All Mountain
50 percent on-trail / 50 percent off-trail
The Ripstick ranked as a “favorite” for 75 percent of our female testers. Key descriptors from the test cards read “comfortable,” “effortless,” and “empowering.” Elan credits carbon tubes built into the paulownia wood core, which stop a few centimeters before the tip and tail. The skis are right and left footed, with “Amphibio” construction, making them slightly rockered on the outside edges so they don’t feel hooky. That’s a lot of jargon, but we loved how easily they pivoted in chopped-up snow alongside the trail, and how powerfully they arced back on the groomers.
Swami gripe: Skidded on steep ice.
Swami like: Super-precise turners.
Dimensions: 134/94/109
