2021 Elan Wildcat 86 CX

New skis are fun, and the Elan Wildcat 86 CX is a great example of when a ski company gets a new one right. For 2021, Elan built a lady's version of the men's Wingman line, with the big difference being the lack of Ti, but an increase in carbon. These Wildcat skis, especially this 86, blurs the line between front side and all-mountain, but really has that personality of a strong carving ski with a bit of versatility built in. Light, fast, and fun to ski, the 2021 Elan Wildcat 86 CX loves to be on edge and in a carved turn, but has the width and the strength to take you on off-piste adventures whenever the mood may strike.

Using many technologies from other skis in the Elan lineup, the Wildcat CX starts with the tubelite wood core with carbon rods. These tubes that run the length of the ski function in a three-dimensional application, allowing the ski to benefit from an almost infinite amount of flexion directions. This gives the ski a new dimension that nothing else on the market has. True Line Technology is the other big thing, adding to the asymmetric nature of the ski. By bulking up the inside edges of the skis with more material, Elan increases the edge grip on the inside while leaving the outside more playful and able to drift along and be more playful and forgiving. It's all about striking that nice blend and balance of performance and playfulness, and the build of the new Wildcat 86 CX does just that. While not a powder ski by any stretch, the added width to go along with the light weight makes it an adequate soft-snow performer, and we're happy about that. But, at the end of the day, these things love to be carving turns on hard snow, and they do that quite well.

We were fortunate to have Elan Brand Ambassador MJ Carroll provide her feedback and reflect upon her experiences on the Wildcat 86 CX. On the 158, MJ loved the quickness, maneuverability, torsional stiffness, edge hold, and overall impression, with each of those categories earning 5's out of 5. MJ notes that the Wildcat "blurs the line between an all-mountain ski and a freeride ski. The look and feel of the ski's aesthetics are modernized, but the performance provides the confidence of a traditional all-mountain ski. The shape of the asymmetrical ski amplifies the inside edge of the ski for grip and stability, while the innate maneuverability and float of the ski excels in soft snow. This ski would be perfect for the adventurous all-mountain skier looking for a one-ski quiver." I like the use of "modernized" in this format-these skis are very future-forward in terms of build and profile.

Whether you want to call it a wide carving ski or a narrow all-mountain ski is up to you. I say it's just plain fun, and if you want to rail turns on the groomers, they'll do that just fine, and if you want to use it as a maneuverable off-trail ski that holds up to some strong use, I'm cool with that too. The Elan Wildcat 86 CX are a fantastic option for all-mountain skiing with a penchant for front side carving.