New for 2021, the Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free is a fantastic choice for advanced and expert lady skiers who are ripping all over the mountain with an emphasis on softer snow conditions and rowdier terrain. As the name would imply, the 104-mm waist is in that perfect range for all-mountain skiing but with a softer snow, freeride bent. The interesting thing about the 2021 Santa Anas is the difference from both the men's version as well as the Santa Ana lineup of the past. Whereas before, the skis had a lighter balsa wood core boosted by two full sheets of metal, the 2021 version has a denser wood core and a single metal laminate. But even that titanal layer isn't a full one. Nordica is using their terrain-specific metal technology to fine-tune the flex and playfulness of the ski. The wider the ski in the Santa Ana line, the narrower the metal. This makes the narrower versions, like the 88, stiffer and more responsive on harder snow, while the wider skis like the 110 have less metal and are therefore more surfy and smeary in softer snow. The shape remains largely the same, with long and low tip rocker and similar profile in the tail. It's more rockered than the narrower Santa Ana's, which serves as a nod to the freeride preference. We actually got a really nice day to test these new skis this past year, with about four to six inches falling during the morning-really ideal conditions for the Santa Ana 104 Free.
ROCKER PROFILE
Rocker / Camber / Rocker
CORE MATERIALS
PREFERRED TERRAIN
All Mountain, Powder, Big Mountain
Allison Ruschp skied the 165 and noted that was a pretty good size for her. She's also skied the other skis in the new Santa Ana line, so she's got a pretty fresh perspective on the new builds and how they affect performance, especially in terms of that terrain-specific metal. Alli scored the ski mostly 4's with a 3 for quickness and maneuverability, but an overall impression score of 5 really set the tone for her experience on the Santa Ana 104 Free. We'd hope and expect to see those consistently high scores on a ski like this, and we're not disappointed in the least.
Alli states that "the new build makes a lot of sense in the lady's skis. If you want something stiffer and burlier, you can always get the men's Enforcer skis, but for most girls who are looking for something a bit lighter and easier to use, these new Santa Ana's are a great choice. Conversely, even if a guy wants an Enforcer but without the bulk, he could ski these as well. Overall, I love the changes, and the skis still hold a strong edge and float really well through the fluff. My test day was a good one with some new fresh snow, and I think the skis are an improvement in flotation and smeariness for this year. Still very high-performance, I'd say they're great for advanced and expert skiers, but not quite the dampness of the skis from previous years or other Santa Ana's. I really loved these skis, but it's easy to love skis when you get a powder day."
From start to finish, Alli had a great time on these things, and her notes that the skis have a different performance level, but more appropriate for the demographic is telling of a smart change from Nordica. Whether you're looking for floaty freeride or a fun-seeking all-mountain ski, the Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free is here for you.
