4 mm layers above and below the core.
• Power Control System (PCS): cork inserts set into the titanal layer to damp vibration and add power.
• Sidewalls and edges: full sandwich construction with 7 mm ABS sidewalls, wide steel edges and a 7° side edge angle.
• Plate: S/Lab race plate P98, made for Salomon's ICON race bindings. Bindings are sold separately.
• Weight: 2130 g (155), 2160 g (160), 2220 g (165) and 2280 g (170) per ski, as listed for the ski without a binding.

Who it's for & comparisons

This ski suits expert piste skiers, masters racers and former racers who want a real slalom feel without race-stock stiffness or FIS shape rules. Against the outgoing Salomon S race sl pro it shares the 68 mm waist and the 11-14 m radius range, but the S/Lab version comes flat on a race plate instead of with a binding. The Salomon S race sl 12 is the more accessible option in the same shape. Outside Salomon, the Head Worldcup rebels e sl pro is the obvious rival, with an almost identical radius progression, and the Atomic Redster s9 is another stiff, precise slalom ski for strong skiers. Women who want the same narrow slalom shape in an easier package can look at the Salomon S max n14.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• Full ash core with double titanal and PCS cork points to strong grip and damping on hard snow.
• Short 11-14 m radius suits tight, slalom-style turns.
• P98 race plate leaves a free choice of ICON race binding.
• Four lengths from 155 to 170 cm cover most adult skiers.

Cons

• The binding is extra, on top of an already premium price.
• Heavy for a 68 mm ski, so it can feel demanding at low speed.
• The narrow, piste-only shape is out of its depth in soft or deep snow.
• Built for experts; intermediate skiers will find it hard work.

Verdict: The S/Lab Equipe SL is Salomon's most serious slalom ski outside the FIS category. It is a damp, powerful short-turn tool for strong skiers who want to pick their own race binding.