Salomon XW Tornado (2008)

I'm a level 3 expert skier who makes about three trips a year out west. I've been looking for a new pair of skis that will suit everything I'm looking for: bumps, carving, steeps, and powder; just a very solid one quiver ski. I've been looking at a couple different pairs: the K2 Apache Recons, the Volkl Tigersharks, and these. I need some advice from some othere people onn how they feel about these three options, and which pair best suits all my needs. I'm about 6' and weigh about 145 lbs.

If you could put the Volkl AC30's in the mix as well, that'd be good. I forgot to mention those.

I'm 5'11" and 175lbs. Demo'd the AC30s; these are awesome at high speed, but heavy everywhere else on the mountain. K2 Recons felt like the average rental ski to me. Haven't tried the sharks, though. Tornados have a great feel all over the mountain, and are light as well. Definite kudos for the Tornados; this ski rocks! Oh yeah, you should check out the Nordica Hot Rod Nitrous, it's a quick ski, a bit more stable at speed than the Tornado, but not as nimble in the bumps(still had a blast in the bruisers). Good luck! 

This ski is awesome, simply put. I bought a pair and have not regretted it at all since. These skis are very light, allowing you to throw them around if you like, but are still super stable at speed (I couldn't get mine to chatter once, and believe me, I tried!) A real pleasure in the bumps, and rock solid on the groomers. Can't comment on powder skiing with these skis, as it was hardpack in NZ where I was (hopefully we can fix that this season in whistler!) Get this ski, its off the hook.

I am an instructor teaching 250 days a year and need a ski for all and every condition. Luckily I was offered a sponsership with salomon and they gave me a pair of Tornado's. What a ski. Salomon have really got this one right. They are simply awsome and great fun. The harder you ski them the better they are. Well done salomon, a true all mountain ski

Happened to have a few turns on these in excellent snow (Grands Montets this afternoon). Very disappointing - undemanding, skittish and generally rather too easy to ski on for my liking. Not an expert ski at all IMHO. Mind you, I was comparing them to Nordica Dobermann SL-Rs, which are quite a different animal.

I've been skiing Volkl 6 Star's for several seasons. The 6 stars rock but want to run like a scalded cat all the time. So.....I started looking for a ski to enjoy a more relaxed day on. Demo'd AC30's, K2 Strikers and the XW Tornado. The Tornado was the best in my book. You can sit back and carve or push and these babies will still get up and run. The K2 Striker was nice but a bit too soft to run as hard as I like to and the AC30 confusingly squirrely at times. Buying a set or Tornados this week.

I bought a pair of Tornado's end of last year. I am 6' 185lbs and bought the 170cm. Wishing now that I would have gone to the 178cm for more float and high speed stability. Absolutley love the skis except for higher speed busted up groomers(tips get bounced around) and the once in awhile over the tips feeling in the deep stuff. Demo'd a 177cm AC30 today(they sucked except for high speed, total GS racer feel). Anybody know if they changed anything in the Tornado ski this year other than graphics?

Just demoed a Fury vs my Tornados today in a foot of cold powder, bumps, trees, crud etc.. Expert level skier(36 years old) that skis everything the hill has. In a nutshell if you like a light, quick, energetic, snappy, grippy, turny, drop your shoulder carver, plus awesome powder ski go Tornado. Go Fury if higher speeds busting through powder, crud, uneven condtions are your thing. Fury is much more damp, stable, powerful, bullet proof especially in busted up conditions. It is stiffer but is easily handled in tight spots, moguls, trees, etc... Alot more energy and fun if you compare them to certain Volkl all mountain skis, in my opinion.

Tested 9 skis. I am a woman, expert skier 5'2" and 110 lbs. The ski is pretty good in all sorts of terrain, and you can make them do short and longer radius turns. They were good in bumps, good in crud, good on groomed , good on broken powder good on steep, (and not stellar in really heavy deep powder -but no all mtn. ski is). I tested them in Whistler before buying. Not a difficult ski to ski (there is only so much you can do with 110 lbs after all).

Where do I find out the recommended skier weight range for each length of Ski - I can't find any guidance on the Salomon site. I'm a short 145lbs and high end Intermediate aspiring to advanced.

