2022 Elan Ripstick 96 Black Edition

[SkiTalk Test Team]

Erik Timmerman: With a name like "Ripstick," you have certain expectations. Ripstick Black Edition? I was expecting giant race ski performance. I was expecting it to match its SR-71 looks with transcontinental record-breaking speed. It's a great ski, but it's not that ski. What it does do is make everything easy for you. It is really smooth with a giant, almost clown-shoe tip that pulls you right into your turn. It has quite a pintail so you will never be trapped in that turn. I skied it down a trail during snowmaking, and it wanted to carve through the thick, sticky piles and let me play on the whales. Despite its badass looks, it is a sweetheart. It doesn't have a lot of power -- it's not a 10/10th ski. It was also sweet, blessed relief for my knees after skiing the equally wide Mantras. I liked it, but I wouldn't want to be trying to keep up with the fastest skiers on it; it feels like it would fold in two if you drove it too hard.

Insider tip: The name is kind of confusing; don't be afraid of this ski.​

 

[Larry]

I have the 2020 Black version. I'm 5'8" 150 upper int/adv. I've only skied it a few times so far with Covid and all but I love this ski so far. Havent tried it in powder yet but on hard packed it was really FUN