Nordica is renowned at the FREESKIER Ski Test for its stable, high-performance planks that dominate every bit of terrain. Now, for the 2020-21 winter season, its women’s-specific Santa Ana series is completely redesigned, upping the ante for all-mountain, big-mountain and powder-focused performance.
In every ski featured below all-new Terrain Specific Metal is incorporated—ample sheets of Titanal are found inside narrower, piste-driven skis while wider skis have less of the stiff, heavy stuff—instilling a fine-tuned ride for every type of terrain. Nordica has also removed bulky ABS plastic and extended the wood core through the tips and tails each ski in the Santa Ana lineup, effectively reducing chatter providing more control of the ride.
Below, we’ve compiled reviews from the FREESKIER Buyer’s Guide and a video that dives even deeper into the performance of the Santa Ana skis. Featuring commentary from FREESKIER ski testers, expert insights and more details about the completely redesigned lineup, this post has everything you need to know about Nordica’s Santa Ana skis.
Nordica Santa Ana 88
Nordica’s best-selling women’s ski is back for winter 2020-21 and completely redesigned to make the skiing experience on groomers and hardpack better than ever. The skinniest ski in the Santa Ana lineup, its 88-millimeter waist width is now complemented by a sheet of terrain-specific metal, a layer of carbon fiber and an extended wood core that smooths out the ride and enhances edge control when you’re out there laying trenches. This ski is built for on-piste, high speed performance without the chatter.
Nordica Santa Ana 93
The Santa Ana 93 is Nordica’s solution to dynamic all-mountain performance. Here, a wood core is paired with a layer of carbon and a sheet of Terrain Specific Metal to help this ski achieve optimal gas pedal performance on manicured slopes. The tight turn radius is fine-tuned to hang out on edge—a 50-percent camber underfoot adds to this racecar-like feeling—putting you in the driver’s seat. Read more about the Nordica Santa Ana 93, one of the best women’s skis of the season, in our Deep Dive.
Nordica Santa Ana 98
With a fresh redesign this year, the Santa Anna 98 pairs a wood core with carbon and a milled sheet of metal, which delivers a versatile mix of high speed stability and all-mountain performance. Our testers felt encouraged to push the limit on this ski, knowing that Nordica’s bombproof build and new Terrain Specific Metal construction would return the favor. If you’re looking for a wider carving ski that’ll reward your downhill efforts with a sturdy edge-to-edge ride, the Santa Ana 98 should be your go-to this season.
Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free
The Santa Ana 104 Free is all-new to the Nordica lineup this year and should be considered a daily driver for pedal-to-the-metal skiing. This performance-focused ski blends a wood core with a layer of carbon and a sheet of Terrain Specific Metal boosting the ski’s rigidity for a confident ride. Early rise in the tip and tail, and a significant rocker profile loosen the ski up a bit and give it a surfy feel that’s easy to steer.
Nordica Santa Ana 110 Free
This all-new model—now the widest ski in the Santa Ana Free lineup—is a powder-hound built for big mountains, big speed and big fun. The construction features a wood core to keep the ski light and playful, and is paired with carbon and a full sheet of metal, which narrows underfoot to add forgiveness and a freestyle feel. Tapered tip and tail shaping provides nimble-in-the-trees and float-like-a-bee performance. For western skiers—think Colorado, Utah, Montana—the latest addition to the Santa Ana collection is an ideal choice for all-terrain gratification.