Picked up a pair of 178s a month ago. Handles great in powder, ice, slush, and chewed up late day crud. Easy to ski, but also very easy to over-ski. On packed powder groomers they have a habit of skipping out of really high-speed turns. As long as you obey their speed limit they're a blast.  
 
Now I start out on GS12's on the groomers until the corduroy gets chewed up, then I switch to the Tornados and couldn't ask for a better day.

Tested for 2 days in powder in Tahoe - fantastic ski - turns quickly - not so stable initially at speed for some reason, but eventually got used to that. Highly recommended for good intermediates.

Just used a pair of 170's (85kg and 1.68m tall) in France on and off piste. Changed from Ross B£ and immediately took to these. They hold there edge well, can be thrown around bumps and float in powder thanks to their wider front and tail. Really had fun with them and will now only rent these until something better comes along.

Just changed from volkl 5 stars, looking for off piste and bump performance without sacrificing high speed carving. These skis delivered in spades! Skied 170's (1.81m/75kg) for a week in Tignes/Val D'Isere and they handled everything that the mountains threw at them with ease. They are definitely high energy skis that do not tolerate tail sitting, nor do they like to be pointed in a straight line. They were excellent in moderately deep fresh powder, much better in the bumps compared to my old 5 stars, highly manouverable and carved as well as if not better than my 5 stars. Couldn't be happier!!

Skied hard-packed and scraped powder for a week in France in January 08 on 170s. I'm 175cm / 85Kg and prefer moderately steep, fall-line skiing on piste. The Tornados were OK for this, but not great. They prefer medium to longer turns and can handle a fair bit of speed but they are relatively slow edge-to-edge compared with Salomon Equipe 3Vs or Fischer RX8s or Dynastar Omecarve 10s. They do not have anything like the spring or feel of these skis in short turns down the fall line and their edge holding, while good, was not in the same category as the Fischers or the Rossignol 9S ti I skied a season or two back.  
 
I was however, pleased with their stability and feel in medium and longer carving turns at speed or on fast traverses, where a small amount of edge seemed to keep them tracking that little bit better and gave me a bit more confidence to go faster. Despite this, they are quite soft tip and tail (easily demonstrated in store) and this lets them navigate the bumps in relaxed style. They didn't bash through 'le soupe' (as the French call it) at the edge of the piste so much as try to run over it with varying degrees of success, but I did get a good feel from them in the soft snow at the very bottom of the hill where they felt easy to turn in the chop, bumps and rice. There was no off-piste access that week due to the freeze-thaw.  
 
On balance I think they will be better in the spring conditions I'm heading out to in April - the skis edge well enough on firm snow to let me out early; the wide tip should help me carve through the softening snow of mid-morning; the soft tip and tail should help me navigate the bumps that form by mid-day and the relatively wide footprint should help with flotation in the mush of early afternoon. But for early season on packed powder I'm sticking with my 3Vs for the extra bounce and carve in short turns.  
 
PS This review was incorrectly posted in the 2007 model section before being copied here. 
 

Just bought a pair and skied three hard days at Taos over spring break. I'm strictly a groomer, and steeper trails like Taos are my favorites. I had three of the best ski days in my 30 year on skis with the Tornadoes. Quick into and out of turns, held their edge effortlessly carving turns on Baby Bear and Firlefanz and others. Really just a fun, fast, quick, energetic and amazingly fun ski.

these skis outperformed ac30 easily from my spring weekend in tahoe. Not as quick in bumps as k2 apache, but perhaps a bit more stable and less chattery. Again, I thought ac 30 were more stable but also more sluggish and I used 163 ac30 and 170 tornados. Also I tried the nordica jet fuel 170 and found them really unwnjoyable

Been back on the slopes after 15 years for about 4 seasons. I try to make between 10-15 trips to the mountain each season. I replaced a pair of Atomic Izor 3.1's with these New Tornados. The Izor is a very forgiving ski. My level is probably sound Intermediate now. The Tornado with its wider ski hugs the mountain well even in the crud. They carve with little effort, and don't seem to chatter on the steeps. I noticed you can't sit back on them or they'll let you know you've lost a lot of control. Stay centered or forward and you'll get whatever you ask from them.

I am about to buy Atomic Nomad Crimson after having skied for couple of years on Metron EX (I love them but they are extremely heavy), but right before I bought them got a tip about this model ... any input is appreciated.

