Alpine skis
Product 2020
Woman, Man
These skis are very alike the S/Force 11 that also have a 16 meter radius (for size 170cm), and are cited as 128 – 80 – 112mm underfoot (the Force 9: 127 – 80 – 110 mm).
The S/Force 9 marks the return of Salomon in the world of performance alpine skis. It seems that the Annecy brand really wanted to turn a page and deploy all their know-how in these top-of-the-range skis.
They’ve used Titanal in all the layers. These skis are full of energy, some serious kit with quality construction. The ride is superb with an unprecedented grip.
You can feel the weight of their quality on your shoulder when you carry them. But once on the slopes these grams are soon forgotten. There is still inertia at the front of the skis, which could surprise some skiers, but after several runs you get used to them and load them more at the front.
These skis are solidly grounded with a great edge length and little tip lift. So you can drive them hard and they grip well on hard snow. They are magnificently stable too.
The Salomon S/Force 9 suit heavy skiers as they do not deform. With an active tail and a 16 meter radius (using 170cm) you can do quite tight turns. You can stretch out the turns with the Force 9, one of the qualities we really appreciated. But, if you want to drastically reduce the turns you have to really work on the front of the skis. So you need to enjoy this nervy way of skiing, being active and impose the Force 9 and know how to manage them.
These skis are relatively accessible, but if you really want to exploit them you need technique, finesse and good physical technique. On paper their range of use is pretty wide, in reality you do need skill to exploit them to the full. Very interesting skis we loved them in the morning on hard snow or artificial snow.
We also adored the magnificent beautifully designed tips (square, big, solid) mechanical perfection that keep the tips solidly on the ground. These skis are silent on the snow without vibrations. They release that beautiful sensation of serenity. The Force 9 tail was appreciated although we prefer the Force 11 in 177cm because it is even more present and aids the skier in the turns.
The bindings are integrated into the skis using a rail system. With stunning manufacturing Salomon didn’t forget to add the delicate ridges at the front of the skis to enable easy carrying comfort so that your gloves don’t slip too much.
We were lucky enough to ski with the Salomon S/Force 9 for three months last winter. They haven’t worn down and the flex and durability have resisted. This is an excellent product.
The design we personally found a little drab, but that’s a question of personal taste. The qualities of the Force 9 are so much more flamboyant than their look.
The Salomon S/Force 9 are powerful, grippy skis that show their manufacturing quality and top of the range materials in their weight. A durable product that are aimed at good technical skiers who can exploit their high potential.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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