Elan Ripstick 88 Black Edition Skis 2027

The Ski

The ski so many people have been asking for is finally here. The Ripstick 88 Black Edition pairs the light, energetic, effortlessly versatile feel that made the Ripstick family famous with the locked-in, composed authority of something far more substantial — carving performance and grip you'd expect from a metal ski, without ever picking up metal's weight or dead feel.

Who It's For

Intermediate-to-advanced skiers who want a do-it-all daily driver. The 88mm waist is wide enough to float through a few inches of fresh and narrow enough to hold an edge on packed snow — it doesn't demand expert-level commitment, but it rewards skiers who push it. The Black Edition's construction trims weight without sacrificing feel underfoot, so it suits skiers who move fast and cover a lot of terrain in a day. Heavier chargers who want a damp, burly ride will probably want to look elsewhere — this ski is light and lively, not planted and aggressive.

Tech That Matters

The Black Edition's signature is two carbon rods run along the sidewalls tip to tail for energy and pop, while two additional rods sit in front of and behind the binding zone specifically to quiet vibration and boost rebound — this is what lets Elan mimic the damping properties of a metal ski using only carbon, something that's historically been hard to pull off. Beneath the wood core, two strips of uni-directional carbon add stiffness and power transmission, while a full-width carbon plate sits on top of the core under the binding zone, tapering out toward the tip and tail to work with the ski's asymmetrical construction — this matters because it delivers serious frontside grip and stability exactly where you're standing, without adding unnecessary weight further out on the ski where it would hurt maneuverability. The ski also carries Elan's Amphibio profile and asymmetric shape and build, which matters because it makes the ski smoother, more cohesive, and genuinely easier to ski — the outside edge gets more rocker for easy turn initiation, while the inside edge holds more camber for precise, confident grip when you tip it on edge.

Sizing

At 88mm underfoot in a mid-length all-mountain build, the Ripstick 88 sizes fairly true. Advanced skiers should aim for a length close to their height in centimeters. Intermediates typically ride 5cm shorter. Experts who like a longer platform for charging can go 5cm longer. The 175 and 182 are the most popular pulls off our wall for taller, stronger skiers — the 161 and 168 suit lighter or less aggressive riders well. If you're between sizes and ski mostly groomed terrain, take the shorter one. If you're between sizes and want to push into more variable snow, go longer. Come into any of our three locations and we'll get you on the right length.

Why Willi's

We've been fitting skiers for over 50 years, and the Ripstick 88 is a ski we're genuinely excited about — it shows up on our own staff's feet, not just on the shop wall. Buy online or stop into any of our three locations and we'll make sure the length, binding, and mount are dialed in before you hit the hill.