Welcome, ski enthusiasts! Today, we're comparing two fantastic skis: the Head Kore 97 W Skis (2023) and the Elan Ripstick 94 W Skis (2024). Both are designed for women and are top-notch choices for intermediate to advanced skiers. The Head Kore 97 W is a featherweight all-mountain ski, known for its quick cutting turns, crisp carves, and float for powder days. It's a versatile ski, but its light construction and quick turn radius might not be ideal for long high-speed GS turns.

On the other hand, the Elan Ripstick 94 W is a freeride ski that excels in frontside and backside terrain, resort and backcountry skiing. It's lightweight, making it a great option for backcountry touring. It's also a good carver, but it might get a bit wobbly at high speeds off the groomers.

Both skis have their strengths and weaknesses, and the choice between them will depend on your skiing style and preferences. But one thing's for sure: both skis will give you a thrilling ride down the mountain!

Head Kore 97 W Skis · Women's · 2023 summary

The Head Kore 97 W Skis (2023) is a ski that's been continually improved upon, making it a favorite among many. It's a featherweight ski that's capable of tackling the entire mountain and venturing outside of the resort. This ski is perfect for the intermediate, advanced, and expert skier who wants to make quick cutting turns through moguls and trees, lay down crisp carves, and still have plenty of float for the powder days.

What sets the Head Kore 97 W apart from any other ski on the market is the Graphene core material. Graphene is a one-atom-thick layer of carbon that is the building blocks of graphite. It's flexible, light, and incredibly strong, giving the ski a unique backbone and performance.

However, there's always a give and take when it comes to skis, and the Kore is a good example of that. Graphene, for all of its benefits, lacks dampening, so it can feel bouncy at times on skied out crud. That lack of dampening doesn't encourage a lot of trick throwing either. The short turn radius that makes it easy to whip around can lack stability for long drawn out high-speed GS style turns.

Despite these small drawbacks, the benefits of this ski certainly outweigh them. It's a ski that's happy to be skied any day of the week. For the right skiers, for the right reasons, it's a great pick for a one ski quiver.

Elan Ripstick 94 W Skis · Women's · 2024 summary

The Elan Ripstick 94 W Skis (2024) is a freeride ski that's good for frontside and backside terrain, along with resort and backcountry skiing. These skis are built very lightweight, making them a great backcountry touring setup option.

Elan makes skis that have an amphibio profile, which means that there's a left ski and a right ski. This design can help you with carving and help you with all sorts of things all over the mountain. The ski is pretty flexible, with a little bit of camber underfoot, making it a good groomer ski. But it's got some rocker in the tip and tail, which makes it more of a freeride ski.

This ski carved pretty well on the groomers, but it does have a wider turn radius than some other options, so it excels mostly in the trees and in the big mountain area, on black diamonds. It's also easy to control at speed on the groomers. However, as soon as you get off the groomers, they get a little bit wobbly at high speeds.

Similarities

Both the Head Kore 97 W Skis and the Elan Ripstick 94 W Skis are designed for women and are ideal for intermediate to advanced skiers. They are both lightweight, making them great options for backcountry touring.

Both skis are versatile and can handle a variety of conditions. They are designed to perform well on groomers, in the trees, and on powder days. They both have unique core materials - the Head Kore 97 W uses Graphene, while the Elan Ripstick 94 W uses carbon rods - that give them strength and performance.

Both skis are also designed to be easy to turn and maneuver. They have features that help with carving and edge control, making them fun and responsive skis to ride.

Differences and Who They're Good For

While both skis are versatile and high-performing, they have some key differences that make them better suited to different types of skiers.

The Head Kore 97 W Skis is a great choice for skiers who want a lightweight all-mountain ski that's capable of quick cutting turns and crisp carves. It's ideal for skiers who like to venture outside of the resort and tackle the entire mountain. However, it might not be the best choice for skiers who like to throw tricks or make long high-speed GS style turns due to its lack of dampening and quick turn radius.

On the other hand, the Elan Ripstick 94 W Skis is a freeride ski that excels in frontside and backside terrain. It's a great option for skiers who want a lightweight ski that's easy to turn and has good edge control. However, it might not be the best choice for skiers who like to ski at high speeds off the groomers, as it can get a bit wobbly.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

1. Versatility: Both skis are versatile, but the Head Kore 97 W Skis might have a slight edge due to its ability to handle a wider range of conditions and terrains.

2. Weight: Both skis are lightweight, but the Elan Ripstick 94 W Skis is noted for being exceptionally light, which could make it a better choice for backcountry touring.

3. Carving and Edge Control: Both skis perform well in this area, but the Elan Ripstick 94 W Skis' amphibio profile might give it a slight advantage in terms of carving and edge control.

4. Stability at High Speeds: The Head Kore 97 W Skis might be the better choice for skiers who like to ski at high speeds, as the Elan Ripstick 94 W Skis can get a bit wobbly off the groomers.

Conclusions

In conclusion, both the Head Kore 97 W Skis and the Elan Ripstick 94 W Skis are excellent choices for intermediate to advanced skiers. They are both versatile, lightweight, and high-performing, making them great options for a variety of conditions and terrains.

The Head Kore 97 W Skis might be a better choice for skiers who want a lightweight all-mountain ski that's capable of quick cutting turns and crisp carves. On the other hand, the Elan Ripstick 94 W Skis might be a better choice for skiers who want a lightweight ski that's easy to turn and has good edge control.

Ultimately, the choice between these two skis will depend on your personal skiing style and preferences. But no matter which one you choose, you're sure to have a thrilling ride down the mountain!