Ski Reviews

2022-2023 Elan Ripstick 106 Black Edition, 172 cm

Reviewer Username: KyleS

Reviewer Height: 5’6″

Reviewer Weight: 145 lbs

Reviewer Experience Level: Advanced

DAYS USED: 40 days

TEST LOCATIONS: Crested Butte, Vail, Copper, Winterpark, Keystone, Breckenridge, Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountain, Beaver Creek, Steamboat

PERFORMANCE RATINGS

(0 = Terrible, 5 = Okay, 10 = Outstanding)

OVERALL IMPRESSION: 9/10

FORGIVENESS: 6/10

MANEUVERABILITY (How Loose / Easy to Pivot & Smear?): 8/10

MANEUVERABILITY (How Quick / Low is the Swing Weight?): 9/10

STABILITY: 6/10

SUSPENSION: 6/10

EDGE HOLD: 8/10

PLAYFULNESS: 7/10

PLAYFULNESS (Open Ended):

When tipping the ski over on edge it is phenomenally energetic and effortlessly pops you from turn to turn in reasonable snow conditions.

The ski also feels playful in techy terrain, particularly when steep. The playfulness comes alive in terrain like at Crested Butte where linking turns in steeper terrain means getting bits of air. Moguls offer a similar feeling when not icy.

I also find the ski to pivot/slash easily when driven hard at the tips w/ a little speed, but not from a centered stance.

SKI LENGTH: It felt just right (172 cm length tested)

THIS SKI’S IDEAL TERRAIN: Firm groomers | Softer groomers | Softer moguls | Low-angle, off-piste terrain | Fairly steep off-piste terrain

THIS SKI’S IDEAL SNOW CONDITIONS: Softer, but not deep snow | Untracked powder (shallow) | Untracked powder (deep) | Fantastic on corduroy

WHAT TYPE(S) OF SKIER DO YOU IMAGINE WILL GET ALONG BEST WITH THIS SKI?

Anyone that’s looking for a 1 quiver ski that enjoys carving. The carving experience on it in the right conditions is a highlight. The ski will do it all and is easy to have fun on. If you aren’t looking for a super planted ski and want to ski the whole mountain in all conditions, it’s a wonderful ski with a top end limit.

If you like to ski techy/challenging terrain with a dynamic style and charge clean open turns when conditions are smoother, while slowing it down when conditions get rough it’s worth a look.

ARE THERE SIMILAR PRODUCTS YOU’VE SKIED THAT YOU CLEARLY PREFER? IF SO, WHY?

The QST 106 and the ripstick 106 black are ski’s I go back and forth on for what I prefer. The Ripstick 106 Black is an absolute riot when on edge and is really fun when in favored conditions. But after spending some time on the QST 106, it becomes preferred in variable conditions. I find the Ripstick to be more fun in it’s ideal conditions but the extra dampening from the QST 106 and more rockered tails lends itself to be favorable in trees, tight terrain in soft snow, and rougher conditions. Unfortunately, we dont always ski perfect conditions so it really comes down to whether or not you prioritize carving and the ripstick’s very lively feel or the extra dampening/pivoting in soft snow that the QST 106 offers.

PLEASE ELABORATE ON ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THIS SKI. FEEL FREE TO GO INTO DETAIL!

The perfect ski to advance your game into Blister’s upper advanced ski ability category. The first word that comes to mind is fun when describing this ski.

To highlight it again, the Ripstick 106 Black is an extremely fun carver in the right conditions. They are an absolute blast to drag your hip in the 25-40 mph range. They float just fine in deep (1-3 feet) snow with good technique and a little speed. In ideal snow conditions it makes me feel like an expert skier and as if I never need another ski, but I am always reminded that there are limitations to the ski in more variable conditions.

There are situations where it’s limitations become clearer. Examples of this can be airing off cliffs (specifically riding out the drop after the cliff) or trying to charge through chopped up pow or rougher conditions. These situations typically have you at a fair amount of speed and if you lay the ski into a turn at higher speeds in these rougher conditions you will find they get deflected easily. At the same time, if my legs are up to it and I focus on absorbing and turning when the snow allows it, they do the job just fine.

But aside from high speeds in variable snow conditions the ski is an absolute blast and is at the top of my favorites. If you are looking for one ski to ski the whole mountain with varying skiing styles, while slowing it down in rougher conditions it’s an ideal ski.