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First Look: Igneous Raglefant

A striking and elegant design and craftsmanship. 120mm underfoot: buckle up.

By

Peter Vordenberg

The Igneous Raglefant. A Maple topsheet powder ski.

The Igneous Raglefant. A Maple topsheet powder ski.

For your best days. So far, on our first look, we have had sub-best days, and yet the Raglefants have slayed. The past few days have had me tempted by N-facing shots, which harbor great snow and potential catastrophe. Fearing death or worse, shame-inducing scolding, I have turned away. Instead, I have skied breakable crusts of various variable varieties, including wind board and sun crusts of unpredictable thickness, softened crusts (quite good actually), moderately tight, modestly low-angle trees with hidden powder (also quite good), and 4″ of fresh over said crusts. Sometimes in a whiteout. And! And for a few glorious meters—pure deep powder. And damn! These things are more than a pretty face. More to come!

The Igneous Raglefant: behold.
The Igneous Raglefant: behold.

Questions we may ask:

Is versatility the enemy of awesome?

Is awesome the enemy of good?

Is Raglefant ol’ Norse for another pretty face, or are they a Troll hungry for deep snow and raw goat?

Based on what they have devoured so far, will this become a review of snow more than of ski?

Does shape matter, or does everything depend entirely on stoke? 

So far we have seen sheltered pow, sun-softened goodness, and helatious crust.

More on Igneous and the Raglefants as we put them to task.

The Raglefants came mounted for the review with very capable ATK Freeriders. The thermos is not included.
The Raglefants came mounted for the review with very capable ATK Freeriders. The thermos is not included.
The crystals and the maple top sheet. Both are forms of art.
The crystals and the maple top sheet. Both are forms of art.
Perhaps not the best day for snow conditions; however, it was more best than not with the Raglefants.
Perhaps not the best day for snow conditions; however, it was more best than not with the Raglefants.

Raglefant Specs

Test Length: 182cm

Dimensions: 150 120 130

Weight: 2110g with ATK FR15 bindings (427g), 1683g without the binding.

Construction: Poplar body, maple stringers, sidewalls, and top-sheet, 8oz triaxial woven carbon fiber, rubber tape, kevlar.

Base: Race base made in Ohio

Nice touches: Oversized Steel Edges

Advertised as:  Surf, slash, drift; the Raglefants are for your best days.

Magic: Hint of robotic and architectural magic.

Very ample tip rocker.
Very ample tip rocker.
A bit over 1cm of camber underfoot.
A bit over 1cm of camber underfoot.

Response

  1. Slim

    Why oh why don’t more skis have a wood veneer top sheet? I’ve never seen one I really disliked, and most are gorgeous.

    Interesting to have wood sidewalls.

    For looks alone I’d love to have these skis.

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