Wildcat 75 review

Overview

The Elan Wildcat 75 is the new entry point of Elan's 2026/27 women's Wildcat line, and it replaces the Elan Element 74 w. The chassis carries over: the same 122-74-103 mm shape, Mono Woodcore with fiberglass, Full Power Cap construction, extruded base and Early Rise Rocker, now under the Wildcat name and graphics. Elan pitches it at women who are discovering skiing or buying their first real pair, promising "reliable edge grip, smooth response, and a forgiving feel". It ships as a system ski with the Shift X plate and the EL 9.0 GW binding (DIN 2.5–9), in six lengths from 140 to 176 cm.

On-snow performance

On paper this is an easy, forgiving piste ski. The Early Rise Rocker puts a moderate amount of rise in the tip, which should make the start of each turn smooth and almost automatic, while camber underfoot keeps enough edge on the snow for a secure feel at moderate speed. The 74 mm waist rolls onto its edge with little effort, and the radius scales with length, from a tight 10.3 m at 140 cm to 13.9 m at 160 cm and 17.1 m at 176 cm, so every size keeps a short to medium turn. The Mono Woodcore and cap construction suggest a soft, damp-enough ride at gentle speeds; pushed hard on icy or steep groomers, a ski like this runs out of grip before a metal-reinforced model does. Soft snow at the side of the piste is fine; real off-piste is not its job.

Construction & specs explained

• Core: Mono Woodcore, lightweight wooden slats in the centre of the ski.
• Reinforcement: fiberglass.
• Construction: Full Power Cap.
• Base: extruded.
• Profile: Early Rise Rocker, moderate tip rocker with camber underfoot.
• System: Shift X plate with the EL 9.0 GW binding, DIN 2.5–9.
• Geometry: 122-74-103 mm in every length.
• Radius: 10.3 / 11.3 / 12.4 / 13.9 / 15.4 / 17.1 m (140 / 146 / 152 / 160 / 168 / 176 cm).
• Weight: Elan does not publish a ski-only weight.

Who it's for & comparisons

The Wildcat 75 is for beginner to early-intermediate women who ski groomers and want a ski that turns easily and builds confidence. If you know the Elan Element 74 w, this is the same ski under a new name. Its stiffer sibling, the Elan Element 74 RS w, keeps the 122-74-103 mm shape but adds a Dual Woodcore and sintered base. One step up in the Wildcat line, the Elan Wildcat 78 C adds carbon, a wider 110 mm tail and the asymmetric Amphibio profile for skiers who already carve. Outside Elan, the Rossignol Nova 8 is a similar 75 mm women's piste ski with a wider 128 mm tip, and the Atomic Cloud q9 is a 75 mm full-camber alternative with a bit more edge bite.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• Early Rise Rocker makes turn entry smooth and forgiving.
• Six lengths from 140 to 176 cm, with the radius scaled to each size.
• Complete Shift X system with the EL 9.0 GW binding in the box.
• Proven chassis carried over from the Element 74 W.

Cons

• Cap construction without metal limits grip on icy or steep pistes.
• The extruded base glides slower than a sintered one on dry snow.
• The system binding rules out touring and other binding choices.
• Progressing skiers may outgrow it within a few seasons.

Verdict: A friendly, forgiving women's piste ski for the first own pair, now under the Wildcat name. Step up to the Element 74 RS w or the Wildcat 78 C once you want more grip and speed.