A nice, mid-wide ski for softer snow for progressive ladies, the Elan Ripstick 102W is an amazing lighter option. With a bit of a boost in terms of weight and thickness over the Ripstick 94W, the 2024 Elan Ripstick 102W takes all-mountain and freeride performance to the next level. As the Ripstick series of skis gets wider, they also gain in power and strength. Part of this is due to the simple fact that there’s more material, but also, they get thicker from a core profile perspective, giving the wider skis more of a boost when it comes to performance attributes. We’re putting the 102 down as a great option for advanced and expert skiers who are looking for a wider-bodied all-mountain ski or a narrower freeride ski for soft snow performance. The added bonus here is that the 102 is a pretty crisp turner on groomers. While we’re not going to be so bold as to call it a front side ski by any stretch, it does seem like it’s worth mentioning, especially for skiers who are mainly in the resort and do find themselves on groomed terrain from time to time and don’t want to sacrifice performance.

Elan has some interesting construction techniques going on with their Ripstick skis, and it all starts with a wood core. It’s light and poppy but then they take it to the next level by implementing their carbon tubes to the mix. By milling out channels on the sides of the ski, they add carbon tubes to the spaces. These are placed in the channels under pressure to match the curvature of the ski. As such, there’s kinetic energy built in. Additionally, the tubes function as three-dimensional forms of carbon, boosting the stiffness and power involved. On top of the core, Elan takes advantage of their asymmetry by installing a carbon laminate that is more prevalent over the inside edges with less coverage on the outsides. This gives the ski greater power and grip when on the downhill ski while leaving the uphill edges of the uphill ski more flexible and floatier. This aligns with the rocker profile of the ski as well to exaggerate the asymmetry of the ski. All told, the 170 cm length sits on the scale at 1750 grams, which is heavy enough to offer some stability while remaining light enough to be maneuverable and agile in softer snow. It does hit 104 mm in width at the 170, so keep that in mind as you explore and shop.

The asymmetry filters into the profile in the form of their Amphibio rocker profile. This allows the engineers at Elan to basically twist the skis to the outside, putting more camber on the inside edges of the downhill ski and more rocker on the outside portions. The resulting characteristic is that the ski is incredibly smooth through the turns, and in softer snow, this equates to less hooking and catching, creating more of a directional freeride feel. The 170 produces a 17-meter turn radius, and advanced and expert skiers can get all of it. It’s fun to carve hard on this ski as the tubes come to life at higher edge angles. It’s drifty, too, with a maneuverable and somewhat standard tail, while the shovel is spoony and light, floating on top of the fresh at 143 mm wide. Overall, there’s not a lot of taper in the tail while the tip is more dramatic.

While advanced and expert skiers will access the most performance in this ski, it’s still a decent option for intermediates who are looking for a wider ski. If you’re more skilled or aggressive, you’ll be able to tap into the meat of the ski a bit more, but it remains one of the friendlier high-performance freeride skis at this width. The fact that Elan incorporates so much technology and sophistication into this ski is remarkable, and we look forward to each and every opportunity to ski the fun-loving Ripstick102W.