In the world of skiing, the Völkl Kendo 88 Skis and the Elan Ripstick 88 Skis are two top contenders for the 2024 season. Both skis are designed for all-mountain performance, with a focus on carving and freeriding. The Völkl Kendo 88 is a fast, edge-to-edge ski that excels in carving and freestyle, while the Elan Ripstick 88 is a versatile all-mountain ski that offers a smooth yet forgiving ride. Both skis are agile, quick edge-to-edge, and offer multiple turn radii for different styles of skiing. However, the Völkl Kendo 88 is more suited for intermediate to advanced level skiers who prefer groomed trails, while the Elan Ripstick 88 is more forgiving and suitable for a wider range of skiers. In the end, the choice between the two comes down to personal preference and skiing style.

Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2024 summary

The Völkl Kendo 88 Skis are a directional, frontside, on-piste, freeride ski that delivers ultimate versatility. They are designed to carve with ease, rip up the moguls, and handle crud and chunk like no other. With a waist width of 88mm, this ski really engages with the snow, providing a high engagement edge. It also floats in the pow and loves to dolphin dive from the deep pow to the surface with a sense of playfulness that leaves you wanting endless runs.

The Kendo 88 features a 3D turn radius that is really intuitive. It allows you to have options: if there's nobody on the run and you want to open up the throttle these are awesome for long, GS, fall line, arc style turns. If it’s a little busier where you're skiing and you're making some tighter turns in either bumps or on groomed runs, the 3D turn radius really allows you to do that.

The ski's multilayer wood core, carbon fiber weave in the tip, and the tailored titanal frame create a very stable, damp, and responsive ski. This results in zero chatter and a ski that thrives in carving. However, it's worth noting that the Kendo 88 is not the most playful ski and is not designed for freestyle skiing.

Elan Ripstick 88 Skis · 2024 summary

The Elan Ripstick 88 Skis are a versatile all-mountain ski that offers a smooth yet forgiving ride. They are incredibly light, edge very well on hardpack, ice, and groomers, and still have a bit of versatility for powder. With a waist width of 88mm, the Ripstick easily makes short radius turns, which makes them playful and agile in the bumps.

The Ripstick 88 features Elan's unique Amphibio profile, which packs more material into the inside edge of each ski, and a carbon and wood construction that keeps the ski lightweight and agile without sacrificing downhill stability. This results in a phenomenal carving ski that has the liveliness and playfulness to get off-piste as well.

The Ripstick 88 is a performance ski and the perfect blend of frontside hard snow and softer snow skiing. It's agile, smooth, and easy to ski, making it a great choice for a wide range of skiers. However, it's worth noting that the Ripstick 88 may not be the best option in icy conditions.

Similarities

Both the Völkl Kendo 88 Skis and the Elan Ripstick 88 Skis are designed for all-mountain performance, with a focus on carving and freeriding. They both have a waist width of 88mm, making them agile and quick edge-to-edge. Both skis offer multiple turn radii for different styles of skiing, allowing skiers to make short quick turns or long GS style turns. They both have a wider shovel up front with a bit of rocker to handle some boot top powder if there's an unexpected storm. Both skis are also built with a carbon and wood construction, making them lightweight and agile without sacrificing downhill stability.

Differences and Who They're Good For

While both skis are designed for all-mountain performance, they cater to different types of skiers. The Völkl Kendo 88 Skis are more suited for intermediate to advanced level skiers who prefer groomed trails. They are a very fast edge-to-edge ski that excels in carving and freestyle. However, they are not the most playful ski and are not designed for freestyle skiing.

On the other hand, the Elan Ripstick 88 Skis are more forgiving and suitable for a wider range of skiers. They are a versatile all-mountain ski that offers a smooth yet forgiving ride. They edge very well on hardpack, ice, and groomers, and still have a bit of versatility for powder. However, they may not be the best option in icy conditions.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

When it comes to carving, the Völkl Kendo 88 Skis take the lead with their fast edge-to-edge performance and 3D turn radius. They are a blast to carve and thrive in this area.

In terms of versatility, the Elan Ripstick 88 Skis come out on top. They are a versatile all-mountain ski that offers a smooth yet forgiving ride. They edge very well on hardpack, ice, and groomers, and still have a bit of versatility for powder.

For agility and quick edge-to-edge performance, it's a tie. Both skis offer multiple turn radii for different styles of skiing, allowing skiers to make short quick turns or long GS style turns.

In terms of suitability for different types of skiers, the Elan Ripstick 88 Skis are more forgiving and suitable for a wider range of skiers, making them the winner in this category.

Conclusions

In conclusion, both the Völkl Kendo 88 Skis and the Elan Ripstick 88 Skis are top contenders for the 2024 season. They both offer all-mountain performance with a focus on carving and freeriding. However, they cater to different types of skiers. The Völkl Kendo 88 Skis are more suited for intermediate to advanced level skiers who prefer groomed trails, while the Elan Ripstick 88 Skis are more forgiving and suitable for a wider range of skiers. In the end, the choice between the two comes down to personal preference and skiing style. So, whether you're an experienced skier looking for a fast, edge-to-edge ski or a skier looking for a versatile all-mountain ski that offers a smooth yet forgiving ride, both the Völkl Kendo 88 Skis and the Elan Ripstick 88 Skis have something to offer. Happy skiing!