Elan Element 78 Ti w RS — Review

The Elan Element 78 Ti w RS is the titanal women's top of the Element line — same 75-78 mm geometry as the Element 78 w but built on a stiffer, calmer dual woodcore chassis with a Mono Ti (single titanium) layer, EST sidewall and a sintered High Speed Gliding base. With Elan's Early Rise Rocker, the same length spread (144-176 cm) and the integrated Shift X plate paired with an EL 9.0 GW SHIFT binding (DIN 2.5-9), it remains a system ski but moves clearly into a confident-intermediate-to-advanced women's piste category.

On groomed snow the Element 78 Ti w RS gives the cleanest edge bite in the women's Element line. The Mono Ti layer plus dual woodcore quiets the ski at higher speeds and resists wash-out when the edge is loaded — exactly what a confident intermediate or advancing skier wants when she leans into a turn. The Early Rise Rocker keeps initiation friendly, so it does not become a pure plate carver: it engages predictably, holds through the arc and releases cleanly. Off-piste it picks up where the Element 78 w stops: heavier, more stable through mid-day chop and crud, though still on a 78 mm waist, so it remains piste-first. The sintered base glides well in dry, cold snow.

The 78 Ti w RS is built around a Dual Woodcore with a Mono Ti titanal layer for damping and torsional rigidity — the construction step that separates it from the standard Element 78 w. Sidewall is EST (Extended Sidewall Technology), placing a sidewall under the binding zone for direct edge drive and capping the tip and tail. The base is sintered High Speed Gliding, which holds wax longer and runs faster than the extruded base on the non-Ti siblings. Geometry steps up across the lengths: 125-75-102 mm at 144 cm, 126-76-103 mm in the middle, and 127-78-104 mm at 168 and 176 cm. Sidecut radii run from 10.6 m at 144 cm to 16.9 m at 176 cm. Profile is Early Rise Rocker with camber underfoot.

This is the ski for a confident intermediate or advancing women's piste skier who wants more chassis than the standard Element 78 w delivers without jumping into the premium Primetime women's line. Against the Elan Element 78 w the Ti w RS is calmer, sharper and noticeably more authoritative at higher speeds. Compared to the Elan Primetime n3 w — a narrower, stiffer premium frontside option — the 78 Ti w RS gives up some piste precision but offers a wider, more snow-tolerant platform. Skiers leaning fully into a sportier women's tier should also consider the Elan Wildcat 83 ti, which trades the Element's accessibility for a more all-mountain-oriented chassis.

Pros

• Titanal layer adds real damping and edge hold for higher speeds.
• Dual woodcore plus sintered base for sharper, faster groomer feel.
• Wider 75-78 mm waist gives useful float in soft and mixed snow.
• System ski: Shift X plate and EL 9.0 GW SHIFT binding included.

Cons

• Heavier and less forgiving than the standard Element 78 w; not a beginner ski.
• Single Ti layer still falls short of premium two-layer chassis on icy steeps.
• Not built for off-piste lines beyond the edge of the run.
• Tight DIN 2.5-9 binding window limits stronger or heavier skiers.

Verdict: The strongest piste pick in the women's Element line and a sensible step before jumping into a premium chassis. For someone who already drives a turn confidently and wants damping without losing the Element's friendly initiation.