Elan Ripstick 116

DESIGNED TO BE AN ALL-MOUNTAIN ASSASSIN WITH A KNACK FOR DEEP DAYS, the widest Ripstick in the collection, the Elan Ripstick 116 delivers on all counts. Elan’s Vapor Inserts in the tip shed unnecessary weight in an area that needs no bulk, and supply you with smooth float when you venture into deeper conditions. The skis are also specially designed for the right and left feet, meaning your inside edges are fitted with more camber to grab an edge with ease, and the outside edges are more rockered. This gives the Elan Ripstick 116 a remarkable ability to transition from groomers to powder without flinching. Derek DiPiero took them out after 20 inches fell overnight in Jackson, and his words will take us home: “If you think it’s weird seeing left- or right-specific skis, someday it will seem weird to see anything else. This is a great innovation that other brands would benefit from implementing. You lose almost nothing as far as stability, but you gain reactiveness on your outside edge that is so crucial when you get into a tight spot.”

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