Elan Ripstick 96 Black Edition Skis 2025

Whether you're new to skiing or looking to upgrade your gear, choosing the right skis can make all the difference in your experience on the slopes. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the main ski categories and essential features to consider when buying skis.

Despite what many guides will tell you, there is no best ski of the year, only the skis that are most suited to how and where you ski. We test skis all over the world and specifically focus on identifying what type of skier each ski is for. These days every brand has gotten incredibly good at building good skis and there are very rarely any duds.

Ski Categories

Understanding the different types of skis is crucial to finding the right pair for your style and the terrain you’ll be skiing on.

• All-Mountain: These versatile skis are designed to perform well in most conditions, from groomed runs to some off-piste. They’re a great option for skiers who want one ski that can handle a variety of terrain. All-mountain skis typically have a medium waist width (85-105mm) to balance stability and quick edge-to-edge transitions.

• Carving Skis: Ideal for skiers who stick to groomed trails and prioritize precise turns. These skis have a narrow waist (generally 65-85mm), which makes them excellent for fast, controlled carving on hardpack snow. Their shape is designed to make edge transitions smooth and predictable.

• Twin Tip Skis: Designed for park skiers who love tricks, jumps, and skiing switch (backward). These skis have tips at both ends, allowing for better performance when skiing backwards. They're softer and more flexible than other types, ideal for freestyle skiing.

• Powder Skis: Built for deep powder days, these skis are wide (typically 105-125mm underfoot) and feature a rockered profile that helps them float on top of the snow. They're less nimble on groomers but excel in soft snow, providing unmatched stability and float.

• Touring Skis: For the backcountry adventurer, touring skis are designed for uphill travel and downhill performance. They’re lighter in weight and often paired with touring bindings that enable earning your turns by hiking up.

Ski Waist Width

Ski width, measured at the waist, is a key determining factor in how well skis perform in different snow conditions.

• Narrow Width (70-85mm): Best for groomed runs and hard-packed snow. Narrow skis offer quick edge-to-edge transitions and are great for carving.
• Medium Width (85-100mm): Ideal for all-mountain skiing, offering a balance of stability and versatility across varying conditions.
• Wide Skis (100mm+): Perfect for powder days, providing better float in deep snow but are slower edge-to-edge on groomers.

A key category for us here at Aussieskier is All Mountain skis between 85-90. These skis strike a nice balance for the snow types found locally here in Australia. Narrow enough to hold solidly on ice but wide enough to plane up and float in some softer snow, be that slush or the occasional powder day.

Ski Profile (Camber & Rocker)

Rocker and camber are two key attributes that define how a ski performs in different snow conditions and terrains. Most modern skis feature a combination of both, often in a rocker/camber/rocker configuration.

• Camber: Camber is the upward arch in the middle of the ski when it’s unweighted. Skis with more camber offer more solid edge contact, grip and stability at speed. More often found in narrower, carving oriented skis.
• Rocker: Rocker refers to an upward curve in the ski at the tip and sometimes the tail, giving it a banana-like shape. This lift reduces the contact points of the ski with the snow when it’s flat, making it easier to initiate turns and float over soft snow. 
• Mixed Rocker (Rocker/Camber/Rocker): Combines the best of both worlds, with camber underfoot for edge control and rocker in the tips for float in soft snow. The vast majority of All Mountain, Powder and Twin Tip skis utilise a Rocker/Camber/Rocker profile. The extent in which the Camber & Rocker is utilised is a major factor in what differentiates each models performance.

Ski Radius

The Radius of a ski is an indication of the types of turns a ski is designed to make. Skis with smaller radius' typically like to make shorter turns.

• Short Radius (10-15m): Skis with a short radius are designed for quick, tight turns, ideal for carving and technical skiing.
• Medium Radius (15-20m): Best for all-around skiing, offering a balance between quick turns and stability.
• Long Radius (20m+): Suited for long, sweeping turns at high speeds, often found in powder or big-mountain skis.

Radius is one of the most important factors of deciding between Carving skis, but becomes less relevant the wider, softer and more rockered a ski gets. 

Ski Length

Ski length is a whole post-worthy topic in itself. Many factors affect the end result: height, weight, ability, ski profile all included. Some people just have a personal preference one way or the other.

