Advanced level all-mountain skier Alex's rating of this ski:
Considering his skiers profile:
en-US - * - 2996
"I like rocker for easy turning and float off-piste. Tip vibration doesn't bother me at all. Of course versatility is a condition for a quality all-mountain ski. It depends on snow conditions whether I prefer frontside skis."
The Salomon X-Drive 8.0 is an easy to ski and helpful all-mountain ski. Intermediate till advanced+ skiers who are not interested to go in the extremes have a good comfortable ski in the X-Drive 8.0 FS. It handles all conditions on piste fairly well. X-Drive is maneuverable and at the same time steady enough for carving nice turns on groomers. Performance in fresh layers of powder or chopped-up terrain on piste make the X-Drive an all-mountain ski.
Skiing is easy
X-Drive 8.0 is a smooth ski. It skis just as easy long and short turns. Sliding or with grip, no problem either way and adjusting carves. More power gives a sharper carve. Logical and how it should be for an all-mountain frontside ski like this. Good dampening too, it deals with bumps with comfort that way. From the first run of the day on nicely groomed pistes till the last run to the resort it supplies high performance. And it is up to the skier how much you want to push it. Its versatility makes it suitable for intermediate skiers too.
Salomon about the X-Drive 8.0 FS
"The most versatile all-mountain ski. Take all-mountain to a new level with on-piste performance and maximum maneuverability. Power and precision: Reinforced Carbon Composite X-shaped frame improves power and precison for maximum edge grip. Terrain absorption: All-terrain Rocker provides optimum balance of floatation, terrain absorption, and stability for all snow conditions and types of terrain. Stability: Dampening material integrated into the rocker shape reduces vibration at the tip for improved stability.", says Salomon. X-Drive 8.0 FS is the successor of the Enduro XT 800 and at least just as good. As a recreational skier I felt the versatility and easiness in the new X-Drive. This all-mountain ski will please a large range of active skiers.
Advanced+ level all-mountain skier Heyman's rating of this ski:
Considering his skiers profile:
en-US - * - 4286
"A good frontside all-mountain ski is an agressive carver to lay trenches on the groomers and should also be able to handle bumps, skied of pistes and up to 10cm of fresh snow. A combination of a sportive character and comfort."
The Salomon X-Drive 8.0 FS blasts through everything. Nothing on piste is save for this bulldozer type of a ski. Even in the worst circumstances the X-Drive 8.0 is able to go full gas and demolishes bumps, heaps of snow, just everything. And on top of that switching from edge to edge goes quite fast. But where this ski excells in stability and stiffness, it lacks a bit in playfulness, which is always difficult to combine in one ski. That's the only reason I must limit my rating to 4 stars.
This ski is made for...
This very powerful frontside all-mountain ski is made for intermediate to advanced skiers who always want to ski at top speed and need a ski for the whole season that can do it all. Except going off-piste. That is, despite it's 80mm width underfoot, not the Salomon X-Drive's strong point (to put it mildly).
Salomon about the X-Drive 8.0 FS
"The most versatile all-mountain ski. Take all-mountain to a new level with on-piste performance and maximum maneuverability. Power and precision: Reinforced Carbon Composite X-shaped frame improves power and precison for maximum edge grip. Terrain absorption: All-terrain Rocker provides optimum balance of floatation, terrain absorption, and stability for all snow conditions and types of terrain. Stability: Dampening material integrated into the rocker shape reduces vibration at the tip for improved stability.", according to Salomon. That's true. This ski excells in precision and maneuverability.
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Alex's review: 
Heyman's review: 
