Ski Canada Test 2019 On-Slope Reviews
TAKE IT TO THE BLACK
Like it did with its Ripstick freeride ski and Delight women’s carver, Elan designers upped the performance on its Amphibio frontside and all-mountain skis by adding extra carbon. Where they were intermediate to advanced sticks before, they’re now pumped for higher speeds, harder snow and more power. The Black Edition is based on a 73mm-waist Amphibio. ($1,200; elanskis.com)
ELAN AMPHIBIO BLACK EDITION
$1,200 * BEST FOR: Intermediates and advanced skiers cruising the entire mountain.
LENGTHS: 166, 172, 178 * RADIUS: 15.7@172 * SIDECUT: 123/73/104
With its square tail, asymmetric sidecut and all black topsheet, the Amphibio Black Edition looks like a go-fast, on-piste member of the wide-ranging Amphibio family of skis. Part of a three-ski “Black Edition” series, it has carbon where the other Amphibios don’t. The carbon adds dampening and torsional stiffness with minimal weight penalty. Testers found they had to work the Black Edition Amphibio to get energy out of it, but the 73mm waist was “easy to swing from edge-to-edge and it gripped really well,” wrote SC’s Editor Iain MacMillan after testing it at a snowy Blue Mountain. Because it doesn’t demand a lot of attention but can be kicked into gear, it’s a good choice for someone who’s been out of skiing for a while and doesn’t want to work too hard, or maybe a parent who spends most of the time cruising with the kids but wants the option of heading out for a fast lap at lunch.
