Salomon’s Q-103 Stella sports a huge fun factor. It brought smiles to testers’ face no matter where in their lineup they skied it, and no matter what time of day. Ultimate float, sluff-ability, and even hard snow performance earned it top marks as a quiver of one for all mixed condition skiers. And its ease of use only adds to its “must grab” status on those gray days when you aren’t sure what the mountain will hold.

Regrets? Very few. Former racers who want to charge every line may opt for a stiffer ski with less sidecut. Everyone else will say their dreams just came true.