I spent a day in persiher bluecow in oz on both the tornado and the watea 84 fishcer-and I must sya the tornado won hands down-I have been skiing for 30 ysears and ski at expert level, and know o good pair of skis when i fine-em. the tornados were super stable,very predictable,you just throw them around and they do exactly what you wnat,super confodence builders,very impressed with the tornados,one of the best if not the best ski I have had the pleasure to test.

I purchased this ski (170 lenght) and just returned from a couple of weeks in Bariloche (Argentina) in very variable snow conditions (powder to slush). I'm advanced level skier 5'9'' - 160 pounds. These skis are fast and stable in the groomed, fun in bumps, float well in powder and are tons of fun everywhere. Bottomline, extremely happy with the tornadoes. Would recommend to anyone looking for a versatile all-mountain ski.

Skiied the K2 Apache in 2007, they were ok, a bit dull in the transition and too unstable at speed. 
 
Bought the Tornados in 2008 - 100% improvement, loads of feedback, energetic in the turn and stable at v.high speed. Not really an all-mountain ski though - pretty shite in anything other than light powder. 
 
In summary the Tornados are lovely on-piste and on the marginal stuff - but there are better on-piste skis out there that are narrower and even faster turning. The off-piste performance isn't up to much so you'll need a second pair of off-piste oriented skis anyway. So prob better buying off buying something like the high-end Tigershark or Salomon GS racer - with a second pair of off-piste fatties.

i loved it!

Im a type 3 skiier and had the opportunity to demo skis in the rental shop i worked in. The Tornados were always a favourite to go out in, following the Rossi Bandit ranges and the Nordica speed machines. 
The Tornados had an excellent edge and even at very slow speeds you could trust them to carve very sharply!! Theyre very light skis and easy to control whereas the speed machines were far heavier! The only major problem came down to speed! Im not sure how everyone says theyre stable at v.high speeds, they chattered immensely on the steeps. The Nordica Speedmachines withstood the bumps and remained stable even at the highest speeds i could get at down a double back diamond. 
I would definately recommend the Tornados for a type 3 skiier that looks for technique and precision rather than skiing at speed.

They do have a speed limit - but I only find them chattering when I am having to keep up with the resident semi-pros riding full-on piste-performance/race skis. 
 
Only real expert skiers will ever be held up speed wise on the Tornados (and I think this years 'plate' version is pretty much a rece bred version of the Tornado that sorts this minor problem) - on stock, non-plate Tornados, they start to hold you back speed wise if you try to push them to GS race pace - but then again they are not a race ski. 
 
As an everyday, do everything ski, they are almost peerless (the Vokl 12 Ft Powerswitch Tigetshark is marginally better but twice the price). 
 
In an ideal world I'd have a pair of GS race skis, a set of park skis, an all-mountain ski and a dedicated powder ski. Can't afford that so I make do with a pair of Salomon Tornado (on-piste performance & all-mountain) and a pair of Salomon Guns (Park and Powder). With two skis covering two departments each, without too much compromise - I'm a happy bunny. 

They do allow for absolutely perfectl technique too - within their speed rating they are incredibly precise, and initiate like you're on rails, they allow for such a super-smooth yet dynamic transition - really satisfying to ski on, they make a technically good skier look even better. Smooth and effortless while being pretty fast and agressive.

Be very aware that the Tornado TI Z14 LAB will not work for bootlengths like my Salomon Impact 10 size 31.5 boots (355mm), Sadly had to return the ski+bindings to Salmon (and did an Anja and went for Head iSupershape Speed Speed Plate (which goes to 372 mm).  
 
Same goes for all Salomon skis with the LAB powertrack system (pretty poor Salomon)

looking to pick up a pair of tornados...love the salomon ride...last few years i have been doing a lot of snowboarding, but got back into skiing a lot more last year...LOVE it and feels like I never left-deciding between the 170's and the 162's...seem a bit of a big range...any advice would be helpful. I'm 5'10" 150 lbs and athletic.

I bought myself a set this season and spent 7 days blasting about with much more confidence than ever before, the faster you ski the more they want. My girlfriend had a birthday whilst in France and i bought her the lady's version, now i wish i had'nt as i am having trouble keeping ahead off her and her abilty is coming on leaps & bounds, everyone should own a set off these babies, they are expensive, but worth every single penny.

