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Am I ready for the Elan RIPSTICK 96 BLACK EDITION 2026?

The Elan RIPSTICK 96 BLACK EDITION is a 93 to 97 mm ski that feels balanced overall. Here is where you stand against it, worked out from its published flex, radius and weight.

The short answer

Ready

Yes, you look ready for this ski. It feels balanced overall.

Assuming an intermediate skier at 80 kg (a typical adult, as no weight was given), on a 175 cm length. Verdict bands are Ready, Close and Not yet. Set your weight and level below, or fill in your lift ticket on the skis page.

Your weight and speed

Drag to see when the ski bends and when it doesn’t. Starts at a typical adult until you set yours.

Ability

Sets the usual speed (35 km/h) and edge angle (35°) the model uses.

Speed at which the ski bends (km/h)

080 km/h
Bend ratio1.2 × (0.8 to 1.2 feels right)
Needs to bend at40 km/h
Edge angle to turn itnone needed (you usually reach 35°)
Metal layers · feelnot stated · balanced

Why it comes out as Ready

  • NeutralLevel

    Assuming an intermediate skier at 80 kg (a typical adult, as no weight was given), on a 175 cm length.

  • AgainstFlex

    The flex is 1.2 times what your weight and usual speed bend (0.8 to 1.2 feels right), so the ski tends to stay straight instead of bending into the turn.

  • HelpsMetal

    It feels balanced overall.

  • HelpsSpeed

    It starts to bend around 40 km/h, and you usually ski around 35.

  • HelpsEdge

    Its 16.8 m sidecut turns at the radii you like without a high edge angle.

  • HelpsSnow

    On groomed snow its edge hold for your level is on the limit.

Feels like this when you are not there yet, the symptom page for it:

Too much ski

What to work on

  1. Load the ski. Build the load this ski wants: more weight on the outside ski through the turn, and more speed. Until then it feels like too much ski.See the Too much ski page

Skis nearby

  • Softer sibling

    Elan Ripstick 100 W, top view, 175 cm: tip 136 mm, waist 101 mm, tail 116 mm

    Elan Ripstick 100 W

    Bends at 30 km/h · Ready for a typical skier

    See the ski

  • Stiffer sibling

    Elan Ripstick 94 W, top view, 175 cm: tip 131 mm, waist 95 mm, tail 112 mm

    Elan Ripstick 94 W

    Bends at 40 km/h · Ready for a typical skier

    See the ski

  • Symptom

    Too much ski

    What it feels like when a ski is stiffer than you load it.

    Read the Feel page

Siblings are shown for a typical intermediate skier. Open one to see it for your weight and level.

Where to buy

No shops to show for this ski yet. When we list one, it appears here with the reason it was picked.

Affiliate links are labelled. They never change the verdict or the order of skis on this page.

Back to the Elan RIPSTICK 96 BLACK EDITION specs and sources