Reviewers' score
12.5
Elan Ripstick 86W review 2018
PROSKILAB™ reviewers' comments
Incredibly accessible, easy to handle and to enter turns, very happy in skid turns, the Ripstick 86 W is a model that requires little physical engagement or technical prowess. Its behavior off-trail is very good. The ski is docile and easy to manage, even in choppy snow. On groomed runs, it’s a bit more challenging at high speed as the stiff tail tends to hamper it to some extent. It’s the ideal ski to discover the joys of milk runs with little experience and to begin exploring off-trail.
Review: Pros
- Very good behavior overall off-trail
- Smooth on soft snow and in powder
- Easy turn initiation
- Smooth in skid turns
- Accessible to less experienced skiers
Review: Cons
- The somewhat stiff tail hampers turns which are slightly less intuitive
- Less happy carving and at high speed
The ski review scores
| Turn initiation | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 13.0 |
| Stability | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.0 |
| Stability/turning performance | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 13.0 |
| Grip | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.0 |
| Short turn performance | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 13.0 |
| Long turn performance | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.0 |
| Skid turn performance | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 13.0 |
| Handleability | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 13.0 |
| Comfort | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 13.0 |
| Snow contact | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 13.0 |
| Soft snow fluidity | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 13.0 |
| Freeride - Flotation quality | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.0 |
| Handling in powder | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.0 |
| Performance on hard snow | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.0 |
| Freeride - Performance on hard snow | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 13.0 |
| Any ground comfort | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.0 |
Who's it for?
Basic+ → Very good
Manufacturer's remarks
The Ripstick 86 W was designed for modern riders. Built with the lightest materials for incomparable all mountain performance.
Features of the Ripstick 86W
| Brand : | Elan |
| Model : | Ripstick 86W |
| Year : | 2018 |
| Family : | All-mountain front |
| Size tested : | 166 cm |
| Tip size : | 125 mm |
| Waist size : | 87 mm |
| Tail size : | 106 mm |
| Radius for the size reviewed : | Not available |
Your review
Reviewed by PROSKILAB™
in La Clusaz, France, March 2017