Review: 2027 Elan Ripstick 100 W

The Elan Ripstick is perhaps the biggest dark horse in the all-mountain/freeride ski category. While many 100-ish underfoot freeride-oriented skis wind up somewhere along a Goldilocks scale (too soft, too aggressive, too similar), the Ripsticks seem to be just weird enough to stand alone. Developed with Elan’s W Studio athletes, the Ripstick 100 W hits that sweet spot mid-width in the line up, but has a shape that allows for much more than meets the eye. 

While the Ripstick 100 W’s muted graphics and the tendency for skiers to lump Elan in with the minivan-driving rental skier demographic might make some breeze past the Ripstick 100 W, don’t let those things fool you. A combination of an innovative and interesting construction, a wild shape, and a sweet spot of “put this ski on edge, but then probably jump off something too” sets the Ripstick 100 W aside from other skis in the same category. 

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Elan Ripstick 100 W Specs

• Sizes skied: 168cm, 175cm
• Lengths available: 154cm, 161cm, 168cm, 175cm
• Sidecut: 134mm-100mm-114 (168cm)
• Radius: 16.8 (168cm)
• Profile: Amphibio profile
• Weight: 1535g (168cm)

Shape, Flex, and Construction

The Elan Ripstick line is generally one of the more unique ski lines around, particularly in the realm of daily-driver skis. While the 100mm underfoot width would put it pretty squarely in the middle of the road for all-mountain skis, a substantial shovel-shaped tip, just a touch of flare in the tail, and good amount of camber also make this ski pretty darn versatile when it comes to skiing deeper snow and staying maneuverable. However, what’s even more interesting about the Ripstick 100 W (and the rest of the Ripstick lineup) is what the brand calls Amphibio Technology. In other words, the skis are asymmetrical. The inside edge of the ski’s contact point is closer to the front of the ski than on the outside edge, meaning there actually is a left and right ski.

The Ripstick 100 W uses a lightweight construction to keep it playful and agile, but uses a layup that also manages to dampen the ski well and help it perform well at high speeds. Elan uses what they call a TubeLite Woodcore in the Ripstick 100 W, which combines a laminate wood with two carbon tubes inserted into it that run along the length of the ski and follow the arc of the sidecut. As a result, the ski uses less core material, but still has good torsional rigidity and rebound. In addition, unidirectional carbon bands are layered along the edges of the ski, to further increase torsional stability through a turn, without adding much weight. A layer of flax fiber is placed in the tip of the ski to reduce tip vibration and dampen the ski in firmer snow at high speeds.

In contrast to a ski made with a heavier wood or metal in its construction, the Ripstick 100 W is much lighter, and yet remains snappy and responsive with help from the carbon layers. 

On Snow Performance

First things first: if you accidentally put the right and left ski on the wrong feet, as our testers did both on accident and on purpose, they are not unskiable, but it is a wild ride. As you can imagine, the Ripstick 100 W also isn’t the most intuitive ski of all time, but give it a few turns and it’s one that thrives in a variety of conditions.

The Ripstick 100 W was put through the paces during our ski test at Grand Targhee this spring, where we got a true variety of conditions. On hardpack (and refrozen raincrust), the Ripstick 100 W was snappy, energetic through turns, and remained stable at high speeds. One tester found that it particularly shone on low angle groomers given the ski’s ability to make quick edge to edge transitions and its stability at speed.

Later in the week, the Ripstick 100 W really came alive in soft snow and bumps. The lightweight construction keeps this ski playful, with the shape of the tip aiding further in its ability to float in new snow. Good technique is rewarded on the Ripstick 100 W, and allows the skier to unlock it even more in different conditions and terrain like cowboy pow, bumps, and trees.

“An approachable powder ski that can handle it self inbounds,” says tester Kailey McKenna about the Ripstick 100 W.

The asymmetrical design of the skis really does make a difference, especially when carving turns, according to one tester, but might also be the worst thing about the ski if you end up with them on the wrong feet. Testers also noted that the Ripstick 100 W tended to ski fairly short. For skiers who are pretty happy in the 154cm to 168cm range, it might not make a huge difference, but those who enjoy a 175cm ski that skis like its full length might find the Ripstick feels a bit chopped off at the tip. 

Comparisons

Perhaps one of the closest comparisons we could make to the Ripstick 100 W is the Atomic Maven 103 CTi. The glaring difference between these skis is that Atomic uses a sheet of Titanal to dampen the Maven and provide torsional stability, whereas Elan relies on the carbon layup and flax fibers inside. As a result, the Ripstick is going to feel a lot more energetic and poppy, and might feel more maneuverable to some skiers. In contrast, the Maven 103 CTi likely holds up better in crud and weird conditions, due to the metal construction. The Maven also might ski a bit longer and feel like a better option for skiers who are used to trenching hard turns on an aggressive ski.

To compare the Ripstick 100 W to another, similar width, women’s freeride ski, we’d consider the K2 Mindbender 101 W. The Mindbender 101 W’s relative lack of camber, Titanal I-Beam construction, and K2’s Dark Matter technology, make it a damp, yet soft and flexible ski, not unlike the Ripstick 100 W. However, while the Mindbender 101W tends to be a more predictable ski than the Ripstick with a bit more “autopilot,” it didn’t hold up quite as well at high speeds or on edge as well as the Ripstick 100 W. 

What type of skier is the Elan Ripstick 100 W best for?

Skiers who love to make a turn and be encouraged to play around in it will love the Ripstick 100 W. The ski’s tendency to feel short and the lengths available also make it a fantastic pick for smaller skiers or those who simply prefer a shorter ski. Those who want a lightweight, fun, ski that rips in a variety of conditions, rewards good technique, and yet allows for exploration and play at a mountain like Steamboat or Park City should not overlook the Ripstick.