By Mason Turner
Elan Lynx 65 ul
Quick overview
The Lynx 65 UL is an ultralight skimo ski built for speed and efficiency during racing and fast uphill tours. It emphasizes minimal weight and precise handling, pairing an early-rise tip rocker with a narrow 65 mm waist and a sintered running base. Construction uses an AirLite laminated woodcore with carbon and fiberglass reinforcements, plus a dedicated mounting plate and vapor inserts for secure binding attachment. Offered in 150 and 160 cm, and boasting very low grams-per-ski figures, this ski suits riders who value every gram while still wanting controllable performance on descents.
Climbing and uphill performance
On the climb the Lynx 65 UL really shines: its extremely low weight — roughly 670 g per ski for 150 cm and 690 g for 160 cm, with a tolerance of ±30–50 g — means less fatigue on long ascents and quicker kick turns. The narrow 65 mm waist and 94/80 tip-tail profile make the ski very efficient edge-to-edge and quick to center underfoot which helps on skintrack and steep, technical pitches. The early-rise tip eases turn initiation and helps the nose ride up on softer or uneven snow, improving comfort and efficiency.
Downhill and stability
On the descent this ski delivers more stability than its weight would suggest, thanks to carbon reinforcement and an EST touring sidewall that add torsional stiffness without big mass penalties. The sintered base glides well during flats and transitions. A turn radius of about 22–23 meters indicates a tendency toward longer, sweeping turns rather than short, rapid slalom-style turns. The 65 mm waist won’t provide much float in deep snow, so this is not a powder-focused shape; it’s optimized for firm, variable conditions typical in skimo racing and alpine touring.
Key specs and what they mean
Key specs and what they mean: the 94-65-80 (tip-waist-tail) dimensions affect how quickly the ski initiates turns and how much edge hold it provides; a narrower waist improves uphill efficiency but reduces flotation in soft snow. Early-rise rocker (tip) improves turn initiation and reduces hook-ups on mixed or variable snow. The AirLite laminated woodcore with carbon and fibreglass delivers a very low weight while retaining needed stiffness. The sintered base improves glide; the CYA/titanal mounting plate and vapor inserts ensure secure binding mounting. The listed turn radius (22–23 m) describes the ski’s natural turning arc.
Who should buy and comparisons
Who should buy the Lynx 65 UL and how does it compare? This ski is aimed at skimo racers, lightweight alpinists and fast tourers prioritizing uphill speed with competent descent behavior. It stacks up well against other ultralight touring and race skis by offering a rare balance of low mass and structural reinforcement. Downsides are obvious: limited flotation in deep powder and reduced stability for aggressive, high-speed resort carving. If you want, I can look up recommended tech bindings and discuss DIN or mounting-compatibility to match your setup.
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