Advent raffle | Glen Plake Elan Ripstick skis and more in Slovenia

For those of you who were born after the turn of the millennium and have not yet travelled so far into the past in freeride/freeski history that you have reached the beginnings of extreme skiing, we would like to take a brief look into the past.

Just to give you a brief historical context: The year is 1988 and there is still a big wall between West and East Germany, Switzerland has surprisingly granted wives the freedom to choose their own profession, Steffi Graf has won all four Grand Slams and the Olympic tournament for the first time and we are still as far away from wide freeride skis as we are from smartphones. This year saw the release of the legendary ski film Blizzard of Aahhh's by Greg Stump. It wasn't his first ski film, but with The Good, The Rad & The Gnarly (1987) it was certainly one of the films that heralded a new era in ski films.

Some also call it the best ski film ever made. It was at this time that 24-year-old Glen Plake appeared on the scene of extreme skiing, as freeriding was still called at the time. An unsuccessful ski racing career was the springboard to an extremely successful mogul skiing career and an even more successful freeskiing career. The following almost four decades made him famous as the ski punk with a mohawk haircut in powder and as a pioneer of extreme skiing.

It is fair to say that he is one of the most famous ski celebrities, even though, or perhaps precisely because, he never cared what others thought of him, but did his own thing. All with a pervasive joy and youthful energy that is unrivalled - as is his characteristic laugh, which can be heard for miles around. Not for nothing was he voted one of the most exciting sportsmen of our time.

Back to the actual reason for this article: You can win a pair of these skis here - in the length and width of your choice, as the Ripstick for men is available in centre widths of 88, 96, 102 and 108 mm and in 96 and 102 mm widths in the special Black Edition and in five different lengths for each width. For women, the Ripstick is available in widths of 88, 94, 100 and 106 mm and the 94 is also available in the Black Edition and also in four or five different lengths for each width.

To extend the whole thing a little further: The Ripstick ski is also available as a ski touring version! The Ripstick Tour is available for men again in three centre widths 88, 94 and 104 mm. In four, five and six different lengths respectively. For women, the Ripstick Tour is available in the centre widths 88 and 94 and in five and four lengths respectively. Take a look at the following video to find out more about the Ripstick Tour and especially about Glen! It's really worth watching and at the latest Glen's laugh will put a smile on your face!

Anyone who has done the maths knows better than we do! That makes a total of around 80 different versions. So that the winner isn't spoilt for choice, they have to choose from almost 55 different versions of the usual Riptstick - we can definitely understand if that's too complex for you and you don't want to take part in the raffle!

Oh, and by the way, the prize also includes a tour of the hallowed halls of the Elan ski factory in Bergunje and Glen's favourite spot among all the wooden cores - maybe you'll get to sit on his chair! And to put the Santa Claus hat on the whole thing: freeriding in the Vogel ski resort with a 2-day ski pass or ski tours in the Julian Alps with a local Elan guide are also included. And two nights' accommodation in a hotel or igloo - but that's it, there's no more!

Raffle | A pair of Glen Plake Elan Ripstick skis and much more in Slovenia

Your once again almost unique chance on PowderGuide.com - this time to win a pair of the new Glen Plake Elan Ripstick skis! What makes the whole thing really unique is the visit to the ski factory of your new pair of skis in the Elan ski factory in Bergunje and of course the two days to have a look around the Slovenian mountains! You'll either get a 2-day ski pass for freeriding in the Vogel ski resort or a guide to explore the nearby Julian Alps on a ski tour. Need we mention that accommodation is also included?

The only catch is that you have to give plenty of notice and plan ahead, organise your own travel and it has to take place towards the end of February 2025 so that there's enough time to organise everything beforehand! And Glen would like you to subscribe to elanskis@Instagram as a follower.

To take part in the raffle, you can comment below this article on when and where you first heard about the mohawk- haircut-wearing skipunk Glen Plake or where you put up your first Glen Plake poster and what haircut you had back then! We'd love to hear your stories!

The closing date for entries is New Year's Eve, i.e. 1 January 2025, 11:59 pm, because that's when a New Year's winner will start the New Year overjoyed! The time of the comment counts. You can also comment on the social media post that will appear at some point (PowderGuide@Instagram / PowderGuide@Facebook) on our channels.

The winners will be chosen at random from all participants and then published in a comment under this article.

Transport to Slovenia must be organised by the winner!

Legal recourse is excluded!