Ace sc9 review

Overview

The Elan Ace sc9 is a narrow, race-derived piste carver for the 2026/27 season. It sits in Elan's ACE line as the 67 mm shape — the slimmer sibling to the wider SC9+, and one consumer tier below the dual-titanal SCX race model. With a 114/67/100 mm sidecut and a long-ish radius that runs from 12.7 m at 149 cm to 16.7 m at 179 cm, it reads as a giant-slalom-flavoured frontside ski for strong, technical skiers who want to carve fast, drawn-out arcs on firm snow. (OutdoorXL lists the same ski as "SC9 S".)

On-snow performance

On paper this is a grip-first carver. The full Camber Profile keeps the edge in contact tip-to-tail, which the construction points to as strong hold and lively rebound out of each turn — the kind of ski that wants to be pressured and driven rather than steered. The narrow 67 mm waist should move quickly from edge to edge on hardpack, while the longer radius suggests a preference for medium-to-long, GS-shaped turns and stability at speed over short, flicky slalom pivots. The single Mono Ti titanal layer plus the Active Suspension Drive damping should keep the shovel calm and settled when the pace climbs, so expect a composed, precise feel rather than a forgiving or playful one. This is a demanding shape that rewards an assertive, technically sound skier.

Construction & specs explained

Underneath sits a Race Frame Woodcore topped with a single Mono Ti titanal layer — the detail that places it one rung below the dual-titanal SCX. RST (Racing) Sidewall Technology drives power straight to the edge for cleaner grip, and Active Suspension Drive (Elan's Carving 2.0 system of integrated shock absorbers) with a TractionTip is designed to absorb chatter and steady the tip through the turn. A race-structured sintered base points to a fast, wax-holding glide. The ski ships with the ELX 11.0 GW Shift binding, so it arrives as a complete, mounted system. Six lengths — 149, 155, 161, 167, 173 and 179 cm — cover a wide range of body sizes while the 114/67/100 geometry stays constant across all of them.

Who it's for & comparisons

This is a ski for confident piste skiers who like longer, faster arcs. If you want the same shape with more metal and more damping, the step up is the Elan Ace scx, which adds a second titanal layer for a firmer, more race-focused ride. Shoppers cross-comparing brands should look at the Head Supershape e speed and the Atomic Redster s9i; both are roughly 68 mm frontside race-carvers, but they lean more slalom, so their turn shape is tighter and snappier than the SC9's GS-flavoured radius. Pick the SC9 if you value long-turn stability; pick the slalom pair if you crave short, quick edge changes.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• Full camber and a narrow 67 mm waist point to strong edge grip and quick edge-to-edge on firm snow.
• Long-ish 12.7-16.7 m radius suits stable, GS-flavoured medium-to-long turns.
• Mono Ti layer plus Active Suspension Drive should keep it composed and damp at speed.
• Ships as a complete system with the ELX 11.0 GW Shift binding.
• Six lengths from 149 to 179 cm make it easy to size.

Cons

• Demanding, grip-first character asks for an assertive, technically sound skier.
• The 67 mm waist and firm-snow focus leave it out of its depth in soft snow or powder.
• Longer radius is less lively than a true slalom ski for short, quick turns.
• System binding limits mounting flexibility.
• Sits one tier below the dual-titanal SCX for outright race-level power.

Verdict The Elan Ace sc9 is a focused, GS-flavoured piste carver for strong skiers who want fast, drawn-out arcs on hard snow. Choose it as a slightly more accessible alternative to the dual-titanal SCX — provided you have the technique to drive it.