Watch out Kendo/Brahma! Heads up Experience 88! Better rip it up Ripstick 88! The all-new 2020 Nordica Enforcer 88 is looking to take you all down. Over the years, the 88 underfoot all-mountain ski has been a versatile performer, and every company has its own version. For 2020, Nordica removed its Navigator 90 and added an Enforcer 88. Built much like the wider versions, the Enforcer 88 has a wood core, two sheets of metal, and carbon stringers. It’s a bit stiffer than the Enforcer 93 thanks to extra carbon, but that’s felt mainly in the tail. The tips are lightened by trimming excess plastic and replacing it with lightweight wood. This increases the playfulness and maneuverability of the ski without sacrificing carving power. The end result is a strong, powerful, precise, and quick ski that excels on the trails, but is versatile enough to be used all over the place. The tip is still very playful and floaty, so it does handle deeper snow than its waist indicates. Our testers pretty much ate it all up.
Josh Wolfgang skied the 179 and found it to be a good length. Josh is pretty tall, so it stands to reason that his high scores for maneuverability, quickness, and playfulness are all really high. His top score was a 5 out of 5 for versatility, and that’s what this ski is really all about. “This is my favorite Enforcer. It’s super-versatile both on-piste and in the woods. I feel like there’s a lot of skis that do everything pretty good but nothing very well, but this ski changed my mind because it really does everything well.” Good stuff, Josh!
Kelby Furrer wished he was on the 179, as his 172 cm tester was a bit short. Nonetheless, scores of 4’s rained down on his test sheet, including stability, edge hold, versatility, and overall impression. These top marks are ideal for that versatile all-mountain ski, and Kelby picks up on it pretty quick. “Despite the short size, I still had so much fun on these. Fantastic all-mountain skis. Felt comfy and stable on everything. For sure an advanced ski, not for beginners or intermediates.” While some larger intermediates may find comfort on these, advanced and expert skiers will surely glean the best performance out of them.
Marcus Shakun loved the 186 length and had a ton of 4’s on his card, with a lone 3 for flotation. “Quick edge to edge. Softer through the ski which makes it forgiving in the woods and bumps. Good on groomers, but a strong skier can probably find its limitations.” While nobody would mistake this for a race ski, it is accurate and true to point out that, like any ski this wide, does have a speed/g-force limit.
Mike Thomas calls the 186 “Nirvana.” The 2020 Nordica Enforcer 88 “just a perfect every-day, all-conditions ski. Powerful, smooth, grippy, and good in bumps.” His overall impression was a 5+, and that’s a good sign.
Benny Wax made some smooth turns on the 179, and like Marcus, was pretty much 4’s down the score card with a 3 for flotation. “Down the mountain we go! Turny and stable. Lively with energy and spunk. They like to turn.”
Mike Aidala was another skier on the 179 who scored a 5 for overall impression. “Ripper! The E88 are such an awesome addition to the Enforcer family. The edge hold and quickness make these skis the perfect all-mountain ski for advanced to expert skiers who spend the majority of their time on the frontside.” Yup, sounds almost like the Nordica catalog!
The all-new 2020 Nordica Enforcer 88 is a smooth addition to the family, and many skiers, like our testers, will welcome it with open arms.
