Elan Wingman 86 CTI review 2020

PROSKILAB™ reviewers' comments

The Elan Wingman 86 CTI made a strong impression during the pre-tests in January 2019. We included it in the Proskilab test thinking that the ski perfectly fulfilled the criteria of this category. We were eager to have it tested by a team of professionals on snow in a side-by-side test with the other big names in the industry.

The ski did not disappoint. It earned a well-deserved “Best Ski” award (and was first in this category).

The Wingman 86 CTI is above all an incredibly easy ski. You immediately feel well-balanced on it, and the first turns give you confidence. No special instructions are needed. The ski is incredibly intuitive and does what you ask. It is “a ski for everyone,” “lets the skier call the shots,” and you don’t need amazing technique to use it.

Performance on groomers is just awesome. The ski is very solid in the turns, agile, with great rebound at the end of the turn. The ski is a total blast to ski on and you will not get bored.

In off-piste terrain, the ski shines and is incredibly easy to use. Even though it is only 86 mm underfoot, it floats well in powder. It cuts through crud very well, and the ski does not bend when it hits chunks of compact snow.

It is able to transition smoothly from carved to skidded turn and from short to long turns. The Wingman 86 CTI is at ease in all types of terrain and is incredibly versatile.

No one doubts that this ski is destined to have a long career like the Kendo, Kore 93, and other famous names in this market segment.

Therefore, the Wingman 86 CTI is a great success. It is a great “all-rounder,” intuitive, easy, playful, and comfortable in all conditions. We highly recommend it to intermediate to expert skiers.

Note: Elan offers two versions of the Wingman 86: the CTi version (in green), which is the one we tested, and a Ti version (in orange), which we did not test, and which is less stiff. Both have a Titanal plate, which is why the letters “Ti” appear in the names. The CTi version also has two carbon-reinforced rods that run along the length of the ski.

Review: Pros

• Overall performance
• Accessibility
• Lively and agile
• Predictable and intuitive
• Very versatile
• At ease in all types of terrain
• Fun and enjoyable
• Good for learning, allows the skier to improve technique

Review: Cons

• Slightly weaker performance than stiffer models like the Kendo 88

The ski review scores

Who's it for?

Manufacturer's remarks

As the widest ski in the Wingman series, the Wingman 86 CTi is the bridge to the Ripstick collection. Wide enough to explore off-piste, but can crush groomers from early morning light, then play in afternoon bumps.

Features of the Wingman 86 CTI

Your review

Reviewed by PROSKILAB™