Ripstick 88 W

The 2027 Elan Ripstick 88 W is a light, frontside-leaning all-mountain ski for women who spend most days on groomers but want a quick, manageable ski for bumps, trees and soft snow at the trail edge. Its five lengths run from 147 to 175 cm, with the waist reaching 88 mm in the longest two sizes. SkiEssentials identifies this year as a construction carryover with a new graphic, so the appeal is the established Ripstick character rather than a claimed redesign.

Elan pairs a Tubelite wood core with CarbonDeck reinforcement, carbon rods, unidirectional carbon bands and flax fibre. The light build gives it a nimble feel and makes direction changes easy; it is less suited to bulldozing through rough snow than a heavier, metal-reinforced ski. The left and right skis are shaped differently: Amphibio puts camber along the inside edge for grip and rocker on the outside edge to ease steering and release. In SkiEssentials’ 2027 test, the Ripstick 88 W felt energetic and approachable, with testers praising quick turns and groomer grip while its 88 mm platform limits flotation in deeper snow.

Choose it if you want a relatively light resort ski that can move from groomed blues to small bumps and tree runs without demanding a forceful technique. It suits progressing intermediates through advanced skiers who value quickness and a forgiving feel over maximum high-speed damping. A harder-charging skier focused on firm snow may prefer the stiffer Ripstick 88 W Black Edition, while frequent powder days call for a wider waist. This is the flat ski; bindings are sold separately.