BIG FAT CARVER
Despite the Olympus’s big but curvy proportions and rockered tip, it can, like all Elan skis, carve a mean turn. When you put it on edge, its deep sidecut and powerful guts (two sheets of metal and a burly wood core) penetrate even the hardest morning snow. The downside? All that sidecut makes it a bit harder to smear or skid the occasional speed-check turn. Then again, you can have fun on this ski weeks after a storm. 140/110/130;
FLOAT: 4
HARD-SNOW PLEASURE: 5