These are the best skis! With them you can simply rocketed out of turns, great for wide carves, but also good in tight spaces. My budget was originally only about $800 but I went to a ski shop in September and bought a pair of these for only $600! Since they are so expensive I recommend you buy them in the summer time when they are dirt cheap.

I took a pair of 170's out last weekend in Colorado. The snow was soft on top and firm underneath and was excellent for carving. It was, however, not very demanding on the ski - so take that into consideration. In any event, WHAT A FUN SKI!!!! I am used to skiing a 174 K2 Apache Recon. These skis were more versitile and were much more fun at slower speeds. These skis felt a little less stable tahn the Recons, but considerably more lively and, of course, much faster turning. Their turning radius is amazingly short and they are reasonably quick from edge to edge. The skies were not as capable of huge arcers as are the Recons and they are way to shapely in the moguls. But, unless your spending a whole day in the moguls, or expect a hard pack haul-asser, these skis are awesome and awesomely versitile!!

I am an advanced intermediate and I rented these as demos in Nov, 2008. I had such a great time on them I bought them the very next day. They have really helped me improve this season. They are super light and easy to turn. My confidence level went through the roof with these skis. I ski primarily in VT, but I brought them to Heavenly in Lake Tahoe and they rocked out there too! Great ski for most conditions, great confidence builder for people like me that are still improving. If I could sum up these skis in one word, it would be "Fun". If you demo these skis you will understand exactly what I mean.

Demo 160's, fantastic on steep diamond runs, skied chute at Mt Rose ski area, fantastic, until moguled up heavy, not to great for that, but great on all else, they grab ice great and want to run fast,fast,fast, went down and bought them that day. Fantastic ski.

I'm 6'3" and 250 lbs. Strong skier, I guess somewhere on the low end of the expert scale. I ski mostly east coast USA, although I've had quite a few trips out west. I like bumps the best, although I am only so-so at doing them. I also like tree runs and of course do a lot of cruising runs. Everything from blue to double black. 
 
I demoed four different skiis - the K2 Recon, Volkl AC30, the Xwing Tornados, and a pair of Blizzard's (can't remember the model, but I hated them.) For me the Recon's were nice skiis, but overall came in third place. Very nice ski, held their edge well and were always in control. But somehow a little too laid back and not as much fun. The AC30s were second place, but came real close to the first place Tornados. The AC30's were fast, light and lots of fun. The day I demoed them we were getting about 12" of new snow, so I skiied them in a lot of powder and bumps. They were a lot of fun and handled the bumps really well, very quick and responsive. However, some of the bumps still had ice on them, and the AC30's slid a little bit more than I would have liked. They held an edge, but just not as solidly as the Tornados. Also, the AC30s felt quite a bit heavier than the Tornados. 
 
The Tornados won out for me because they did everything well. They hold an edge really well on east coast hard pack and ice. They plow through 8 inch deep powder with little trouble (I did not get to try them in really deep stuff.) They went into the trees and for the first time I felt like I really had a fighting change making a lot of hairy scary turns. And in the bumps they were just a ton of fun. On one double black run full of new, powdery bumps I was just blasting down the hill! I was just loving it. My wife said she never saw me ski that well before. And now I get to ski like that all the time! 
 
My last skis were also Solomon's - the Scream Hot Pilots. I liked those skis, but these are leaps and bounds better. Love those Tornados!

I am 5' 9"", 155 lbs, 52 YO expert. So not as aggressive as "the old days" but I still ski everything. Demoed them in Utah and skied three days on groomers, crud, slush, good but not fresh snow and bumps. If you want an energetic, quick carver that cruises surprisingly well this is the ticket. Not great in crud - just too light to bust through. Probably good in powder, they are fat up front and light and should float. For me, personally, just a little too whippy. I want just a little larger radius and maybe a little beefier. I skied my Solomon Screams into the ground and this is good but not as much better as I hoped. I also tried the Solomon Lord and found them sluggish in the bumps (but serious crud busters). Suggestions?

I will let ya know... going from Scream Pilot 8's to these. I wanted something more flexible then the Screams, which were great for Super-G fast, no chatter what so ever. Had a hard time in the bumps and glades.. My wife kept beating me down the runs there but always did good all out flat.