2023 Elan Ripstick Tour 104 Glen Plake Signature Ski Review with SkiEssentials.com
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- Опубликовано: 9 июл 2024
- We've had a blast putting the 2023 Elan Ripstick Tour 104 to the test! We paired it to a pair of Shift bindings and have been treated to a nice variety in conditions.
00:00 - Intro
4:15 - Construction and Shape Recap
6:50 - Comparisons to Existing Ripstick 106
11:30 - Highlights and Benefits of the Ripstick Tour 104
17:40 - Some Talk about Bindings
18:40 - Some Talk about Mount Point
Written Review: www.skiessentials.com/Chairli...
"I didn't really wanna give them up"
Sold.
I still haven't; they belong to me now ;)
The best reviews by this guys. Bravooo
Thanks!
Oh boy Glenn Plake is great ⛷❄️
Awesome review for a product many of us are curious about. Kastle always ran longer radius on many of its soft snow skis. Still does on many. major wiggle factor, no hookyness, just bliss. Sadly if really long they were work or SG turns back to the lift. My Tx98 is a 24m radius and their super predicable everywhere they just dont arc 13M turns on groomers. I dont care cause I am happy to rip GS turns on em their that good and only 1350g... This new Elan would be way high on my list and fact their a Plake Signature model and that amazing graphic....man I want a pair!
Love the detailed comparison on the tech differences.
Glad you liked it!
Thanks for revewing these skis, there aren't a lot of reviews of them. I am searching for a touring ski and I am torn between the Ripstick Tour 104 and the Atomic Backland 107. Based on your experience, how do they compare in terms of deep snow perfomance and which one do you think would be more versatile?
I've always found the Backland to be an impressive floater for its class. The light weight combined with the HRZN tech in the tips makes a lot of sense. I also think the Atomic is a bit more versatile, especially in a turn, as it just has more of a directional feel to it. That said, it isn't quite as slithery as the Plake ski, so it kind of depends on how you intend on using it.
May I recommend putting labels on the wall or next to the skis so we know which size/brand/type ski you are referring to when you say "this/these skis"? Or perhaps, refer to skis by name/type/size etc instead of this/these.
I am frequently confused which skis you refer to when you have multi-ski comparisons
Noted!
when did you test those skis also any idea of pricing on them
great review keep it up
We've been skiing them over the course of the past week or so. I skied them yesterday before finishing the review. The Tour 104 is $799. Should be available soon. We have them for pre-order currently:
www.skiessentials.com/2023-elan-ripstick-tour-104-skis.html
Thanks for another great review! I’m thinking of buying these skis when they become available in Quebec! I’m currently rocking dps wailer 99 tour 1’s with shifts and I was wondering if you could quickly sum up what I stand to gain/lose by making the switch to the ripstick tour 104 model. Also what brake size did you mount them with? I’m hesitant between 100s and 110s. Last question: I currently have my wailers mounted to recommended and I find myself a little off balanced when I try doing 360s between my touring skis and my revolt 87 skis mounted center. If I want to maximise my performance without being caught offguard would you recommend mounting the elans to +1 maybe?
Hello! You'll definitely gain some powder performance. More float and easier edge release in soft and deep snow. You'll lose some responsiveness or short turn ability on firmer snow, at least in reference to carving turns as the Wailer has a much shorter turn radius. I'm 90% sure I have 110 brakes on my Shifts that I used on the RIpstick Tour... I think you'll find the 0 mark works just fine, but if you want them specifically more balanced for spins, +1 would work too. It's already a more centered mount point than your Wailers by a significant amount, so don't feel like you need to go crazy far forward.
@@SkiEssentials thanks for taking the time to reply! I think I’ll mount them to +1 with 110 brakes too, they look like great skis I might have to try them out yeah!
Would love to talk about variation in performance based on ski length. I'm 6ft 2in and not the lightest guy out there. My normal/heavier 50/50 skis are 186cm. I'm assuming the 188 is the length for me, but I really want to be able to slash and slip through trees, tight notches, and such for the kind of conditions that I often tour in.
I would definitely go 188. It's so light and the rocker profile and taper shape makes it incredibly quick when slashing and pivoting through trees. Go for it!
How do these compare to the Moment Wildcat Tour 108's?
When are you getting the Nordica enforcer unlimited on snow and are able to give a review of their on snow performance?
Should be next week!
I understand the Amphibio concept on hardpack, but fail to understand why it would give any advantage in soft snow! I have four pairs of Elan skis, but last year opted for a different ski company. One reason for doing so was rocker. Elan just doesn't offer enough rocker for powder.
