Elan Primetime 55+ Black Edition — Review

The Elan Primetime 55+ Black Edition is the wider-platform top-tier piste ski in Elan's Primetime line, sharing the high-end Dual Ti and UD Carbon construction of the 55 Black Edition but on a 130/74/111 sidecut instead of the narrower 121/69/102. The "+" suffix marks the wider variant: same elite lay-up, broader stance for cut-up pistes, soft snow at the edges of the run, and skiers who want absolute grip without the surgical narrowness of the 55 BE.

On hard, prepared snow the Primetime 55+ Black Edition delivers the same uncompromising race-derived edge hold that defines the Black Edition family — Dual Ti and UD Carbon over a Dual Density Woodcore make the ski stiff, damp at speed, and razor-clean through the carve. The 74 mm waist trades a fraction of edge-to-edge quickness against the narrower 55 BE for substantially more reserve when the piste gets pushed around in the afternoon, when slush rolls into the edges of a groomer, or when you want to push a longer-radius arc at speed. Radius runs 10.4 m at 151 cm up to 15.3 m at 179 cm, so it still pulls a short turn cleanly — just with a wider footprint underfoot.

The lay-up combines two layers of titanal (Dual Ti) with UD Carbon — unidirectional carbon stringers tuned for torsional stiffness — over the Dual Density Woodcore, all encased in the RST (Racing Sidewall Technology) sidewall. The base is a sintered Race Structured High Speed Gliding base. The ski ships as a system with the Fusion X plate, paired with either an EMX 12.0 GW or Protector 13 GW binding (DIN 3.5–12). Lengths are 151, 158, 165, 172 and 179 cm with identical 130/74/111 geometry. Manufacturer weight per length is not published.

The 55+ Black Edition fits aggressive expert piste skiers who want top-shelf construction with a more versatile waist than the 55 BE. Against the Elan Primetime 55 Black Edition it shares the Dual Ti + UD Carbon lay-up but gives up a measurable amount of edge-to-edge speed on perfect groomers in exchange for more stability across cut-up snow, light off-piste detours and longer arcs. Compared to the Elan Primetime 44+ — same 74 mm waist but Mono Ti instead of Dual Ti + Carbon — the 55+ BE is noticeably stiffer, damper and demands a higher level skier. The Head Supershape e v5 is a comparable 74 mm expert-level frontside option.

Pros

• Top-tier Dual Ti + UD Carbon lay-up: very stiff, very damp, very precise.
• 74 mm waist adds real-world versatility versus the 55 BE without sacrificing the construction.
• Amphibio profile keeps engagement clean on the inside while staying tolerant on the outside.
• Holds long-radius high-speed arcs as confidently as short turns thanks to the carbon stringers.
• Fusion X system delivers a tuned mount and binding interface out of the box.

Cons

• Expert-only stiffness: skiers below advanced level will find it punishing.
• 74 mm is wider than the 55 BE but still a piste platform — not an answer for true off-piste.
• System ski rules out touring and binding swaps.
• Premium price tier; manufacturer per-length weight not published.

Verdict: A top-shelf piste ski for experts who want the Black Edition lay-up on a wider, more versatile platform than the 55 BE — peak precision plus a usable margin when conditions stop being perfect.