2027 Elan Ripstick 96 Black Edition

With a slight graphic change for 2027, the Elan Ripstick 96 Black Edition carries forward the same shape, construction, and profile. With a few more applications of carbon than its Green counterpart, the Black Edition is a higher horsepower ski with increased smoothness and energy. At the same time, it’s not overly demanding so many of the same skiers who enjoy one version will also enjoy the other. With light weight and high energy as the cornerstones of this ski’s character, the 2027 Elan Ripstick Black Edition paves the way for versatility and accessibility in the mid-90's all-mountain range.

The Black Edition basically uses the same base build as the regular 96 but turbocharges it with extra carbon. The skis utilize a Tubelite wood core consisting of poplar and paulownia and they get the normal dual carbon rods along the sides. These skis also get two uni-directional strips of carbon below the core. The additional carbon applications consist of two extra carbon rods: one in the forebody of the ski in the middle and one in the aft section, behind the binding zone. The 96 Black Edition also uses another horizontal carbon sheet on top of the core to further boost the ski’s energy and performance. These are not heavy skis, sitting on the scale at a stated weight of 1640 g/ski in the 182. Despite that, we normally get fantastic feedback in terms of overall performance. Tester Hans de Boer notes: “It’s the first ski I tested and extremely marginal conditions today, and I was impressed. These skis are highly rated, and they deserve those ratings. I was worried that I would be biased because of my high expectations, but they met those high expectations very versatile, and I found that they would do everything. I wanted them to do and didn’t seem to get nervous at all when I was shifting from blue ice to packed powder and back again at speed. I think they hit the mark with the ski and it’s a real all mountain ski. I wouldn’t be afraid to take them anywhere. Hike up to the top of the chin, take them on a high-speed carving day you name it. The ski will do it for you. Like I said, I really was expecting to be overly critical because of the high marks the ski gets and I had to put my foot in my mouth and except that this was a pretty darn good skiing. If I was in the market, I would definitely consider this ski for my daily driver.”

In terms of shape, we are dealing with the same mold and footprint as the Green 96. This means we’re at 96 mm underfoot and with a 17.8-meter turn radius in the 182. Elan uses their sophisticated Amphibio rocker profile to make a right/left specific ski and create a smooth and seamless transition between turns. With moderate taper, the shovels are spoony but very accessible for on-piste skiing. They float well, too, but better in lighter snow. We got some great feedback from tester Valerian Planche who notes: “First impressions… wow. Loved this ski for all the right reasons. They felt nimble considering the amount of ski they offer. You can ski them hard and fast yet easily adjust your speed when needed. They accept indecisive behavior in the best way possible for this style of ski. I would say this is an expert level ski. You need to ski it rather hard to get the most out of it. Plus, an expert skier can ski is rather easy for those last runs when legs are feeling less than a 100%.”

These still remain some of the easiest skis on which to access a higher performance ceiling. You just don’t have to work too hard to get them to turn or shift directions. With added carbon over the Green edition, we do get a bit more snap, pep, and stability, but the shovels are still on the more flexible side of the spectrum. This is a great all-mountain ski for intermediate through expert skiers who want to access high performance qualities and sophistication without working too hard for it.