2023 Elan Ripstick 116

In the world of Ripsticks, the 116 is the fatty of the group. These skis have more of a singular purpose than the other skis in the lineup, and that’s just how Elan wants it. Unchanged for 2023, the Elan Ripstick 116 is one of the lighter floaters in this width—offering maneuverability and playfulness that a lot of other freeride skis just don’t have. One of the big things about this ski is the amphibio rocker profile that makes the ski smooth and supple in the powder by rockering the outside portions of the ski and leaving more camber on the inside. The end result of this technology is that the transitions between turns are very smooth and catch-free, making smeary turns the norm, all the while keeping you afloat on pretty much any depth of snow. Lighter than most skis at this width, it’s got the playfulness and smeariness to keep even the most enthusiastic powderhounds grinning from ear to ear. While it’s difficult to dial up a powder day for testing purposes, we did have a very soft spring day, allowing our testers to get a good feel for how the ski will perform in non-firm snow. As predicted, it works quite well, invoking feelings of jealousy from our skiers who are looking to apply these wares to the bigger mountains of the world.

I got the benefit of following Harrison Gorham on his 185 cm test length Ripstick 116 and it looked like a whole lot of fun. He did note that, even though a 185 is normally fine, it did seem a bit small to him. We also talked a lot about adding a category to the ski test scoring system called “shenanigans,” and while it didn’t make the final cut, I’d say from my experience following Harrison, that it would certainly score a 5 out of 5. Also in that top range of scoring were 5’s for flotation, playfulness, quickness, maneuverability, and overall impression. I really see the 5 for quickness as a big plus for this ski, as it allows skiers to really get the most out of their fat ski experience. In addition, the 5 for overall impression was just about right on, allowing skiers to really have the most fun possible out there on the hill. Harrison notes: “I literally felt like I was flying on these skis. From top to bottom, it was a wild ride, and I am ever so thankful that Elan built a ski like this—I kind of think they made these skis just for me. My biggest regret is that I didn’t have a wider-open area, but since my friends always tell me I don’t turn anyway, the straighter trails here on Mt. Mansfield worked just fine.” A very high shenanigans factor to be sure, the Ripstick 116 is built for fun and excitement. Also on the 185, Marcus notes that “for a 116 mm underfoot, it skis very true to size.” Marcus scored the ski 5 out of 5 for flotation, as expected, but always nice to get the confirmation. He scored 4’s out of 5 for stability, torsional stiffness, edge hold, and overall impression, which is a nice spread of categories to get those high scores. “Surfy & Smooth. I know there is a ski already called the pontoon, but these feel like pontoons on your feet!! Nice & smooth as you surf on top of the spring corn, like pontoons surfing over top the water. 116 skis sometimes feel planky. These had some give/dampness that made it so enjoyable as ripping through heavy snow or even the firmer snow we had to test on. They are still big don’t get me wrong and takes some speed to get them doing what they should do let alone on edge. Once you do it is stable & smooth. Advanced to expert skier in search of pow or deep spring corn. All mountain skier who can be powerful, but also has a balanced approach not just always driving the ski, not good in bumps, not a slalom ski, not great at hardpack eastern snow so limited in versatility.”

Bob St.Pierre found his stride on the 185 and loved it. He scored it 5's out of 5 for flotation, overall impression, quickness, and maneuverability. For such a wide-bodied ski to get that high of a score in quickness is pretty impressive. He had lower scores of 2 out of 5 for versatility, torsional stiffness, and edge grip, and those are not surprising. "I've been fortunate to ski these in softer snow in the past, but on this year's test day, it was on the firm side. That said, if you can ride the radius, and keep them engaged in longer turns, they're very smooth, strong, and stable. I love the feeling from tip to tail of these skis, and you can really create high edge angles for strong carving on corduroy. Certainly, that's not the ideal usage for these skis, but it's not like we can just dial up a powder day. The most surprising aspect was the quickness--I loved how these things could be so maneuverable, and I think that would translate really well to powder and soft snow. Playful, smeary, and a whole lot of fun, the Ripstick 116 is a blast for slash turns, skids, and drifty skiing. An absolute blast and beast."

If you ski in a zone with a lot of snow, the Elan Ripstick 116 should be on your list. Thanks to the shape, construction, and profile, these skis make excellent options for expert freeride skiers who are looking to stay afloat of tons of snow. They are quicker and more maneuverable than the shape may let on, and that's great news for skiers who find themselves in deep snow and powder a lot.