96 mm All-Mountain Ski
Elan Ripstick 96 Alpine Ski
The Elan Ripstick 96 Alpine Ski is for advanced skiers who want one resort ski that carves firm morning groomers and still handles soft snow in the trees by afternoon. Elan builds a dedicated left and right ski, with camber under the inside edge for grip and rocker on the outside edge for easy release, and pairs that with a 96 mm waist and a 133 mm shovel for chalk and a few inches of new snow. Weighing 1,640 g per ski at 182 cm, with a radius that grows from 14.8 m at 161 cm to 18.8 m at 189 cm, the Elan Ripstick 96 stays light enough for full days of all-mountain laps and short hikes off the lift.
Specs Verified
Ratings synthesized from verified manufacturer specs.
Is This the Right Ski for You?
Best For
Advanced skiers who want one 96 mm ski for groomers, bumps, trees, and soft days, and who prefer a quick, light ski at 1,640 g per ski over a heavy metal laminate.
Consider Another Ski If
You want a dedicated powder ski wider than 100 mm, a damper metal-laminate ski for high speed on hardpack, or a touring ski for regular skin-track days.
CCBB Ski Ratings
Downhill Performance
Carbon rods, 17.8 m radius at 182 cm
Soft Snow Float
96 mm waist, 133 mm shovel
Firm Snow Grip
Camber under the inside edge
Playfulness
Rockered outside edge, 1,640 g at 182 cm
Rating scale: 5 = top of its class, 4 = excellent, 3 = good, 2 = specialized or below average, and 1 = limited.
Ski Profile
Dimensions133-96-114 mm (182 cm)
Turn Radius17.8 m (182 cm)
Rocker ProfileAmphibio, asymmetric left and right
Core and LaminatePoplar and paulownia, carbon rods, flax
Binding InterfaceFlat ski, no plate
Recommended UseAll Mountain
Why We Like It
- Dedicated left and right skis put camber under the inside edge and rocker on the outside edge, so the Elan Ripstick 96 grips when tipped up and releases as soon as you flatten it.
- The Tubelite woodcore, a laminated poplar and paulownia core with two carbon tubes running its length, adds torsional stiffness while holding the ski to 1,640 g per ski at 182 cm.
- Unidirectional carbon bands along the edges and a flax fiber layer in the shovel, a natural plant fiber that absorbs vibration, keep the 133 mm tip calm on chopped afternoon snow.
- Lengths step every 7 cm from 161 to 189 cm and the radius grows 1 m per step, so choosing a length tunes turn shape in a predictable way.
Best Uses
- All-mountain resort skiing on one pair
- Groomers in the morning and soft snow in the trees later
- Bumps and tight terrain at 161 to 175 cm
- Short hikes to side-country terrain off the lift
- Skiers moving from an intermediate ski to an advanced all-mountain ski
Ski Selection Advice
Length on the Elan Ripstick 96 sets turn shape directly. The radius runs 14.8 m at 161 cm, 15.8 m at 168 cm, 16.8 m at 175 cm, 17.8 m at 182 cm, and 18.8 m at 189 cm. Elan lists a skier height of 174 to 182 cm for the 182 cm ski, and we use that as a starting point: a skier who lives in trees and bumps can drop one length for a tighter radius, and a skier who wants stability on open groomers can go one length up.
The Ripstick 96 is a flat ski with no integrated plate, so it takes any alpine binding mounted to the manufacturer's line. Choose a brake wider than the 96 mm waist; a 100 mm brake clears it. Because Elan builds a dedicated left and right ski, each ski has to stay on its own foot after mounting. Match the binding to your boot sole norm.
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Technical Specifications
Click to expand
Shape and Sizing
Dimensions133-96-114 mm (182 cm)
Turn Radius14.8 m (161 cm), 15.8 m (168 cm), 16.8 m (175 cm), 17.8 m (182 cm), 18.8 m (189 cm)
Weight1,640 g per ski (182 cm)
Lengths161, 168, 175, 182, 189 cm
Rocker ProfileAmphibio asymmetric profile: camber under the inside edge, rocker on the outside edge, rocker in the tip and tail
Construction and Use
CoreTubelite woodcore of poplar and paulownia with two full-length carbon tubes
ConstructionCarbon Deck Technology with carbon rods and unidirectional carbon edge bands, flax fiber tip layer, SST slanted sidewall
BaseSintered UHMW polyethylene
Recommended UseAll Mountain
Brake Width100 mm or wider
Compare the Elan Ripstick 96
Ripstick 96 vs. Elan Ripstick 108
The Elan Ripstick 108 uses the same left and right Amphibio layout with 12 mm more width underfoot. Skiers who see new snow most days or spend their time off-piste choose the 108; skiers who split time between groomers, bumps, and soft snow choose the 96 mm Ripstick 96.
