Elan

Spectrum 105 ALU Ski

Elan is changing the game this year with its ski designs, and the Spectrum 105 ALU is at the cutting edge of new technologies that promise to change the way we think about ski design. A 105mm waist width makes this ski extremely versatile in any on- or off-trail situation, and its lightweight-yet stable nature is a welcome combination in the world of high-performance skis.

Of all the new technologies incorporated into this ski, perhaps the most revolutionary is the Amphibio profile. Instead of a typical rocker profile with tip rocker, full rocker, or the like, the Amphibio profile incorporates a rocker profile that changes from the inside to the outside of the ski. The whole length of the inside edge uses a regular camber profile for powerful edge grip and excellent high speed stability. Moving toward the outside of the ski, the profile changes to a rocker profile in the tips and tails. This gives the ski the benefits of a rockered design such as great float and easy turn initiation while still preserving the characteristics of the regular camber on the inside edge of the ski.

To further accentuate this revolutionary shape, another new technology called ALUblade is incorporated. The "blade" is a strip of aluminum that is sandwiched on top of the wood core and runs from just fore and aft of the binding to the tip on the regular-cambered inside edge. By only running the metal to the cambered side of the ski and not to the rockered side, edge hold is maintained without dramatically reducing the playful nature of the ski. This also allows the ski to be extremely thin and lightweight, which reduces swing weight and increases maneuverability.

On the traditional end of things, the Spectrum 105 ALU is made with a sandwich construction for power and edge-hold, and a laminated wood core provides the responsive and active feel that expert skiers demand from their skis. A medium length turn radius (18.1m in the 180cm length) is good for most situations from tight trees to big bowls, and the Diamond tip shape is skin-friendly for those so inclined to venture into the backcountry.