STATS

RRP: £500

Lengths: 156, 163, 170, 177

Turn radius: 15m @163

Dimensions: 134-94-109

Weight per pair: 2860g

More Info: Elan Skis

FALL-LINE TESTER: Amy Marwick

Elan brings back the Ripstick for another season and this year her lightweight VaporTip reared its head above the rest to be crowned our overall women’s winner.

Charging across all terrain with attitude, this full-blooded freeride filly had me manoeuvring expertly down a narrow chute and yet managed to drive powerful GS turns out of the exit.

The Ripstick comes in 102 or 86 underfoot too, but we felt the 94 was the best model for getting the most out of their adaptability. It’s brilliant to see so many brands taking note of the hard-charging women looking for efficient tools to perform on the mountain, so how did the Ripstick stand out from the crowd?

Our editor Nicola sums it up:

“What a ski! So much fun. I hesitate to use the well-worn cliché ‘one-ski quiver ski’ but… this is one heck of a versatile ski.

“It’s wide up front, where its soft rockered tip gives it buoyancy in all but the deepest powder, while the narrow waist and energetic tail gives it snap and manoeuvrability on harder terrain/steeps. Let it run and it arcs beautifully – with less chatter than expected from such a powder-oriented nose.

“With no metal laminate layer, it’s less a ski for bulldozing, and more a ski for flitting between varying arc lengths and snow conditions with a smile on your face. The wood core and carbon tube construction keep the weight down at only 1430g per ski (163 length), making it an excellent choice for a mixed conditions touring ski.

“No gimmicks, no frills, simply a beautifully-shaped ski, with a smooth flex and a super-clean graphic that allows you to ski how you want. My favourite ski for some time.”

---