2024 ELAN WINGMAN 86 BLACK EDITION SKI REVIEW

While Elan’s Ripstick series of skis generally gets top billing, let’s not forget that they make a bunch of other great skis, too. The Wingman series, in existence since 2020, is their more front sided approach to the mountain, bringing with it a lot of similar looking technologies as Ripstick, but with different and unique shapes. We’ve talked about the Wingman 86 CTi a whole lot, with the 82 mm version and the Ti models following close behind. Now we get the Black Edition treatment to that flagship 86 CTi ski, taking Elan’s carving and frontside skis to the next level of performance and versatility. There are a lot of great mid-80's skis that blur the line between front side and all-mountain categories, and all we can say about them is that they’re just so incredibly useful for so many skiers. In reality, and we talk about this all the time, most skiers spend most of their time on groomed trails trying to make a carved turn of one type or another. They’re generally looking for a ski that gives them confidence, stability, grip, and energy. All of those qualities can be easily fit into the build, shape, and personality of the all-new 2024 Elan Wingman 86 Black Edition.

In the catalog, and on the ski itself, the name does not denote that it’s a CTi build with some extra carbon, rather it’s just called Wingman 86 Black. It’s still got all the nuts and bolts of the CTi, while the additional carbon laminate gives the ski an extra kick out of the turn. Elan does some very interesting things with their ski construction, not only because they’re asymmetrically built, but also because the wood that they use is all very much local to their factory, giving them the pick of the litter when it comes to high-quality products and a low carbon footprint. If you can build a better ski and have it be environmentally friendly, then why not? The lack of symmetry here, though, is really what gives the Wingman 86 Black its signature feel.

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Starting with their laminated wood core, the engineers at Elan mill out longitudinal strips along either side of the ski in order to insert their carbon rods. Since the routed areas run along the sidecut, these grooves are curved. When the hollow carbon rods are placed in these grooves, they’re done so under pressure of that bend already, building potential energy into the ski. Basically, the skis are pre-loaded with rebound—all you have to do is bend it in order to access it. While we’ve talked almost ad-nauseum about the carbon rods in the Ripstick series of skis, it’s important to note that they have an equal, if not greater application here in the more front side skis. These rods make the ski stiffer and more responsive, and yet somehow lighter. That’s a very rare combination in the ski world. Since the Wingman skis are narrower than the wider Ripstick models, these rods are closer together, and therefore make the ski even more precise and reactive. In addition to the rods, Elan also uses their Amphibio Truline Technology, and this is another very unique way to bolster a ski’s performance. By adding additional material on the top of the wood core, mainly on the inside portions of the skis, the engineers at Elan create a strong and sturdy downhill edge while leaving the uphill part of the ski, mainly in the tips and tails, lighter and more flexible—amenable and agreeable to linking smooth carved turns. One of the big differences between the Black Edition and the CTi is the addition of Carbon Line Technology. We see this change in the Ripstick Black skis as well, but basically, Elan is taking an additional horizontal carbon laminate and placing it in a similar place to the True Line material, further boosting the stiffness and grip as well as the reactive energy that makes this ski so incredibly distinctive. As the “Ti” denotes in the 86 CTi’s name, we also see a titanal layer in the mid-body of the ski to help keep things damp and stable, especially underfoot. This metal is usually necessary to combat the pinginess of the carbon, and while we generally don’t feel this ski feels too chatty because of the carbon, the metal does help smooth it out.

Another aspect of the ski from a symmetry perspective that the engineers can control is the rocker profile. By almost “twisting” the ski in the tips and tails, Elan leaves more rocker on the outside edge and more camber on the inside edge. It lines up nearly perfectly with how the Truline material ends, further emphasizing the merging of both construction philosophy and ski personality. The rocker ends up being a big part of how the ski feels on the snow. The Wingman’s profile is incredibly effective in creating a smooth and flowy character, and that is something that is very rare in a more front side-oriented ski. Normally, they are kind of raucous in this regard—you put a ton of energy in, and you get a ton back out. They can be harsh and hard to control. This is not the case with how the Amphibio Rocker Profile steers and drives the Wingman.