In soft snow, there's not as much to push against. Having extra rocker on the outside edge is actually helping to make initiating the next turn feel more natural, more intuitive, as it's harder to bend the ski as you would on a groomer. You also get a less catchy, more surfy feel for deep snow with the Amphibio shape. Hope that makes sense!
Fantastic explanation 👏 I'm a little confused You mentione 11:38 people can choose this as there only ski, however they don’t care much about carving. The video shows the the skier carving down the slope. Then you went on to say the skis are great for quick turns. I'm confused? 😕 I like to ski groomers quick turns and sometimes go fast, advanced expert no moguls anymore, West Coast skiing only. Thoughts? Stephen AND THANK YOU
They can carve, but they don't love it. Kind of had to coax them into carving, and when doing so, they don't feel nearly as good as something like the normal Ripstick 106. Basically the idea here is they could work as a daily ski, but you should care more about quick turns, soft snow, touring, adventures, etc. If groomers are on your list of priorities, there are better skis. We were also super limited with available terrain for this review, which made it feel a bit weird.
Do you two help pick out gear for customers in your store? Would love to have one of you help pick out a kit! Heading to Stowe for the first time in a few weekends.
Not typically, no. We have a separate office and warehouse where we spend almost all of our time. I might be able to make an exception and meet you at the store on a weekend, although I coach and stuff too. Send me an email, it's my first name @skiessentials.com ;)
Any idea when the new green ripstick and black ripstick 96 are coming out for 2023?
Hey Sean! Right now I don't have an answer for you. I don't know that they're planning any early release, but will certainly keep everyone posted if we get word.
Are they really easier to ski in trees/soft snow than something like a line vision 108?
They squiggle around pretty easily. Very light and quick, and the long radius makes them insanely fast from edge to edge in a skidded/smeared turn. They do not hook up easily, so that makes them easier to ski in tighter zones as you can jam on the edges but not get taken for a lateral ride. That said, in the 108 mm zone, the Vision is a fairly equal competitor!
Concerning the mounting point, recommended is -5 and you mounted them + 1?
Recommended mount point is "0" or at least, that's the middle of the recommended spots. I mounted these +2 because I like more centered skis, but I think -1 or -2 is going to be best for most skiers, at least directional skiers.
Of all the skis you test....Ripsticks are the most responsive....Elan knows what they are doing.
Certainly on the top end of the responsiveness spectrum! Some other skis are up there too, Head Kores, Atomic Mavericks, but each brand has a slightly different feel, which is cool.
hi guys im trying to decide which one to buy 104 or 106 i will be issuing it on trees , moguls and powder vt days... which one do you think would he better for me thanks
The 106 feels more like a real ski--the 104 is pretty light and swively. If you want to use this ski in a resort setting, no touring, I'd go with the 106 for sure.
Rocken the Sweet Protection Switcher Mips helmet and Sweet Protection Goggles - that's my setup except I'm a race helmet poser
I've been absolutely loving the Sweet Protection stuff. I think this is my 3rd season in the gear and couldn't be happier.
I mean you mention it but very weird to be comparing a touring specific ski to a inbounds ski, and reviewing a backcountry specific ski based on inbounds performance with shifts. The ski is made for a sub 300g binding. Tour with shifts for 8000+ vertical feet in a day with that ski and binding and then talk about its performance. And again you called it, but we can hear the ice! You are not in 8-10 inches. Take it in the backcountry where there actually is more than a 2x2 foot pocket of soft snow. . And who carves in the backcountry on a progressive mounted new school ski made for pivoting and drifting? Just very strange. I appreciate the info but this is whole review is just weird. Glen wouldn't take that ski to the park, cause there aren't parks in the backcountry!
Hi Mr. Troll! I understand everything you're saying. Yes, this is not the intended use of this ski, as we pointed out a few different times throughout the video. We had been in communication with Elan very closely about this ski. They really wanted to get it on snow, any kind of snow, anywhere, as it hadn't been tested much. It was between Stowe and early season Killington, but we had better snow up here, so put it to the test. I didn't really have it in me to tell them no, we won't ski it... does that make sense?
As I think I mentioned in this video, I kept this pair for my own personal quiver, and I think it would be a lot of fun to do another review on it at some point down the road.
Just checked out your channel, looks like you do a lot of touring! Want to test a pair for us?
Bob's on Maverick's!!
More of a Maverick day than a Ripstick Tour 104 day for sure!