2025 Elan Wildcat 86 Ti

New for the 2025 season, Elan introduces the Wildcat 86 Ti, an accessible but hard charging all-mountain carver with a range of capabilities. This is exciting news not just for Elan fans but for strong skiers who want a wider-bodied carving machine with all-mountain capabilities. Precise, versatile, and forgiving, it offers an impressively high-performance ceiling for the more advanced skier while being accessible enough for progressing intermediates looking for a capable ski. Elan has maintained a reputation for building high-quality skis, contributing to their competitive performance across the board, and this is no exception. The advanced technology and strong build matched with a fun-loving character allow for exceptional edge grip, control and power without feeling overly demanding.

While it may land on the side of wide-bodied carvers, that certainly doesn’t mean it lacks substance and sophistication. We’re seeing a lot more skis that blur frontside and all-mountain capabilities in the mid to high 80s waist width and that’s because it makes a whole lot of sense for a lot of skiers. For construction features, we start with a laminated wood core, which provides a dense foundation with great dampening qualities. Compared to its carbon-infused counterpart, the Wildcat 82 CTI, the 86 Ti utilizes the benefits of metal instead of carbon and while this leads to a slight lack in energy, it is made up for by the overall dampness and quiet nature. This single metal laminate, which is located underfoot, provides excellent edge grip and stability for an ultra-smooth ride. With the Amphibio Truline Technology, Elan uses more material on the inside portions of the ski, allowing you to really lean into your downhill ski and carve with power and precision. With less material used on the outside portions of the ski, the uphill ski feels more forgiving and maneuverable, giving the overall ride a very intuitive feel.

Shape-wise, we have a few different things at play here. First and foremost, the 86 mm waist width certainly categorizes this ski right off the bat and places it into the wider-bodied frontside category, especially given its build. But the remainder of the approach to this ski welcomes in a highly versatile personality. Starting with the dimensions, the tip waist is 127 mm which is a great shape for off-piste flotation and maneuverability. In more dedicated carving skis, the tips are quite a bit narrower so this is where the versatility shines. In the tail, we get 113 mm with a bit of early taper, creating a grippy but easily releasable feel when finishing a turn. As for the turn radius, the 164 cm length generates a 14.7-meter radius, which is right in the middle for frontside carving and all-mountain turn shapes. Factor in the Amphibio profile and the mix of rocker and camber profiles align perfectly with the construction, giving the ski a highly intuitive feel. You truly don’t see this being used in any other skis, which we might see change given its success rate. All in all, skiers who want to be able to transition from slicing groomers to ripping bumps and trees will find a lot of ease and accessibility with this ski.

Smooth, damp and precise, progressing intermediates to lighter weight experts will find the sweet spot with this ski. On any given day, most skiers are carving on groomers, working on technique and building confidence. Having a wider-bodied ski that can carve exceptionally well and feel flexible enough to take it off-piste just makes a lot of sense. With just the right amount of metal where you need it most, the Elan Wildcat 86 Ti packs plenty of punch for those who want to test its limits without being unavailable to progressing intermediates looking for a high-performance, versatile tool.