DÉPART.02

The Salomon DÉPART.02 brings the family’s creative freestyle approach into a narrower, softer shape than the .01. Its 98–101 mm waists, compact radii and pronounced rocker suit park laps, side hits and playful turns around the resort. The four lengths from 164 to 188 cm give this adult model a broad size range, without turning it into a conventional directional all-mountain ski.

A full poplar core provides an even flex and useful rebound, reinforced by fiberglass and full sandwich sidewalls. Titanal supports the binding zone. Tip and tail rocker free the ends for presses, pivots and switch landings, while the short 13–16 metre radii encourage quick arcs when the edges engage. SkiEssentials testers described surfy, creative handling and useful substance in slush, although their assessments varied with conditions. Firm-snow grip and composure through rough snow are less consistent strengths than playfulness.

Choose the .02 for a freestyle-minded intermediate through expert skier who spends meaningful time in the park or actively seeks features across the mountain. Its narrower platform changes edges more readily than the .01, but still offers area for softer resort snow. A skier who rarely jumps, presses or skis switch may prefer a stronger directional all-mountain ski for variable conditions. This is a ski-only listing; bindings are selected separately.