2026 Elan Ripstick 102 Black Edition

The 2026 Elan Ripstick 102 Black Edition is a carryover ski, bringing forth the same shape, build, and profile as last year when it was a new model. The 102 Black Edition takes a page from the fun-loving wider Ripstick book and adds agility and quickness due to the narrower waist. We found that skiers looking for a fun, playful, and easy to use ski with a high-performance ceiling will absolutely love this new 102 for soft snow and variable conditions and terrain. It’s a whole lot of fun when it comes to light freeride and creative skiing.

Elan is able to take many liberties when it comes to construction because they can use asymmetry with a right/left-specific ski. Carbon Deck and Carbon Frame are the big stories when it comes to the build. By using carbon in different ways, the 102 Black Edition sets itself apart from the competition when it comes to lighter weight and higher mobility. Starting with a wood core made from poplar and paulownia, the skis get two strips of unidirectional carbon under the core. The longer one goes on the inside edge while the shorter one is on the outside. Since the skis are asymmetrical in build, the engineers can take more creativity into the construction process. Within the core, we get Elan’s Quad Rod technology, featuring two longer carbon tubes set in to the core along the edges and two in the central portion, one in the forebody and one aft of the binding zone. These tubes do a lot of lifting when it comes to strengthening the overall feel and character of the ski. That said, there’s not a whole lot of lifting to do, as these skis hit the scale at 1720 grams per ski in the 182 cm length. For a higher-performing 102, that’s pretty impressive. Tester Brad Moskowitz states that “I really enjoyed this ski! It felt light and snappy while also able to rip turns at speed. Relatively quick edge to edge for a102, and easy to control in the air, this ski also stomped the landing with ease.”

In addition to the construction being unique, the profile follows the same suit. From a shaping perspective, we get the 102 mm waist, as that adds versatility and on-trail performance over the older 106, while staying truer to the soft snow roots than the narrower 96. There’s some overlap here, but mostly skiers should be able to find their ride easily. The 182 creates an 18.8-meter turn radius, but because of the flexible shovel, skiers can hook into that shape easily. It feels like it wants to be turnier because of the flex. In softer snow, the shape adds to the mix, making the ski feel very mobile and agile. On firmer snow, it’s still not quite enough of a ski to hold a pure edge, but that’s not what these skis are meant for. Regarding this, tester Bob St.Pierre notes that “This ski excels in bumps and trees for its width. I don't find a lot of on-trail success here, especially if the snow is firm and the skier is fast.” At 102, and with some flex, lighter skiers will have an easier time finding stability. Light weight and carbon construction makes it tough to get firm snow performance, but again, that’s not really the point here.

This 2026 Elan Ripstick 102 Black Edition has a fun and wide-spanning range. Skiers can be of varying degrees of ability and enjoy the Ripstick 102 Black Edition. Progressing intermediates looking to make the leap to a wider ski that won’t saddle them with demand will settle in quite nicely here. Heavier and more aggressive experts may want to look for a sturdier and thicker ski to accommodate their size and ask of a ski, but that’s a small portion of the skiing population. Overall, this 102 is a very accessible ski for those looking to mix the trees and bumps with soft snow and crud. It’s very satisfying in the trees and slithers down the fall line with extraordinary ease.