Elan

Spectrum 115 ALU Ski

Remember the Elan SCX? It was probably the first shaped ski you ever saw (the idea of a "shaped" ski is pretty quaint now, huh?), and if it sounds old-fashioned, it's only because it was so successful that no one ever bothers to specify if a ski is shaped anymore, because it would be like asking if your pizza was going to come with crust. Point is, Elan revolutionized the ski industry and probably didn't get the well-deserved credit. Elan's back at it again, though, this time with Amphibio technology, which puts a new twist on now-standard rocker technology: as well as applying early-rise to the camber profile of the ski, Elan has given the edges of the Spectrum individual rocker/camber profiles, designed to make turning effortless regardless of where and how you're skiing.

It's a pretty simple concept, really—you have designated left/right skis, both of which have cambered inside edges and rockered outside edges. When you're turning, the cambered inside edge of your downhill ski locks in for sure grip, and the rockered outside edge of your uphill ski engages more gently, making it easy to break out of a turn or adjust your line. Additionally, the Diamond tip and tail slice through chunder, and the slightly narrower tail helps the tip plane that much easier in deep and soft snow. Got it? good.

The Spectrum also features an ALUblade aluminum layer, which is situated to provide extra stiffness over the aggressive inside edge of the ski, increasing grip and torsional stiffness while letting the lighter, softer outside edges float in powder. If you're looking for a traditional touch, there are burly SST sidewalls that stand up to impacts, and a laminated wood core that's tough enough to rail turns but made to excel when the snow gets soft, making the Spectrum an ideal tool for serious big-mountain skiers who come to life when the terrain opens up.