There’s nothing terribly surprising about the shaping of this ski, as it follows the same footprint of the other 86’s in the Wingman line. We’re getting a 130 mm tip, an 86 mm waist, and a 115 mm tail that generates a 16.5-meter turn radius in the 178 cm length. This is pretty close to standard in the mid-80's front side world, creating a ski that’s really in its element in that mid-range of carved shapes. Again, the term useful comes up here as it applies to a wide range of skiers who spend most of their time on groomers but want that wider overall shape for both balance and versatility. Standing on a razor-thin race ski is unsettling for most, and it vastly reduces the compliancy of the ski when the snow is anything but true hard pack. As you get wider, you’re moving into the all-mountain category for sure. This ski, as a wider front side option, allows skiers the ability to cleanly carve turns while still having a good base to stand on for varied conditions and terrain.

In that light, the performance of this ski makes it stand out from a vast sea of skis in this zone. The blend of carbon in the build and the asymmetry in the profile give it an almost personalized feel. Initiating turns, mainly thanks to the TruLine Technology, is a total snap. Carbon is pretty reactive by nature, and when that gets planted into the snow quicker due to the camber, it makes the ski hook up easily and quickly. While I (Bob) am 6’2 and 225 pounds, the 178 was on the short side for me as I’d gravitate to the 184 for a personal pair. That said, the 178 was still very sturdy underfoot. It was only at the very top end of the velocity spectrum that I felt I needed to back off the ski and not drive it quite so hard in the shovel. When you’re going fast and have a lot of mass behind you, anything but true race skis or very long/stiff skis can be pushed with total confidence. At any rate, in the mid to high range of speeds and angles, the ski hooks up cleanly and easily. The transition between turns is really where this ski comes to life. Amphibio Rocker is the driving force behind this, as it helps make a seamless move from one ski to the next. I wish I had more of a racing background, as well as more flexible hips, as I feel I had a lot more room to push this ski from an edge angle perspective. We all have our limitations, I guess. The ski is very willing and able to make a sharp transition move, even if I particularly wasn’t. Rebound out of the tail is exemplary. The carbon line that extends to the back makes a lot of sense in this ski. They’re pretty darn stiff for how light they are, and that’s not a bad thing. It’s reactive in a good way—the ski responds quite accurately to the input that you bring to the table. Combining Carbon Line with Carbon Rods is the main driver behind this behavior. There’s a lot more performance hidden in plain sight, and if you can’t quite put your finger on how these skis react and move the way they do, it’s the rods. Carbon, in this 3-dimensional application, flexes and provides energy in a very distinct manner. It’s impossible to miss, even if you can’t quite describe what is happening. You don’t have to push it as hard as possible, although you certainly can if you want. While both shorter and longer turns are certainly available to most skiers, the Wingman 86 Black is most happy adhering to the radius.

With some width to stand on, it makes sense that this ski breaches into the all-mountain realm as well. While most skiers in search of true versatility may gravitate to the Ripstick 88, there’s a lot to be said about a ski that can focus on carving first, and then jump into the more adventurous zones on the mountain second. It’s fair to say we never really got on this ski in totally firm, rock-solid conditions, as most of our testing was done on relatively softer snow. It is very helpful to have that surface area underfoot as it not only smooths out the ride, but also allows for higher edge angles and more confidence in pushing through the snow. Since it’s such a crisp turner, it makes easy work of the moguls, and especially the firm ones. When you need to, slow, skidded turns with these skis provides awesome edge grip and a surprisingly pivoty feel. The fact that there’s a good amount of carbon here makes those turns that you dream about come to fruition with ease. Again, it’s the rods that allow this transfer of power to happen. The shape and stiffness take it out of the pure powder or deep woods discussion, but that’s why Elan makes much more playful and floaty skis.

Each time Elan has put a Black Edition moniker on their skis, success and happiness have surely followed. With such a lovable ski as the Wingman 86 (both Ti and CTi versions), the Black Edition upgrade takes the precision and performance to the next level. It’s especially warranted in such a shape, as we like to reiterate that there’s a huge population of skiers who never leave the groomers. For that large demographic, it’s imperative that they have a ski that speaks for them, and there should be no limit on quality or exactitude when it comes to how the ski interacts with the skier and the snow.

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Written by Bob St.Pierre on 04/12/23