Most people size their skis between chin & head height. i.e. a 170cm skier will ski a ski from 150-175cm, this is purposefully quite a large range as it is just the starting point.

Factors that would suggest going shorter:

• Less advanced Ability level (beginner & intermediate)
• Lightweight build
• Stiffer or more cambered ski profile
• Priority on manoeuvrability and shorter turn shapes

Factors that would suggest going longer:

• More advanced Ability level (advanced & expert)
• Heavier build
• Softer or more rockered ski profile
• Priority on high speed stability and longer turn shapes  

Read More Here

We are excited to offer a number of products for the upcoming Winter for Pre-Order, the best way to lock in your new toys and ensure you don't miss out.

Payment Policy

Your payment will be taken in full upon placing the Order.

The Pre-Order is cancelable & fully refundable at any time for any reason up until the time the products arrive in the shop, from that date the standard 30 day return policy begins. 

Ordering Process

Products that are tagged Pre-Order will be available to purchase via the Pre-Order Button.

If a product is tagged Pre-Order and is showing out of stock, it is either sold out already or Pre-Order details are yet to be confirmed - we will not enable Pre-Order on a product until we have a comfortable level of security about arrival time.

Please use the Email When Available button on these products and we will notify you when this product becomes available for Pre-Order.

When your Pre-Ordered products arrive, we will contact you to confirm shipping details. Your Order won't be shipped without this confirmation to ensure we don't ship to an unattended address. At this time we will also double check any mounting or package information.

If you are Pre-Ordering Skis and wish to build a package, just Pre-Order the skis and we can apply Package discounts later upon arrival of skis and bindings.

If you order products that are both In-Stock and available for Pre-Order in the same order, they will be held and shipped with the Pre-Order. If you want In-stock items to be sent immediately please place them in a separate order.

Estimated Dates & Shipping expectations 

The estimated delivery dates listed on our website are based on the best information that we have at that moment. 

These dates are estimates, and given the potential disruptions to logistics and shipping times from international warehouses to us, there is always the possibility that there will be last minute delays that we cannot control.

In cases of delays, we pledge to be up front and transparent to keep you up to date with the latest information about the timing of your order. If any delays don't meet your expectations in regards to timing we can easily swap into another product or cancel the order, no questions asked.

Warranty

Any defective items that are still within the manufacturer’s warranty period will be returned to the manufacturer or their local agent for warranty assessment.

The manufacturer or their local agent has sole discretion in determining whether an item is defective and qualifies for a repair or replacement.

Be sensible – if you slide rails or hit rocks, your skis aren’t going to get replaced. 

Chips to the edges of a ski's topsheet & topsheet peeling caused by skiing with your feet close together or banging your skis together on a lift are not covered by warranty.

Contact us with your proof of purchase to begin the process.

Luggage: Please note that luggage warranties specifically refer to manufacturing defects, not damage sustained during travel. For example a tear in the fabric isn't covered, but a burst seam or defective zip is.

Airline policies differ, but generally require you to report damage sustained to your luggage either at the airport or within 1-3 days of your flights in order to receive compensation.

Returns

Too big, too small, not stoked on the colour? No worries!

First step is to lodge an RMA request on your account page: https://account.aussieskier.com

Items marked as Clearance are not eligible for a change of mind return.

In-store: Subject to the below conditions, items purchased in-store can be returned for an exchange or store credit within 14 days of purchase. 

Online: Subject to the below conditions, items purchased online can be returned for a refund within 30 days of purchase.

Return shipping to us is at your own cost. Address all parcels to: 11 Aberdeen Rd Prahran VIC 3181

Return Conditions:

• The item must be in unused/unworn and in re-saleable condition
• Packaging must be original & undamaged with all stickers/tags etc still attached & factory seal intact.
• Avalanche Safety items are not eligible for returns

Electronic devices:


• Device must not have been turned on and/or the battery inserted.
• Device must be returned in factory sealed packaging.

Skis: 

• Please note that we cannot accept returns/exchanges on skis that have been mounted.

Ski Boots:

• Specifically for ski boots we ask you to not mark the soles while trying them on at home, only walk on carpet, boots used on concrete/hard surfaces will be refused a return.
• Any attempt at heat moulding/boot modification will void the eligibility for return.
• Boots that have been heat-moulded or customised in any way in-store can't be returned