The Santa Ana series was a huge hit with our testers last year, then Nordica redesigned the series with two sheets of Titanal and the test team nearly fainted with delight. Between the Titanal, Nordica utilizes a combination of poplar, balsa and beech wood for top-notch pop, weight savings and stiffness. A layer of prepreg carbon fiber also boosts this ski’s rigidity without bogging ‘er down. The result is a ski that can carve, jump and maneuver like a champion. “This ski makes you feel like a rockstar! The extra added sheet of metal in this year’s model stiffens the ski up just a bit, but it still holds true to a playful ski,” noted one thrilled tester. Another raved about its combo of stability and play, saying, “The metal doesn’t make it too heavy or stiff; it’s solid, but also playful.”