2027 Elan Playmaker 91

The 2027 Elan Playmaker 91 is a carryover model for this year bringing the same shape, construction, graphic, and profile as last year. The Playmaker 91 keys in on many of the current trends in freestyle ski shaping while holding true to the attributes that have made the Ripstick series of skis so incredibly successful. They still use a lot of the same types of methods of construction and shape but also add many creative and useful aspects that help in the twin tip world. We’re stoked to see the continuation of these amazing twins as light and agile options for progressing park and freeride skiers. If you want to use it as a lighter all-mountain ski, we won’t talk you out of it.

It’s no surprise at this point that Elan utilizes light weight and a softer flex in many of their skis. The construction of the Playmaker 91 certainly takes some queues from the Ripstick series of skis but also adds its own spin to the mix. The tubelite wood core built with poplar and paulownia remains the same, blending a light weight and snappy energy with a smoother and damper feel. While the Ripstick skis have an asymmetrical shape and build, the Playmaker does not. This allows them to make a directional twin tip that can be used in many conditions and terrain. Rather than using full-length carbon tubes in the wood core, Playmaker uses partial carbon rods that run along the sides in the mid body of the ski. It’s less carbon overall, but it helps with torsional stiffness and edge grip underfoot while allowing the front and back of the ski to be more flexible and playful. This ends up creating dual-float technology that gives the ski a more consistent flex in the zones that require them for playful skiing. In the 180 cm length, this ski is pretty darn light at 1630 grams per ski. We also get 360-degree sidewalls in this ski that provide excellent grip and energy as well as predictability. Tester Nate Sugiyama notes that it’s “A familiar feeling ski that encourages a carefree ski style. This ski is comfortable on and off piste. The ski feels smooth at speed, providing a stable and composed ride even when you’re moving fast. It delivers a balanced and damped ride, with excellent vibration control and a centered, predictable feel underfoot. This is a forgiving ski that doesn’t punish small mistakes and remains accessible across a wide range of skier abilities.”

Playmaker, as a series, takes a lot of shaping and stylistic notes from the surfing world. Dual float technology isn’t just limited to the build; it also factors into the profile and shape. By taking the upper portion of the ski and angling it in a trapezoidal shape, they’re able to increase the quickness without taking away from grip—tough to put this tech in one category or another. Elan is calling this profile Surf Rocker, which is a good way of saying that the ski is floaty and smeary at both ends. While the ski itself feels like more of a directional twin, it’s also got a lot of similar qualities in both tips and tails, and this includes the rocker profile. The rocker is there, but it’s not overly dramatic. The taper falls to the spoony side while the twin tip splay is noticeable enough to allow for creative skiing both forwards and backwards. The 180 produces an 18.1-meter turn radius, and this is a bit on the long side, but given the flex and taper shape, it’s also capable of making shorter and quicker turns. We’ve found that the build of the ski puts more creativity to the skier, allowing them to dictate the shape, style, and duration. This is a good thing for creative skiers. Tester Bob St.Pierre states that “while the skis are super light and easy to turn, they are on the flexible side and are hard to load with responsive energy. It’s insanely quick, but in order to get a lot of performance, you have to be patient and willing to give up some stability.”

These skis are incredibly versatile and useful when it comes to skier type and style. Since the ski is available in a wide span of different sizes, ranging from 156 to 188, this ski is open to a big group of skiers and skier types. It’s light and quick enough to be approachable for intermediate skiers, but it’s also got a high range as well as a park application, so those that find themselves hitting big jumps and rails will also find a lot to like about this amazingly fun ski. Playmaker 91 is a great option for all-mountain skiers who want to push their freestyle and adventurous boundaries.