2021 Elan Amphibio 18 Ti2

Talk about a rocket ship. These things rip. The 2021 Elan Amphibio 18 Ti2 has the shape, build, and profile to take you to warp speed and beyond. When I got on the Elan Wingman 86 CTi, I thought, at the time, that was the fastest ski I'd been on, and then I got on these. I don't know if it's the wax or what, but these Elan on-trail skis just have a different feel at speed than most other companies. A true front-side ripper, the Amphibio 18 Ti2 even notes in its name that it uses two sheets of titanal. The combination of the narrow waist, Amphibio rocker profile, and the burly build ensure that you're not going to need much more than these on a firm groomer day. Skiers who are looking for that elite front-side ripper do not need to look much further than this in order to find the ski that goes fast, smoothly, and with minimal vibrations. Fast, with no regard for human safety, the Amphibio 18 will take you to ludicrous speed.

Built with a more race-like construction than most, the skis feature a laminated wood core with two sheets of titanal. This dual-metal laminate is a nod straight from the race room, and should be found on any and all high-end carving skis. If they don't have two sheets of metal, they're just not going to hold up to the hard-charging and high-velocity skiing that needs to happen for these fighter-jet skiers all over the world. As part of the Amphibio philosophy, Elan builds asymmetric skis so that they can place more material and different rocker profiles over the inside versus outside edges. Since skiing is not symmetrical, that is, we put more energy over the inside than the outside, the skis should be built accordingly. In terms of construction, that means that Elan's TruLine Technology comes in to play here in the build. They're able to beef up the inside edges and leave the outside alone. This puts more mass and power over the more heavily-utilized edge while leaving the outer part more accessible and available for lighter weight, increased maneuverability, and balance.

At 73 mm underfoot and generating a 15.7-meter turn radius at the 172 cm length, these things are grippy and quick and love to be on edge. As with most on-piste carving skis, the less taper and rocker, the better. As a result, these skis have a minimum of both, although the Amphibio rocker profile does come in to play here as well. Taper is null, with full-length effective edge being the gold-standard for smooth riding and complete carves. You can feel the ski hook up in the tip and ride that edge straight through to the totally flat tail. You'll get a ton of rebound and energy out of the turn, so much that you'll be stoked on that Amphibio rocker. By cambering the inside edges and mildly rockering the outside edges, the transitions between turns becomes incredibly smooth. There's no hooky or grabby feeling in between turns, just a silky move from one turn to the next. It's amazing how well this Amphibio rocker works, and not just on the playful powder skis, but also on these precise carving skis as well.

So, let these things rip. Right out of the gate. Push hard into the turn and expect some positive feedback on the back end. You'll love the right/left-specific skis, as the Amphibio profile accurately matches skiers and their asymmetry. Advanced and expert skiers, as well as former racers, will love the precise edge grip, high-end feel, and total control of the Amphibio 18 Ti2. They have the shape, profile, and build to take you to the promised land.