The Elan Ripstick Just Got Lighter with an Early Release of Glen Plake’s Signature Pro Model: Ripstick Tour 104

Begunje, Slovenia (Nov. 4, 2021) – Elan, handcrafted skis 100% made in the Slovenian Alps for over 75 years, announces a special early release of Glen Plake’s signature ski; the new Ripstick Tour 104. Designed and tested from the ground up by Elan athlete Plake; the Ripstick Tour 104 boasts a lightweight construction for efficient accents with the downhill performance of the award-winning Ripstick and the style of Plake himself. 

Available in limited quantities at select retailers worldwide, the Ripstick Tour 104 is part of Elan’s soon to be released 2022/23 Ripstick Tour collection including the men’s Ripstick Tour 88 and 94, designed to meet the emerging demands of backcountry enthusiasts by enriching the experience with a ski design focused on functionality while pushing performance and efficiency to the maximum. The Ripstick Tour averages around 300 grams lighter than its comparable waist width freeride Ripstick predecessor.  

“The Ripstick Tour 104 is a ski that not only Glen has been asking for,” said Elan Brand Director, Melanja Korošec. “For many seasons we have been receiving encouraging feedback from our skiers recognizing the sound fact that our existing Ripstick doubles as an outstanding touring ski, with special requests for a slightly lighter weight version. Add in Glen’s decades of ski design experience coupled with his passion for touring and now we have a product that will turn heads on the skin track.” 

The skis’ graphics are notoriously bright and wild like Plake’s mohawk style. The skis’ asymmetrical Amphibio profile is matched by a hot pink left ski and a hot orange right ski finished with hot green sidewalls. The guts of the ski stay true colors to the existing award-winning Ripstick skis with an upgraded internal carbon, laminated wood core construction to maximize weight savings, without compromising performance. 

The Ripstick Tour skis debut the new Carbon Bridge Technology where a single carbon rod is placed on the top of the skis for ultimate stability, rebound, dampening and vibration absorption through the tip of the ski. Further weight reduction is achieved with the new 360 ABS sidewalls shaping the ski with pyramidal sides and additional reinforcement underfoot for enhanced tear resistance and adaptability for new hybrid binding systems. 

“We wanted a ski that performed like a Ripstick but at a lighter weight and with characteristics that were touring focused,” said Plake. “When you’re hiking in the mountains all day, carrying a pack, and conditions aren’t always great, you get tired, so you need a ski that can ski any conditions and do it easily. That’s why we built the Ripstick Tour.”

The skis will be sold as flat skis for MSRP $1,000 USD, select retailers will also offer touring bindings (ELAN developed by ATK) for an additional MSRP $900 USD and pre-cut skins for $250 USD.

Ripstick Tour 104

• Dimensions: 129/104/122
• Lengths: Men’s: 166, 173, 180, 187
• Weight:: 1540 grams @180cm
• Bindings: C-Raider
• Technology: Carbon Bridge Technology, Laminated Woodcore, 360 ABS Sidewalls 

The new Ripstick Tour 104 skis will only be available at select Elan retailers, for more information please visit: https://elanskis.com/ripstick-tour

About Elan 

Elan is a dedicated ski manufacturer in the Slovenian Alps with over 75 years of experience building the best skis in the world for friends and families who live the skiing lifestyle and are all about good times in the mountains. Earning praise year after year in test results and design awards, the innovative product manufactured is a reflection of the brand’s heritage and dedication to not just building skis but building BETTER skis to produce lifetime experiences in the mountains. For more information, please visit: https://www.elanskis.com

Contact: 

MJ Carroll
mj.carroll@elan.si
970.946.3891