2026 Elan Ripstick 94 W Black Edition

The 2026 Elan Ripstick 94 W Black Edition is a carryover ski for this year, bringing the same construction, shape, and profile as last year. For the more advanced level skier who values the overall characteristics of the standard Ripstick 94 but seeks a higher performance ceiling and degree of power, the Black Edition is the perfect all-mountain tool for anything from firm groomers to soft bumps. With such a successful recipe, why not take it to the next level for the more aggressive skiers? With a slightly stiffer flex, more horsepower and greater capability of holding up to the demands, this Black Edition rendition is sure to draw in a large crowd. It has a great snow feel to it and makes for easy skiing while retaining a high-performance and high-quality feel.

Ripstick Black Edition takes a sophisticated build and adds another level. With a thin profile overall, we get a full wood core that extends through the shovel adding flax on the top for damping. What we see here is the amenable behavior of the forebody, with great flexibility in the tip for easier turn initiation. Underneath the core, Elan uses two unidirectional strips of carbon to balance both dampness and responsiveness. On top of the core, we get a full carbon plate under the binding zone for added stability and power. Carrying over from the previous generation models, we see the use of Quad Rod technology, which incorporates two additional carbon rods to the normal carbon tubes that run alongside the sidewalls. What is unique and beneficial about the use and placement of the additional rods is their alignment to the forebody and aft of the ski without being fully connected. This is what makes the Black Edition stand out as it delivers a greater level of stability and pop than the regular Ripstick. Tester Lauren Morton states: “Love this ski again. Very responsive. Likes to hold an edge. Felt very stable at speed.”

The shape and profile of the ski add to the cohesiveness and smoothness. We also see a tight turn radius, which combined with the new use of carbon we’re getting quite the lively personality. The 16.2-meter turn radius in the 170 cm length drops down to a 15.8 in the 168 cm length. The Amphibio profile continues, putting more rocker on the outside edge and more camber on the inside edge, resulting in an intuitive, smooth feel in a variety of conditions and terrain. Highly versatile and predictable, these skis deliver the highest level of performance in tight trees and bumps, as well as firm groomers. Alyssa Ringler notes that “These plow through the slop. Feel real sturdy and easy to put everything into them and get nice deep turns.”

Elan is able to bring in a lot of different skiers through the use of asymmetry and innovation. With an incredible degree of power and responsiveness, the 2026 Elan Ripstick 94 W Black Edition provides those with a preference for precision and strength as the ultimate tool for all-mountain performance. While progressing intermediates can certainly hop on this ski and access the benefits, aggressive skiers who want a lighter ski with plenty of power and energy can drive it with force. These skis are crisp, fun, and incredibly electric, taking full advantage of the use of carbon to create a unique character and performance level.