The Frontside category is the most diverse in the marketplace, as the terrain for which it is named is the common playground of every skier ability from never-evers to Zen masters of carving. As such, it spans every price point from bare-bones, entry-level package systems to race-caliber carvers replete with plates and dampening systems that could drown out a Metallica concert.
To populate multiple price points, every brand that’s in the game has to create a technology it can decline, one that starts at the highest price with the richest construction and steps down by, say, one hundred dollar increments until it reaches the basement (out the door for around $399 with a binding).
Elan created the Wingman series to bridge the worlds of on-trail and off-trail skiing, planting a flagship model in both the All-Mountain East and Frontside genres. The top of the latter ladder is the Wingman 82 Cti, a strong ski with such a gentle disposition we classified as a Finesse model. Based on the TNT Technology that originated with the off-trail Ripstick series, the Wingman 82 Cti is reinforced both with a central topsheet of Titanal and twin carbon rods near the base, which mirror the shape of the sidecut. To create a step-down model, Elan eliminated the expense of the carbon rods and the cost of carving out their CNC-created channels, resulting in the Wingman 82 Ti.
Drum roll, please. The Wingman 82 Ti will most likely sell for $399. That’s without a binding, but still, $399. Does it ski as well as the Wingman Cti? No, and if you’re an already skilled skier you shouldn’t spare the shekels when buying a ski you may have tor the next decade. But if you’re buying your first pair of skis after having served your time on rentals and hand-me-downs, the Wingman 82 Ti is one of the best deals you will ever find.
Normally, we don’t review skis at this price point because they’re sold on price, not on-snow performance. For that same reason, they rarely make it into demo fleets where our far-flung test panel might find them. But in its launch season, a few Wingman 82 Ti’s were trotted out for its debut, and it was a revelation. Derek Salomon from The Sport Loft found it “super quick from edge to edge,” and fellow TSL tester Garrett Haag hailed it “a very friendly carver.”
Able to hold an edge on hard snow and more than happy to fool around in soft snow, the Wingman 82 Ti is an ideal developmental tool. It will also serve skilled seniors who want a ski that handles easily at relatively slow speeds, earning it a Silver Skier Selection.
