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Reviewers' score
17.2
BEST SKI

BEST SKI

Elan Wingman 86 CTI review 2020

BEST SKI
Best ski 2020

PROSKILAB™ reviewers' comments

The Wingman 86 CTI proposed by Elan had made a strong impression during pre-selection in January 2019. We included it in the Proskilab review, considering that the ski was perfectly suited to our specifications for this category. We were looking forward to having it tested by a team of professionals in a comparative situation with other market leaders.

The result did not disappoint us and the ski (a first in this category for Elan) gets a well-deserved "Best Ski" award.

The Wingman 86 CTI is above all an incredibly easy ski: you immediately feel good on it and your first turns are performed confidently. No need for instructions: the ski has remarkably docile and intuitive behaviour. It is "a ski for everyone", "that lets the skier choose", for which you don't need to deploy any big techniques.

The behaviour on the piste is simply excellent. The ski is very solid on its supports, agile, with a very good boost at the end of turns. The ski brings gives a lot of sensations and you don't get bored.

Off-piste, the ski shines with its ease. Despite its 86 mm waist, its buoyancy is correct in powder. Transitioning to choppy snow is very good and the ski does not allow itself to be deformed in lumps of compacted snow.

Capable of cut and skid handling, small and large turns with fluidity, the Wingman 86 CTI is comfortable on all terrains and demonstrates great versatility.

No doubt this ski is destined for a long career like the Kendos, Kore 93s, and other celebrity models of this market segment.

The Wingman 86 CTI is therefore a success. A "do-it-all ski", intuitive, easy and playful, comfortable in all circumstances that we highly recommend to intermediate skiers up to excellent skiers.

Note that Elan offers two versions of the Wingman 86: a "CTi" (green) version reviewed here and a "Ti" (orange) version, less rigid, not reviewed. Both have a Titanal plate, justifying the "Ti", but the "CTi" version also has two longitudinal carbon reinforcing rods.

Review: Pros

  • General performance
  • Accessibility
  • Lively and agile ski
  • Sound and intuitive behaviour
  • Great versatility
  • At ease on all terrains
  • Pleasant and fun
  • Evolutive ski, able to accompany the skier in their technical progress

Review: Cons

  • Slightly poor performance compared to more rigid models like the Kendo 88.

The ski review scores

Turn initiation
☆☆☆☆☆
18.5
Stability
☆☆☆☆☆
17.0
Stability/turning performance
☆☆☆☆☆
17.0
Grip
☆☆☆☆☆
16.5
Short turn performance
☆☆☆☆☆
16.5
Long turn performance
☆☆☆☆☆
18.0
Skid turn performance
☆☆☆☆☆
17.5
Handleability
☆☆☆☆☆
18.0
Comfort
☆☆☆☆☆
18.5
Snow contact
☆☆☆☆☆
17.5
Soft snow fluidity
☆☆☆☆☆
17.0
Freeride - Flotation quality
☆☆☆☆☆
17.5
Handling in powder
☆☆☆☆☆
17.5
Performance on hard snow
☆☆☆☆☆
15.5
Freeride - Performance on hard snow
☆☆☆☆☆
16.0
All-terrain comfort
☆☆☆☆☆
17.5

Who's it for?

Intermediate → Expert

Manufacturer's remarks

The largest ski in the Wingman range, the Wingman 86 CTi is intended to be the closest to the Ripstick range. Wide enough to venture off-piste, but with enough character to dominate groomed pistes in the early morning and perform on bumps in the late afternoon.

Features of the Wingman 86 CTI

Brand : Elan
Model : Wingman 86 CTI
Year : 2020
Family : All-Mountain
Size tested : 178 cm
Tip size : 130 mm
Waist size : 86 mm
Tail size : 115 mm
Radius for the size reviewed : 16 m

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Reviewed by PROSKILAB™

in La Clusaz, France, March 2019