2023 Elan Ripstick 106 Black Edition Skis

After a year’s hiatus, the Elan Ripstick 106 Black Edition skis have come back with a vengeance. There’s a lot to like about the updates, and Elan has done a fantastic job separating further the Black Edition skis from the normal Ripstick line. We’ve talked and discussed in detail about how fun and playful the Ripstick skis are as a whole, and one of the best things Elan has done, is to retain that fun-loving personality, all while creating a whole different feel in a ski. Our first time out on them, we all remarked that Elan has been incredibly successful in creating a ski without metal that really feels like metal. By adding additional carbon rods to the Tubelite wood core, Elan uses that three-dimensional carbon tube technology now in the middle of the ski, in addition to the edges. This makes the middle part of the ski a lot damper and more stable when it comes to high-performance skiing. For a 106 mm underfoot ski, these things absolutely rip. Once you get them up on edge, they start to come around very nicely, providing stability and sport for the duration of the turn. Since they’re asymmetrical in construction, profile, and shape, Elan has a huge advantage insofar as they’re able to bolster certain parts of the skis without making them feel wonky. Skiers looking to take their freeride game to the next level will love the Elan Ripstick 106 Black Edition skis.