Freeride skis
Product 2025
Woman, Man
We really liked the Elan Amphibio 96 in off-piste conditions, where its excellent (and beautiful) tip rocker delivers real effectiveness in soft snow and in the chop. It excels in situations where flotation and pivoting are needed in off-piste terrain — the Elan Amphibio 96 delivers.
We also tested the superb Elan Ripstick Black Edition, which impressed us more in terms of skiability, even though, aside from the cosmetics, the skis appear to be almost identical. According to the manufacturer, the addition of more carbon gives the Ripstick extra responsiveness.
Returning to the “classic” Elan Amphibio 96, tested in the 175 cm length: as often with Elan, this is an asymmetric ski, so there’s a left and right version. We tried switching them, but the difference in behavior is not immediately noticeable.
We skied the Elan Amphibio 96 on difficult end-of-season snow, a kind of snow that clings to the skis. On piste, getting a strong edge grip with large angles (which is not its specialty) proved difficult. The edge is usually found in a relatively raised attitude, relying more on ankle/knee angulation than from the hip. The turn is a bit stiff and lacks fluidity. The ski feels somewhat anchored, with a tip that vibrates quite a lot in these conditions.
Its domain, as already mentioned, is off-piste, where its relatively soft flex allows it to absorb terrain irregularities. The rocker work at both the front and back is good. The Elan Amphibio 96 is capable of fast, responsive movements and offers good stability. However, it becomes more difficult to manage when attempting to push it into deeper carving angles.
Drifted/slid turns are easier to achieve. The Elan Amphibio 96 feels light underfoot and doesn’t have much inertia in the tip. The rubberized tail absorbs shock well.
Good finish with a full-length edge that wraps around the tip.
This is not necessarily a playful ski, even though it has been described as lively. It’s not particularly consistent on hard snow, with edge grip that can surprise. However, its ease of use makes it enjoyable off the beaten track.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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