Wingman 80 ti review

Overview

For 2026/27 Elan refreshed the Wingman line and reissued the metal-laminate carver under a new model number: the Elan Wingman 80 ti. The chassis is mechanically identical to the prior model — sold in some markets and retailer catalogs as the Elan Wingman 78 ti, the chassis is identical — but the new graphics and the slightly wider quoted waist (the 174 cm length measures a true 80 mm in the middle) give Elan a cleaner story for shop walls in the 80-class carver category. The package still ships as a complete system, so what you put under your boot is the full Wingman 80 ti + Shift X + binding stack, not a flat ski you choose hardware for later.

On-snow performance

What the 80 ti does well is hold a long, quiet line on prepared snow. The mono-titanal sheet between the topsheet and the Power Woodcore is what gives the ski its on-edge calm — once it is committed in the apex of a turn, the chatter never really arrives. Short turns at the 152 or 160 lengths feel almost reflexive thanks to the 10.8 / 12.4 m radius, while the 168 and 174 ask for more commitment but reward it with a steadier, longer-radius turn shape. The asymmetric Amphibio rocker layout — cambered on the inside edge of the pair, rockered on the outside — makes the entry to a carved turn quicker than a fully cambered race build of the same dimensions and keeps the exit from feeling locked.

Construction & specs explained

Underneath the topsheet the 80 ti runs a Power Woodcore reinforced by a single mono-Ti laminate, with SST (Slanted Sidewall Technology) sidewalls that drop the ABS material at an angle to put more of the core directly over the edge. The base is a sintered high-speed material. Because the Amphibio profile dedicates a rocker to the outside edge of each ski, the pair is not interchangeable left-to-right and the sidecut numbers (126-127 mm tip, 78-80 mm waist, 110 mm tail across the four lengths) describe the inside-edge sidecut more than a symmetric build would. The Shift X system binding plate ships in the box and is the reason the touring score is the floor value — this is not a chassis you reconfigure for a tour binding.

Who it is for & comparisons

Strong intermediates and advanced skiers who want a 2026 catalog-current carver in the 78-80 mm bracket with metal in it. Against the Volkl Peregrine 80 the Elan feels a touch livelier into short turns thanks to the shorter radii at the smaller lengths, while the Volkl carries a longer, steadier line at speed. Compared to the Stockli Montero as the Wingman is more single-mindedly piste-focused — the Montero opens up more off-piste detours — but the Elan returns more pop edge-to-edge on hard snow. Against the Rossignol Forza 70 ti the 80 ti gives up some race-bias for a wider, more all-day-comfortable turn shape.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• Quiet, locked-in carving feel from the mono-Ti laminate.
• Reactive short turns at 152 and 160 cm thanks to the 10.8-12.4 m radius.
• Amphibio asymmetry smooths turn initiation and release vs a fully cambered build.
• SST sidewall puts material directly over the edge for clean power transfer.
• 2026 catalog-current naming that matches what shops are stocking now.

Cons

• Touring is a non-starter — Shift X plate is part of the package.
• 174 cm top length leaves heavier or taller carvers wanting more reach.
• Off-piste use is limited to short detours, not full afternoons.
• Asymmetric pair construction means left and right are not interchangeable.

Verdict: The Wingman 80 ti is the cleanly-named 2026 evolution of Elan's mono-Ti frontside carver. If you want a 78-80 mm metal carver with calm hold on hard snow and reactive short turns at the shorter sizes, this is the current name on the topsheet for that chassis.