Elan Skis 2021: The First Look
If you asked a handful of Powder7 staffers what their top 5 favorite skis are, a lot of us would throw the Ripstick 106 in the mix. It’s a killer all-mountain ski, and when you throw a Salomon Shift or Marker Duke PT on it, you’ve got a true one-ski quiver. No doubt.
If you asked the same pot of staffers what they didn’t like about the Ripstick, it would be that sometimes the skis can be a tad chattery in chop and at speed. So, when we found out Elan updated the Ripstick, we were all pretty stoked. Especially since the Black Edition skis are now out of the picture. Oh yeah, that happened…
The addition of the all new Wildcat skis gives the women’s skis a frontside ripper that is both light and snappy. Added bonus? The Wildcat logo just may be the best of the 2021 season.
Shop our full selection of 2021 skis
What’s New
Each ski in the Ripstick and Ripstick W family get a fairly hefty change. The tips are beefed up with new shapes and the addition of a 45 degree carbon fiber weave. This Wingman-esque technology had us pondering whether or not the Ripstick would have a completely different feel. The answer: nope, it’s just better. The Ripstick remains playful and snappy, but the stiffer tips provide more stability and control when initiating your turns. Elan decided that if they were going to stiffen up the tips a bit, they should also shorten the lengths, just slightly. The updated lengths compliment the new technology pretty perfectly, and we’re very excited.
In previous years, the women’s skis from Elan were a little scattered. For the 2021 season, Elan introduces the Wildcat, to bring it all home again. The Wildcat 86 CX and 82 CX contain carbon rods, while the Wildcat 82 C contains a carbon reinforcement. Coupled with Amphibio Truline Tech, the carbon keeps the skis light and snappy, while providing great edge hold and stability on hard snow. The Wildcat 76 will be the softest and most approachable model in the series.
Other Highlights
The Wingman and Amphibio skis remain unchanged.
The Insomnia skis get an all-new look, with new topsheets, Truline technology, new sidecuts, and new waistwidths.
