Brand new for this season, Salomon's XDR range replaces the X-Drive but still fulfils the role of a predominantly front-side ride that has no qualms about being taken further afield.
The 79 CF sits in the lower end of the series and is aimed at recreational skiers who want a do-it-all ski.
Despite having 'CF' in the title rather than the 'Ti' of their bigger stable-mates, the 79s still have a single sheet of titanal laminate beneath the earthy brown and burnt orange topsheet.
Around the poplar woodcore, semi-sandwich construction, Salomon has used its C/FX tech and a touch of rubber under tip, tail and binding to dampen the ride.
The C/FX was first developed by the French company for its touring skis and is a clever, lightweight weave of carbon and flax fibres - the same plant used to make linen clothing.
That mix gives you the torsional stiffness and responsiveness of carbon, while the flax fibre adds extra vibration dampening and smoothness.
It's a delicate balance to produce skis that offer good performance without being too much of a handful for the target audience and the 79 CF hits the brief.
Recreational skiers can clip into these confident that they're easy to steer and stable, with the ability to have a dabble at most things the surrounding slopes throw in their path.
