2022 Elan Wingman 82 Ti

Unchanged for 2022, the Elan Wingman 82 Ti is a great option for intermediate and advanced skiers who spend most, if not all, of their time on groomed terrain. At 82 mm underfoot, these narrower Wingmans still have the single sheet of titanal to bolster the strength and stability, but they remain agile and nimble as a result of Elan’s amphibio line construction techniques. By building skis in an asymmetric fashion, Elan is able to approach things a little bit differently. The implementation of their SST sidewall allows them to place more material over the downhill or inside edge. This boosting of burliness along the inside edge gives you better edge grip and power in the carved portions of the turn. They do not, however, put this material over the uphill and outside edge of the ski, leaving it more playful and flexible. It tracks alongside the inside ski very nicely and smoothly, with seamless transitions between turns and a lot of poise all the way down the hill. In addition, the amphibio rocker profile allows for better flotation on the outside edges of the skis, making it extremely fun and easy to maneuver and navigate through deeper snow and rougher conditions.

Quick, agile, and a lot of fun in the bumps, we’ve had a nice impression of these skis, especially here in Vermont. On the 178, Bob St.Pierre did note that it was a bit short for him, as he’d likely prefer to be on the 184 for sure. He scored the ski 5’s out of 5 for quickness, maneuverability, and forgiveness, with 4’s out of 5 given for torsional stiffness, edge hold, and playfulness. In terms of that fun-loving ski and its ability to make a whole bunch of turns on any given run, Bob notes that “it was so quick from edge to edge, not only due to the narrowness of the waist, but also because of the size. I felt like I was just wiggling the ski from side to side, and actually had a whole lot of fun with it. Sure, it was too short for me, and I prefer the stronger build of the CTi, but for a few runs, and a sh1t-ton of turns, I really enjoyed this ski and I see a large number of merits to it. Skiers ranging from low-level intermediates to expert skiers who are lighter and/or a bit less aggressive will really like the sharp-feeling nature of the 82 Ti. The Amphibio stuff is legit—super-smooth between turns—no hookiness or grabbiness from the edges at all, just an incredibly smooth transition between turns. Simply roll your ankles from side to side and you’ll get from one ski to the next in no time flat.” Lighter on the uphill edge and more precise on the downhill, these skis are certainly meant for quickness and smoothness.

Marcus Shakun also skied the 178 and, like Bob, noted that it was too short for him. “Skied true to its size, but not my size,” Marcus notes about the length. He scored it top marks of 4’s out of 5 for quickness, maneuverability, playfulness, and versatility, with all other scores in the 3-range. Even though the ski was short, that did not stop Marcus from having a good time. “Really agile. Loved the ski’s ability to make short-swing turns, although I didn’t quite have the confidence or desire to get this thing up to speed, especially in our spring-like testing conditions. Thrives in bumps or shorter turns.” It is difficult to make a ski do what you want, when there are limiting factors such as size and conditions, but that’s part of the fun!

If you’re looking for a precise and agile ski to make a whole bunch of turns on the way down, you’ll love the Elan Wingman 82 Ti. Damp, smooth, and fun, these skis have a broad range of skier type, but those skiers will mainly choose to spend their time on groomed terrain. For most skiers out there, this is pretty much all they do, so it’s important to have that tool that’s appropriate for the job at hand (or foot).