THE GEAR PICKER
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Head-to-head · freeride

Elan Playmaker 101 vs Elan Ripstick 102

The Playmaker 101 and the Ripstick 102 compared. They share 101 mm underfoot. The Playmaker 101 is 100 g heavier at the default length (1,685 vs 1,585 g). Turn radii are 18.1 m and 17.8 m.

Elan Playmaker 101 — topsheet
Playmaker 101
$750 MSRP 4 lengths · 164, 172, 180, 188 cm
Elan Ripstick 102 — topsheet
Ripstick 102
$850 MSRP 5 lengths · 161, 168, 175, 182, 189 cm

Where each ski sits across every ski we carry

Playmaker 101
Ripstick 102
Waist
101 mm
101 mm
Narrower · firmer-snowWider · powder
Weight
1,685 g
1,585 g
Lighter · playfulHeavier · damp & planted
Tip taper
31 mm
35 mm
Straighter · grippyMore taper · loose
Turn radius
18.1 m
17.8 m
Shorter · quickLonger · stable

Head to head, by character

Each ski's own read, side by side — the same three things that define how it skis.
Turn & shape
A 18.1-meter radius draws medium-to-long turns and holds a line through them; a moderate taper keeps entry manageable without giving up much grip mid-arc.
A 17.8-meter radius draws medium-to-long turns and holds a line through them; a moderate taper keeps entry manageable without giving up much grip mid-arc.
Stability & dampness
Built without metal on a tubelite woodcore, it's lighter and livelier underfoot — easy to release from a turn and quick edge to edge. At 1,685 g it stays light and maneuverable.
Built without metal on a tubelite woodcore, it's lighter and livelier underfoot — easy to release from a turn and quick edge to edge. At 1,585 g it's a genuinely light ski, nimble and easy to move around.
Float & width
At 101 mm it leans toward soft-snow float while keeping enough edge to hold when it firms up. Rocker at tip and tail lets it smear and release easily, while the camber underfoot keeps an edge.
At 101 mm it leans toward soft-snow float while keeping enough edge to hold when it firms up. An asymmetric rocker profile tunes float and grip differently at tip and tail.

Full spec comparison

SpecPlaymaker 101Ripstick 102
Waist 101 mm 101 mm
Sidecut 132·101·122 mm 136·101·116 mm
Weight @ default 1,685 g 1,585 g
Weight range 1,515–1,815 g 1,535–1,795 g
Turn radius 18.1 m full-length 17.8 m full-length
Metal None None
Core Tubelite woodcore Tubelite woodcore
Lengths 164–188 cm 161–189 cm
MSRP $750 $850