Elan Ripstick Tour 104 Glen Plake Skis 2024

Advanced

Good skiers with all round skills to tackle most of the mountain, with solid technique in nearly every condition and slope.

Shapes and designs are more specific to end-users and have associated increases in performance. Profiles vary radically as do sidecuts and radii. Skis in this category are stiffer, with excellent stability and grip at speed; they're also less forgiving.

Expert

Top-level skiers, professionals, committed seasonnaires, instructors, ex-racers.

These are specific-usage skis for those at the top of the ability level. Shapes, dimensions and profiles vary according to the terrain they are used in, leading to huge differences between skis. All models offer the very best performance.

Full Sidewall

Full sidewall skis offer the best energy transfer and edge grip.

Full sidewall construction uses a vertical, or near vertical, strip of hard plastic that sits along the ski’s length between the metal edge and the top sheet. It is sometimes referred to as a sandwich construction as the materials in the ski are built up in layers, with the sidewall adding protection and increasing torsional rigidity.

Long Radius

A longer radius will dictate a longer turn shape, often making a ski feel more stable, this is beneficial in rougher or softer snow. Skis designed for more time off piste generally have a longer radius.

The phrase ‘radius' refers to a ski's sidecut radius and can be thought of as the ‘natural' turn-size of that ski. Assuming the edge of a ski is one part of a circle, the sidecut radius would be the radius of that circle. These figures are given in metres.

Tip and Tail Rocker

These skis use camber underfoot for grip, control and response. Rocker on the tip and tail improves the handling away from firm snow, helps with float, makes turn initiation smoother and ensures that tails feel less hooky in difficult snow. Skis with tip and tail rocker are well suited to off piste and make excellent all mountain choices. Increased rocker will signify that the ski is aimed at deeper and softer conditions.

Ski categories used to be defined by dimensions and flex, but the camber profile or rocker is now just as important. Traditionally the camber refers to the arch of a ski when it is placed ‘base down', the tip and tail touching the surface and the centre elevated. As the ski has weight applied, it flattens and the pressure is spread evenly along its length, creating continuous edge contact. When the pressure is released the ski returns to its camber shape, adding rebound/energy to the end of a turn. Rocker is the opposite of camber and is where the ski arches up, this elevation from the surface creates create float in soft snow and makes a ski very easy to pivot and steer, but potentially with little grip. By combining elements of rocker and traditional camber, designers can create many different profiles. Standard camber underfoot for grip, rocker at the tip and tail for improved floatation and handling, the amounts of each are adjusted according to the type of ski.

Backcountry

Backcountry is a diverse category meaning the skis have to be too. What binds them together is the focus on weight reduction and the fact that they’re pushing the boundaries of ski design. Where they differ is the emphasis placed on the up or the down. Bigger models blur the lines to freeride and are created to hunt fresh snow or charge hard-to-reach areas; the slimmest skis are about the ascent and achievement as much as the ride back down.

Dimensions: Anything from 85mm up to 112mm in the waist. The sweet spot for an all-rounder is 90-95mm, not so big to be excessively weighty, wide enough to float and feel stable but slim enough to remain nimble. The radius will be medium to long for better stability in rough snow.

Rocker Type: Rocker will exist on the tip to aid float and handling. Narrower skis will have a flatter tail to improve grip, wider models will introduce a low rocker on the tail to improve release and handling in deeper snow.