Elan Ripstick 108 Alpine Ski
Ripstick 96 vs. Atomic Maverick 96 CTI
Both skis are 96 mm underfoot, so the choice comes down to feel. The Atomic Maverick 96 CTI uses a conventional layout where either ski goes on either foot, while the Elan Ripstick 96 builds a dedicated left and right ski for a grippy inside edge and a loose outside edge. Skiers who like an easy, pivoty release lean toward the Ripstick 96.
Atomic Maverick 96 CTI Alpine Ski
Ripstick 96 vs. Armada Reliance 92 Ti
The Armada Reliance 92 Ti is a women's ski 4 mm narrower underfoot, with bands of titanal, an aluminum alloy, for a more planted ride on hardpack. Women who spend most days on groomers at speed choose the Reliance 92 Ti; skiers who want a lighter ski at 1,640 g per ski at 182 cm that also handles soft snow choose the Ripstick 96.
Armada Reliance 92 Ti Alpine Ski
Common Questions
Who should buy the Elan Ripstick 96?
The Elan Ripstick 96 suits advanced skiers who want one ski for the whole resort: groomers, bumps, trees, and a few inches of new snow. The 96 mm waist covers most Colorado resort days, and weighing 1,640 g per ski at 182 cm it stays quick and easy to turn in tight terrain.
Why does the Elan Ripstick 96 have a left and a right ski?
Elan's Amphibio profile puts camber under the inside edge of each ski, which is the edge doing most of the work in a turn, and rocker on the outside edge. The result is grip when the ski is on edge and an easy release when it is flat. That only works if each ski stays on its own foot, so the skis are a dedicated left and right pair.
What bindings work with the Elan Ripstick 96?
The Elan Ripstick 96 is a flat ski with no integrated plate, so it accepts any alpine binding mounted to the manufacturer's line, and Elan pairs it with its Attack 14 MN. Choose a brake wider than the 96 mm waist; a 100 mm brake clears it. Match the binding to your boot sole norm.
What length Elan Ripstick 96 should I ride?
Elan lists skier heights of 153 to 161 cm for the 161, 160 to 168 cm for the 168, 167 to 175 cm for the 175, 174 to 182 cm for the 182, and 181 to 189 cm for the 189. Size down one length for trees and bumps, where the shorter radius helps, and size up one length if you ski fast on open terrain.
Is the Elan Ripstick 96 a good touring ski?
Elan calls the Ripstick 96 its most versatile ski, and on resort terrain we agree, but we do not sell it as a touring ski. Weighing 1,640 g per ski at 182 cm, it is heavier than a dedicated touring ski, and the flat, plate-free top suits alpine bindings. It handles short hikes off the lift well; for regular skin-track days we point skiers to a touring-specific ski.
How does the Elan Ripstick 96 handle firm snow?
The Elan Ripstick 96 holds an edge well for a light ski because the camber sits under the inside edge, where the load is, and unidirectional carbon bands stiffen the ski torsionally along both edges. On boilerplate at high speed a metal-laminate ski stays calmer, which is the trade for the Ripstick 96's 1,640 g per ski.
Our Verdict
The Elan Ripstick 96 Alpine Ski is a strong one-ski choice for advanced resort skiers who want quickness more than mass. The Amphibio left and right build grips on the inside edge and releases on the outside edge, the 96 mm waist and 133 mm shovel cover groomers and soft snow alike, and carbon rods in a poplar and paulownia core keep the weight to 1,640 g per ski at 182 cm. Pick the length by radius, from 14.8 m at 161 cm to 18.8 m at 189 cm, and the Elan Ripstick 96 covers most of the mountain on most days.
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