Speed Wave 14

[Quiver Queen]

Keeping in mind I tend to only try out high-end skis and am in the market for a fast carver to replace my getting-older-and-fairly-heavy Volkl (Unisex) 5-Stars, I tried the Elan Speed Wave 14's today, Elan's offering to the fast hard-pack crowd:

Mfr'f & Yr Elan '06-'07
Model Speed Wave 14
Uni/Women Unisex
Analog to: N/A
Length 152
Dimensions 116-69-105
Radius 10.6
Market Carving/Technical

1=Poor-->5=Best:
Clean Carve 4 *
Soft Edge 3
Straight Run 4
Stability 4
Rebound 4.5
Quickness 4.5
Lightness 4
Forgiveness 3.5

Short turns 3
Medium turns 4
Long turns 4

10-20-Race: 20-Race
"Rails" 3.5
Crud 5
Powder
Ice
Bumps 4

Overall 3.5

1 - 2 Words OK

Notes: Want to try on hardest pack
Actual radius > stated
*C. C. only when very precise edge angle
Tended to stutter when "wrong" edge angle




Would buy it? No, I think there's something better for me out there.

 

[volklgirl]

Hey QQ,

Give the Nordica Olympia Speed or the men's Speedmachine out. I never ski on women's skis and have graduated from the 5 Star to the 6 Star, but I just loved the Speed. For a chick ski, it was surprisingly beefy and made any size turns with mucho power and snap. It was the only carving ski I tried on my demo day that I would consider buying (I was super disappointed in the Allstar :( !).

 

[Quiver Queen]

Thanks for the suggestios. Did you try the Volkl Race Tiger RC or Attiva Fuego?

 

[volklgirl]

The RC would be too much overlap in my quiver, but I adore the full-blown racestock Racetiger GS. I had limited options since I demoed way early this season....the only women's skis I demoed were the Attiva AC2 and the Olympia Speed.