96 mm All-Mountain Freeride Ski
Elan Ripstick 96 Alpine Ski
The Elan Ripstick 96 is an all-mountain freeride ski for advanced skiers who want one pair for groomer laps, tree runs, and storm days at the resort. A 96 mm waist on a 133-96-114 mm shape holds a line on firm snow, while the Amphibio Profile, an asymmetric camber and rocker layout, carries camber on the inside edge for grip and rocker on the outside edge to make turn entry easier. At 1,640 g per ski at 182 cm, with radius opening from 14.8 m at 161 cm to 18.8 m at 189 cm, the Ripstick 96 stays quick enough for tight trees at the short end of the run and stable enough for open bowls at the long end.
Expert Review
Specs verified against the Elan 2026/27 article number for this ski.
Is This the Right Ski for You?
Best For
Advanced skiers who want one resort ski for groomers, trees, and storm days, and who prefer a light, energetic 96 mm freeride ski over a heavier metal-laminate build.
Consider Another Ski If
You ski firm snow at high speed and want a titanal laminate, need a waist over 100 mm for deep days, or want a ski that can go on either foot.
CCBB Ski Ratings
Downhill Performance
Carbon rods and edge bands, no metal laminate
Soft Snow Float
96 mm waist with a rockered tip and tail
Firm Snow Grip
Cambered inside edge, 15.8 m radius at 168 cm
Playfulness
1,640 g per ski (182 cm) keeps swing weight low
Rating scale: 5 = top of its class, 4 = excellent, 3 = good, 2 = specialized or below average, and 1 = limited.
Specs at a Glance
Waist Width96 mm
Dimensions133-96-114 mm (one geometry published for all lengths, 161 to 189 cm)
Turning 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
ProfileAmphibio Profile: rockered tip and tail with camber underfoot, cut deeper on the outside edge than the inside edge, so the skis are left and right specific
CoreTubelite Woodcore, a laminated wood core with two carbon rods following the sidecut, plus a flax fibre layer in the tip
ConstructionCarbonDeck Technology layup with unidirectional carbon bands over both edges and SST slanted sidewalls
Why We Like It
- The Amphibio Profile puts camber on the inside edge, which is the edge you stand on through a turn, and rocker on the outside edge, which is the one you want out of the way. Turn entry costs less effort than it does on a symmetric 96 mm ski.
- 1,640 g per ski at 182 cm keeps swing weight low, and that shows up in tight trees, on quick line changes, and on the last runs of a long day.
- Two carbon rods run the sidecut inside the Tubelite Woodcore and unidirectional carbon bands sit over both edges, which is how the Ripstick 96 gets torsional stiffness without a metal layer to carry.
- Radius opens from 14.8 m at 161 cm to 18.8 m at 189 cm across five lengths, so length choice sets turn shape rather than only float.
Best Uses
- Resort days that mix groomers with off-trail snow
- Tree skiing and tight terrain, where a 15.8 m radius at 168 cm comes around quickly
- Storm days at the resort on a 96 mm waist
- A one-ski quiver for skiers who ski on trail and off trail in the same day
- Long days where 1,640 g per ski at 182 cm keeps leg fatigue down
Ski Specialist’s Advice
Length sets turn shape here as much as it sets float, because radius runs from 14.8 m at 161 cm to 18.8 m at 189 cm. Skiers who spend the day in trees and moguls are served at the short end of that run, and skiers who open turns up in wide terrain gain stability at the long end. Pick the turn you want to make in the terrain you actually ski, then check that length against your usual number rather than starting from the number.
For mounting, a brake needs to clear the 96 mm waist, so 100 mm to 110 mm is the range we fit. Elan pairs the Ripstick 96 with an Attack 14 carrying a 95 mm brake, which is narrower than the waist, so we would bend the arms or size the brake up rather than mount it as listed. Match the binding to your boot sole norm rather than to the ski, and bring the boots in so we can set the mount against your sole length.
The asymmetric profile makes these skis left and right specific, which is worth knowing before the first run. Elan marks each ski, and a pair swapped between feet puts you on the rockered edge through the turn instead of the cambered one, which costs edge grip. We check the marks at mount and again when you pick the skis up.
Length and mount guidance from CCBB staff. Final mount position should be set in the shop against your boot sole length.
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Technical Specifications
Manufacturer specs · Click to expand
Shape and Dimensions
- Waist Width
- 96 mm
- Dimensions
- 133-96-114 mm (one geometry published for all lengths, 161 to 189 cm)
- Turning Radius
- 14.8 m (161 cm), 15.8 m (168 cm), 16.8 m (175 cm), 17.8 m (182 cm), 18.8 m (189 cm)
- Lengths
- 161, 168, 175, 182, 189 cm
- Profile
- Amphibio Profile: rockered tip and tail with camber underfoot, cut deeper on the outside edge than the inside edge, so the skis are left and right specific
Build and Setup
- Weight
- 1,640 g per ski (182 cm)
- Core
- Tubelite Woodcore, a laminated wood core with two carbon rods following the sidecut, plus a flax fibre layer in the tip
- Construction
- CarbonDeck Technology layup with unidirectional carbon bands over both edges and SST slanted sidewalls
- Base
- Sintered high speed gliding base
- Brake Width
- 100 mm to 110 mm clears the 96 mm waist
- Recommended Use
- All-mountain freeride, on trail and off trail
Compare the Elan Ripstick 96
Ripstick 96 and the Ripstick 96 Black Edition
The Elan Ripstick 96 Black Edition is the same 133-96-114 mm shape and the same 1,640 g per ski at 182 cm, with two extra carbon rods through the core and a carbon frame layer through the mid-body. Skiers who want a more composed ski at speed take the Black Edition, and skiers who want the easier, livelier ride take the Ripstick 96.
