What buzz there’s been about Elan centers on their carving skis and race models. The Ripstick might have the largest single bloc of Elan enthusiasts in its corner, and of the Elans we review here it was our testers’ clear favorite. All four of the Elans in our coverage are Amphibios, meaning they’re half-reptile, half-human.
Of course that’s not it, but the Amphibio feature is an oddity, with asymmetric forebodies that are rockered only on the outside edge. The intent is to provide an uncompromised carving experience while still allowing for a buffered ride in light chop. It is integrated into the design to the degree that it doesn’t detract from the business of creating a continuous, unbroken carve.