Stance w 80 review

Overview

The Stance W 80 is the narrowest women's ski in Salomon's Stance all-mountain family, and for 26-27 it is sold as a set with the M10 GW binding. Salomon describes it as built for agility and adaptability, with "a dynamic feel at any speed". On paper it sits at the frontside end of all-mountain: an 80 mm waist, tight radii and a poplar core with a single titanal layer underfoot. The 2027 version carries over the shape and construction of the previous Stance W 80 with new graphics. It comes in five lengths — 141, 151, 159, 167 and 175 cm — a wide range for a women's ski that covers both small and tall skiers.

On-snow performance

The spec sheet points to a ski for short to medium turns on groomed snow. Radii run from 10 m at 141 cm to 15 m at 175 cm, with 13 m in the 159 cm length, so the ski should come round quickly once it is tipped on edge. The All-Mountain profile pairs about 15% tip rocker and 12% tail rocker with camber underfoot: the rockered ends make turn entry and release easy, while the cambered middle gives grip and rebound on hard snow. The titanal layer above the core adds damping and edge grip, but it does not run the full length — carbon inserts take over in the tip and tail to keep the ends lighter and easier to pivot. That makes the Stance W 80 more forgiving than a full-metal carver, with a natural speed limit below race-ski territory. Off-piste, 80 mm underfoot and modest rocker are fine for a few centimetres of fresh snow or soft bumps at the side of the run, but this is mainly a piste ski.

Construction & specs explained

Salomon builds the ski around a 100% poplar woodcore, chosen for liveliness and vibration damping. On top sits Single Ti: one layer of titanal above the core for edge grip and energy transfer. The Ti-C Frame shapes that layer — titanal is visible underfoot, then carbon inserts extend into the tip and tail. Full sandwich sidewalls, wide steel edges, a brushed topsheet and a recycled base complete the build. Dimensions grow with length: 121/78/103 mm at 141 cm, 122/80/104 at 151, 123/80/105 at 159, 124/80/106 at 167 and 125/80/107 mm at 175 cm. Listed weights are 1530, 1660, 1780, 1910 and 2040 g per ski — on the heavy side for a women's 80 mm ski, which helps stability but adds swing weight. The included M10 GW binding has a DIN range of 3-10 and accepts GripWalk soles.

Who it's for & comparisons

It suits intermediate to advanced women who ski mostly on piste and want a stable, easy-turning ski as a ready-to-ski set. The unisex Salomon Stance 80 uses the same poplar core and Ti-C Frame idea in lengths up to 185 cm; the W 80 tops out at 175 cm. If you want a little more float and a lighter Karuba/poplar core, the Salomon Stance w 84 is the next step up. The Blizzard Black Pearl 82 is slightly wider, uses a beech/poplar core with a partial titanal piece and weighs 1490 g per ski at 166 cm, so it is the lighter choice. The Elan Element 78 w is a simpler, narrower progression ski with a mono woodcore and an extruded base.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• Wide length range from 141 to 175 cm.
• Tight radii (10-15 m) for quick, easy turns on piste.
• Single titanal layer underfoot adds grip and damping.
• Sold as a ready-to-ski set with the GripWalk-compatible M10 GW.

Cons

• Heavy for a women's 80 mm ski: 1780 g per ski at 159 cm.
• Partial-metal build has less top-end stability than full-titanal carvers.
• The 80 mm waist limits float in deeper snow.
• The M10 GW (DIN 3-10) may not suit heavier or more aggressive skiers.

Verdict: The Stance W 80 is a dependable, frontside-leaning women's all-mountain set: poplar, a touch of titanal and short radii make it easy to carve on groomers. Skiers who want a lighter ski or more off-piste range should look one step wider.