Elan Ripstick 88 Skis, Lightweight All Mountain Skis With Full Weight Performance, A Superb Choice For A One Ski Backcountry Set Up.
Weight 3.2 KG per pair (179 cm)
130 / 88 / 105 (179 cm)
Radius: 17m (179cm)
From their Freeride and All Mountain range these versatile, do it all skis have been designed for fun on the descent but combined with the right binding are plenty light enough for use as a touring ski.
The Ripstick 88 skis feature Elan's Amphibio Technology, this is a clever use of different camber, stiffnesses and rocker profiles on the inside and outside edge. The inside edge gets a longer camber profile for increased grip and precision whilst the outside edge gets more rocker to give forgiveness and easier turn initiation. This of course means that there is a left and a right ski so don't get them mixed up, you can really tell the difference when you do!
The 88mm waist is super versatile, they are a genuinely good piste ski giving smooth and solid but lively all mountain ski performance on the hard pack. The SST sidewall construction and fibreglass reinforcement add to the power transmission and grip.
Off piste, the rocker comes fully into play keeping the turn initiation easy, and avoiding hooking up, in powder and crud.
At a 3.2kg per pair total weight, the Elan Ripstick 88 are light for such a good all mountain ski, if using a good lightweight pin tech touring binding they are certainly light enough for use as a proper ski touring ski and the tail has a profile designed to work with ski skins. They will suit people who want to do everything on their ski set up from a week of resort skiing to day tours and longer multi day touring. They will also suit people who want to enjoy the descent with a solid, dependable and dare I say, easy ski to ski in whatever conditions the mountain throws at you. Elan use a system of hollow 5mm diameter carbon tubes within the wood laminates to take weight out but also to add stiffness.
With a reputation for making high quality skis, for themselves and many other brands, Elan have managed to produce a superb and lightweight but also strong and solid ski at a very sensible price.