Shop the Elan Ripstick 96 Black Edition
Ripstick 96 and the Ripstick 102 Black Edition
The Elan Ripstick 102 Black Edition runs 6 mm wider underfoot on a 138-102-118 mm shape and 1,720 g per ski at 182 cm, which moves the ski toward soft snow and away from quick edge changes on hardpack. Skiers who ski more groomers than powder stay on the Ripstick 96.
Shop the Elan Ripstick 102 Black Edition
Ripstick 96 and the Atomic Maverick 96 CTI
Both skis sit at 96 mm underfoot, and the difference is what is inside. The Atomic Maverick 96 CTI builds on a titanal and carbon backbone, which damps chatter and rewards a skier who drives the shovel, while the Elan Ripstick 96 carries carbon and no metal, which is the lighter and looser of the two.
Shop the Atomic Maverick 96 CTI
Common Questions
Who should buy the Elan Ripstick 96?
The Elan Ripstick 96 suits advanced skiers who want a single resort ski for groomers, trees, and soft snow. A 96 mm waist, an asymmetric Amphibio Profile, and 1,640 g per ski at 182 cm favor skiers who steer with the whole ski and want a light, energetic feel rather than the damping of a metal-laminate build.
What bindings and brake width work with the Elan Ripstick 96?
The Elan Ripstick 96 is a flat ski, so any alpine binding with a brake that clears the 96 mm waist will work, which means 100 mm to 110 mm in practice. Elan's own catalog pairs the ski with an Attack 14 carrying a 95 mm brake. We do not fit it that way without work, because a brake narrower than the waist drags on the snow, and we would bend the arms out or fit a wider brake. Match the binding to your boot sole norm rather than to the ski, and check your boots against the binding maker's own chart before mounting.
Does it matter which Elan Ripstick 96 goes on which foot?
Yes. The Amphibio Profile is asymmetric, with camber on the inside edge and rocker on the outside edge, so the pair is built as a left ski and a right ski and each is marked. Skis worn on the wrong feet put the rockered edge under the turn, which costs grip where you need it most. This also means the pair cannot be rotated between feet to even out edge wear the way a symmetric ski can.
What length Elan Ripstick 96 should I ski?
Radius rises with length on the Elan Ripstick 96, from 14.8 m at 161 cm to 18.8 m at 189 cm, so length sets turn shape as well as float and stability. Skiers who live in trees and moguls are better served at 161 cm or 168 cm, skiers who want one ski for everything usually land at 175 cm or 182 cm, and 189 cm suits heavier or faster skiers in open terrain. Tell us your height, weight, and where you ski and we will narrow it to one length.
What is the Elan Ripstick 96 built from?
The Elan Ripstick 96 is built on a Tubelite Woodcore, a laminated wood core with two carbon rods running the arc of the sidecut, wrapped in the CarbonDeck layup with unidirectional carbon bands over both edges and a flax fibre layer in the tip to damp chatter. SST slanted sidewalls transmit edge pressure, and the base is a sintered high speed gliding base, which holds wax better than an extruded base. Elan does not publish the wood species in the core, so we do not list one.
How much does the Elan Ripstick 96 weigh?
1,640 g per ski at 182 cm. That is per ski, not per pair, and Elan publishes it with a 50 g tolerance either way, so two skis from the same pair can differ slightly and both be in spec. Weight rises with length, so a single figure describes one length only. We state ski weight per ski with the length attached for exactly that reason.
Is the Elan Ripstick 96 stiff enough for firm snow at speed?
For most skiers, yes. Camber on the inside edge, unidirectional carbon bands over both edges, and SST slanted sidewalls give the Elan Ripstick 96 real edge grip on groomers, and carbon rods in the core add torsional stiffness. What the Ripstick 96 does not have is a metal laminate, so skiers who ski hardpack fast and want chatter damped out will find the Black Edition or a titanal ski more composed.
Our Verdict
The Elan Ripstick 96 is the one-ski answer for a skier who wants full resort coverage without a heavy ski underfoot. A 96 mm waist on a 133-96-114 mm shape covers groomers and soft snow, the asymmetric Amphibio Profile puts grip where you stand and forgiveness where you do not, and carbon rods in the Tubelite Woodcore deliver torsional stiffness at 1,640 g per ski at 182 cm with no metal to carry. Five lengths from 161 to 189 cm run 14.8 m to 18.8 m of radius, so turn shape can be matched to terrain. Skiers who ski hardpack fast and want a damped, metal-laminate feel should look at the Black Edition instead.
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