Enrobing a ski in a coating of carbon is like dosing it with Xanax; it calms the nerves and helps it focus on the task at hand. The inescapable comparative adjectives are “silkier” and “smoother.” With no metal underneath its ebony hide, Elan’s Ripstick 96 Black Edition needs something other than Titanal to give it the sangfroid required to batter crud aside. Its carbon sheath muffles the rough edges caused by crud-busting without hauling around the extra ounces Titanal entails.
Among the many benefits of the Ripstick 96 Black’s successful efforts at keeping off the oz’s is it feels quicker edge-to-edge than its 96mm waist would usually allow. “For a ski that feels light and nimble underfoot, it has an amazing ability to still plow through heavy crud,” observes Patrick McCloud from Peter Glenn, who essayed the 96 Black in spring conditions at Squaw Valley.
In lighter, softer, generally more congenial off-road conditions, the Ripstick 96 Black raises its game. It doesn’t matter if the depth of the latest layer is 3 centimeters or 3 feet, put any kind of cushion under it and it will practically purr with gratitude. Because it skis narrow, it’s also easier to find a high edge angle, which helps keep its rockered tip from getting twitchy and makes negotiating tight gaps in trees dependent more on the science of technique and less on the power of prayer.
Any brand as venerable as Elan, which has a history so rich it has its own museum, has a brand identity, which in its case is carving. Its foundational Amphibio design that puts a longer camber line on the inside, downhill edge, is formulated to maintain two, side-by-side, continuous tracks down the mountain. Never mind its waist width, its default mode is to carve first and drift when asked. Once it has a little wind in its sails, the Ripstick 96 Black can segue from carve to drift and back again with simplicity and regularity of breathing.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to use “silkier” in more sentences, pay the premium to upgrade from the standard Ripstick 96 to the Black Edition. To encourage AARP cardholders who want to better buffer their aching joints to consider its merits, we award the Ripstick 96 Black Edition a Silver Skier Selection.
