LET IT RIP

Believe it or not, the emergence of fat skis can be traced back to the late eighties when heli-skiing operations were looking for ways to make powder skiing easier for guests who were embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. It wasn’t until almost a decade later that wider models would finally make their way into ski shops, and it was even longer until they evolved into more than just powder skis for the typical skier making a trip to the local ski resort.

Flash forward to today and the popularity of skis between 90 and 100 millimeters under the foot has skyrocketed. While considered wide by previous standards, skiers around the globe who venture wherever the snow is best have declared this the “Goldilocks” zone for skis, as it’s just right for handling the vast array of conditions you might encounter in the mountains.

It wasn’t always this way; the powder skis of old floated like a yacht but they left much to be desired in anything other than deep snow. This left skiers with the unadmirable task of having to choose between hard snow grip and soft snow floatation. With modern design and technology however, the wide-bodied skis of today provide all the fun they used to in fresh snow and deliver superb performance, even when it hasn’t snowed for a week.

Similarly, though most drivers don’t tow a trailer or need room for five skiers and all their gear, SUVs continue to grow in popularity. Why? Because when you need extra towing capacity or seating, it’s nice to be prepared for an adventure. And just like automotive advancements have put the rough ride and stripped-down interior of your old pickup in the past, skiers now benefit from innovation and refined designs that deliver a versatile ski like Ripstick which floats in powder and confidently grips firm surfaces with equality. This means skiers can now enjoy carving up corduroy as much as shredding their storm day powder stash, all on the same ski. For Ripstick skiers, being prepared for the unexpected has never felt so good.

"The Ripstick series is extremely important to us and we're very proud of the recognition it has received. You could even say that it has become a sub-brand for Elan. Ripstick set a new standard for lightweight, playful performance in the freeride segment which has made it one of the most popular and recognizable series of Elan skis in recent history. The strong reception from its very beginning motivates us to improve and enhance it with each generation. Now in the third generation, new construction takes Ripstick's stability, torsional rigidity, performance, and response to a whole new level," explains Klarisa Veselič, Global Head of Product Management at Elan. The team at Elan always believed Ripstick was destined to succeed, but the realization of the idea didn’t happen overnight. Years of knowledge, ingenuity, and development were required behind the scenes to ensure that the skis performed just as well on the snow as the design did on paper.

Continuing Elan’s legacy of innovation, the first generation of Ripstick skis used a basic construction combined with a modern technology featuring carbon rods that the R&D department had been experimenting with for a few years. With a little luck and a lot of dedication, the Ripstick was born with a lightweight chassis, smooth ride, and playful attitude that changed the perception of how freeride skis could perform.

After building a cult following early on, the product department went back to the drawing board, following a user-centered approach to improve upon the Ripstick family. "Analyzing the existing models in relation to current skiing needs is an essential part of the development process. This is the only way we can improve, upgrade, and add new features," explains Matej Božičnik, R&D Project manager. Thus, the second generation of Ripstick featured new torsional reinforcement, resulting in enhanced grip, power, and stability.

Now in generation three, Ripstick exhibits significant changes from the first and second versions, focusing again on the needs of the skier and adapting to evolution in skiing technique. New unidirectional carbon laminates support an optimized combination of wood in the core, new geometry, new footprints, and a slightly shorter turn radius, give the latest Ripstick series an advantage over previous models by increasing stability and power throughout the turn while further reducing weight.

"The third generation of Ripstick skis is more balanced and therefore suitable for a wider range of skiers. The ratio between tip and tail is smaller and the sidecut is different. However, the entire collection forms an attractively coordinated family in terms of construction, geometry, and design," Božičnik says about the approach to improving on an already strong product line.

When developing new skis, Elan's engineers and product managers also work closely with professional athletes, who provide valuable feedback from the field. Instrumental since the beginning of Ripstick, Glen Plake has been an active participant in the process, using his extensive knowledge about ski construction, a wealth of experience in the mountains, and a keen sense for practical mechanical skills that have become known as “Glen-gineering.” Not only did Glen contribute to the performance characteristics of Ripstick, but he also provided critical input about the look and feel of the product.

"We have been working with Glen for over fifteen years. He’s very curious and interested in how to make skis better. He has an extremely good feel and knows how to distinguish individual characteristics about skis," says Luka Bassanese, Head of Design, who also collaborated with the legendary skier in creating the graphics for Ripstick.

"Glen is so much more than a skier. He was also involved in the creative process of the graphic design of the Ripstick series skis. The idea to paint the skis came naturally because it fits his creative personality. It turned out to be a unique and impressive project," adds Bassanese.

The latest Ripstick lineup consists of four models for each gender, plus three additional Black Edition models that deliver additional power. Each model is a high-performance, lightweight freeride ski that is equally at home inbounds at a ski resort as it is in the backcountry. For skiers in search of a versatile, stable, and confident ride, Ripstick continues to be the go-to series from Elan that ensures great days in the mountains no matter where they ski.