Salomon Depart 2 Review: A Narrow, Surf-Inspired Freestyle Ski

Introduction

The Salomon Depart 2 is the second model in the Depart series, and it takes the playful, surf-driven shape of the original in a narrower direction. At 172 cm it carries a 14 m turn radius, a wide and heavily tapered tip, a central mount point and a firm flex through the middle. It is a ski built around creativity rather than convention, and that shapes almost everything about how it feels on snow.

This review covers what the Depart 2 does well, where it asks for a different approach, and which skiers will get the most out of a pair.

Who This Ski Is For

The Depart 2 is aimed at skiers who treat the mountain as a playground. It suits riders who want to slash, smear and pivot their way down rather than lock into one turn shape, and who are comfortable mixing up their technique from run to run.

It is also an athlete-driven design. The freestyle skiers involved in its development are creative, highly skilled and stylistically distinctive, and that influence shows in the ski’s shape and personality. That makes it a natural match for riders who already enjoy the modern, two-footed freestyle approach and want a ski that supports it.

It is far less suited to anyone looking for a traditional carving ski. If your idea of a good run is a stack of tight, rail-like arcs, this is not the tool for that job.

Skiers who spend most of their time on groomers and want predictable edge hold will likely find the Depart 2 too eager to release and pivot. Those who split their time between trees, bumps, variable snow and the park will find much more to like.

Main Strengths

The Depart 2 has a distinct personality, and its strengths all flow from the same set of design choices: a wide tip, early taper, a firm middle and a shape that wants to move sideways as readily as it moves forward.

A Playful, Surfy Character

The defining trait of the Depart 2 is how willingly it releases out of a turn. It does not behave like a ski that wants to hold a 14 m arc all the way down the hill. It behaves like a ski that prefers to steer, pivot and reset, using the wide tip to guide the way into the next turn.

That quality can read as washing out if you are expecting a locked-in carve, but it feels more like a preference than a flaw. The ski is simply eager to break free and move on, and once you accept that, the whole ride makes more sense.

The result is a ski that stays engaging at low speeds and in tight terrain, where a stiffer carver would start to feel like work.

Versatility Across Terrain and Turn Shapes

Despite the freestyle focus, the Depart 2 handles a wide range of conditions. It works through trees and bumps, manages variable snow without complaint, and can still hold a long, drawn-out carve when you stand on it. The middle of the ski is solid enough to support that, so it is not limited to quick pivots.

It also brings out a two-footed style. Keeping the feet together and blending slashes with smears feels natural, and it avoids pigeonholing the skier into one type of turn. That combination of roundness and looseness is what makes it interesting to ski.

Construction and Base Details

A central mount point gives the ski a balanced, responsive feel. Driven from the front of the boot it engages quickly, but it stays agile enough to pivot back and find good purchase in the next turn. The flex is firm, which keeps the ski supportive underfoot and helps it get into the following turn, though it also means landings are less forgiving than on a softer jib ski.

The tip is worth noting for a different reason: it can feel slightly grabby, which is a tune characteristic rather than a design flaw. In practice that grip helps the ski engage rather than hinder it. The base uses recycled material, a detail that matters to riders who care about how their gear is made.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The Depart 2 asks for a mindset shift. It is not a ski that responds well to conventional, passive inputs. If you try to ski it the way you would ski a frontside carver, it will feel like it is pushing back.

There are a few practical points to weigh. The firm flex means park landings are on the harsh side, so riders who spend most of their time on jumps and rails may prefer something softer. The tail is long, which makes grabbing the ski more of a stretch than it is on shorter-tailed freestyle models. And the tips may need attention from a tune perspective if you prefer a looser, less grippy feel up front.

Finally, the 14 m turn radius undersells what the ski actually does. It is capable of that arc, but it is not the shape the ski is most interested in making. Buy it for the surfy, pivot-friendly ride, not for the number on the spec sheet.

How It Compares in the Lineup

Within the Depart family, the Depart 2 is the narrower option. The wider model in the line, the 106, is the more committed athlete-inspired park shape, and for many skiers the narrower Depart 2 is easier to wrap your head around and easier to use across more of the mountain.

The ski also carries a clear family resemblance to the QST 100, but with a far more surfy, loose feel. If you like the QST 100’s overall balance and want something that leans further into playfulness, this is the direction to look.

Buying Advice

Choose the Depart 2 if you want a ski that rewards creativity, works across trees, bumps, variable snow and the park, and feels genuinely fun at low speed as well as high. It is a strong pick for skiers who already enjoy a two-footed, freestyle-influenced style, and for anyone who wants a playful companion rather than a dedicated carving tool.

Think twice if your priorities are precise edge hold, tight carved arcs or soft, forgiving park landings. Those riders will be better served elsewhere in the category.

Length choice matters here. A shorter length keeps the ski nimble and easy to pivot, which suits the way it wants to be skied. If you are between sizes, consider where you spend most of your time on the mountain before deciding.

Conclusion

The Salomon Depart 2 is a specialist ski with a surprisingly broad usable range. It is at its best when the skier brings some imagination, using the wide tip and loose tail to steer, pivot and play with the terrain. It is not the ski for locked-in carves or conventional groomer laps, and it makes no apologies for that. For skiers who want a narrower, more accessible entry into the surf-inspired freestyle category, it makes a compelling case.