Elan Ripstick 116 Skis 2022

For a few years now, the Ripstick series has been Elan’s offering in the “freeride” category. In our experiences with the previous Ripstick 96 and Ripstick 106, and our initial time on the updated, 20/21 Ripstick 106 and Ripstick 102 W, we’ve come away with pretty positive impressions. All of the skis have been intuitive, lively, versatile, and pretty stable at speed for being quite lightweight. During the upcoming season, we’ll be getting on the widest, most powder-oriented ski of the group, the updated Ripstick 116. Elan says that the Ripstick 116 is designed to let their athletes “float and slash down the world’s steepest and deepest lines” while also being able to “cut through windblown snow and crud with ease.” We’re excited to get on the ski when the snow starts falling to evaluate those claims, but for now, let’s dive into the design of the ski to see how it compares to the rest of the market.