Elan Ripstick 94W Women's Skis 2024 162cm

The Ripstick 94W has quietly been making a name for itself as one of the very best women’s skis out there. It’s a freeride ski that is truly happy everywhere on the mountain from groomed pistes to fresh powder, with bumps, trees, slush and anything else in between. The key is the lightweight design and asymmetric Amphibio construction. There is a distinct left and right ski with more camber on the inside edge and increased rocker on the outside; the result is grip on firm snow and ease of use in soft conditions. Carbon reinforcement on the inside improves the precision and edge hold. Terrain Type & Ability Level Terrain Type This a great example of a freeride ski, capable of skiing anywhere on the mountain, not just powder or mainly firm conditions, but everywhere. That said, every ski has a certain things it does especially well and, in this case, Ripsticks shine brightest in softer conditions. It’s got the wdith and shape to work really well in soft snow, with good float and easy handling. The Amphibio asymmetric camber/rocker aids the edge hold and feeling of positivity on pistes without making the ski any harder to use. There’s no metal in the ski so to strengthen grip on hard snow the new Amphibio Line Technology uses carbon reinforcement along the inside edge to improve the stiffness. The flex feels great on pretty much all terrain, with only the steepest, firmest runs needing more care. Thanks to it being relatively lightweight, mounting it with a BC binding is an option if you want to do the occasional trip away from the lifts. Skier Type The Ripstick is aimed squarely at advanced skiers wanting an all mountain option, maybe as a single ski quiver or maybe as a second ski to compliment a piste model. There’s no metal so it won’t suit the heaviest or most powerful skiers but, thanks to clever design, it isn’t tricky to use. It does reward good technique with precision and stabilty to take it anywhere Overview Shape 94mm in the waist is a key part of what makes this a ski for those who want ultimate versatility. It’s wide enough to handle powder, yet narrow enough in the waist to grip and rip on the frontside. The re-shaped tip and tail taper design keep it feeling comfortable in every turn shape, on any surface. The relatively long nose and tail provide fogiveness and stability. Rocker Ripsticks use Amphibio technology, a revolutionary ski design that integrates both rocker and camber profiles into dedicated left and right skis. These skis feature a cambered inside edge assuring precision, edge grip and stability, while a rockered outside edge provides forgiveness, turning ease and smooth transitions. Core The Tubelite Woodcore uses two super lightweight carbon tubes inserted into a lightweight laminated wood core. These tubes run the length of the ski following the arc of the sidecut. They provide torsional stability and powerful rebound while allowing for material reduction of the core. The result is incredible lightweight response and stability. Construction SST construction uses sidewalls ensure quick, nimble and direct power transmission from the ski to snow as well as providing exceptional torsional rigidity. Key Features Amphibio Carbon Line Technology Amphibio Carbon Line technology is a combination of innovations that provide the best balance of lightweight construction with power and performance. Amphibio Carbon Line technology elevates the asymmetrical ski design to the next level by strategically locating carbon reinforcement over the inside edges of the skis to provide more power in the turn. Carbon rods inserted into the woodcore maximize weight savings and overall stability. The end result is an extremely lightweight high-performance ski with uncompromised versatility and smooth handling. Vaportip Reinforcment Vapor inserts are advanced composites integrated into the tip and tail area of the ski’s core. These inserts reduce weight and vibration, dramatically improving stability and ensuring a smooth ride even in the most demanding conditions. EB tester’s comments: Ailsa (Fort William) I’d heard a lot of good things about this ski and it totally lived up to expectation and then some. It didn’t matter what I took it on, it felt secure and made me feel like I was flying! Size (cm) Tip Width (mm) Waist Width (mm) Tail Width (mm) Radius (m) Weight (g) 154 131 94 107 14 1390 162 133 94 108 15 1460 170 136 94 110 16.2 1570 General Information Skier Ability: Intermediate|Advanced|Expert Rocker: Tip/Tail Rocker Radius: Medium Bindings: Ski sold flat DIN: n/a Construction: Full Sidewall Core: Wood, Carbon Demo: Yes Sizing Description: Nose level to forehead height is ideal, but longer length is important if there is a bigger rocker or you're spending more time off piste where the extra stability and float a larger size provides will be beneficial.