2021 Nordica Santa Ana 110 Free

Like the other skis in the Santa Ana line, the 110 Free gets a bit of an upgrade for 2021. With the addition of true tip and terrain-specific metal, the Santa Ana 110 Free enters a new zone of playful freeride floaty fun. If you're looking for a great powder ski that has more versatility than most 110's, stop right here and buy it now. There's just so much to like about the 110, and with the refinements for this year, there's no stopping this thing now. Whereas in previous years, the ski had a balsa wood core and two thin sheets of metal, the 2021 version has a denser wood core with one sheet of metal, and that sheet varies in width based on the shape of the ski. In the narrower Santa Ana skis like the 88, the metal is wider and extends closer to the edges for more on-trail carving power. The wider skis have that metal laminate, but it's narrower and further from the edges, creating a more playful personality. This goes a long way in ensuring the best possible performance in the intended conditions and terrain. As the widest ski in the line, the 110 will have the narrowest metal-ideal for soft snow and ripping around the mountain.

True tip carries forward from some of the men's Enforcer skis from last year. By reducing the amount of wood and sidewall in the tip of the ski, they've lightened the swing weight of the ski, making it more maneuverable and quicker than before. Since this is really located in the turned-up portion of the tip, it doesn't affect the rest of the ski in terms of build, so they're able to put some of that mass back in the main part of the ski to increase stability. This concept works quite well for skiers who want the ski to be smooth underfoot and quick in the extremities.

At 110 mm underfoot, we're looking at some good width here, and you'll be able to stay afloat on some of the deepest snow on the planet. The tip and tail rocker match the width, and the taper is on the moderate side. With the tail rocker blending in with the taper and the turned-up shape, it's an incredibly smooth ski that loves to be bent appropriately in the snow. You can smear and slarve these things, which is something you can't normally do on a wide ski with metal, but the build, shape, and profile all work together harmoniously. Super-smooth and with a flex to match, the Santa Ana 110 Free is a soft-snow specialist with strength and stability for actual all-mountain skiing.

Advanced and expert skiers will glean the best performance out of the refined Santa Ana 110. Quickness and stability don't often go together in skis, but they happen to fit quite well in the 110. It's the type of oxymoronic performance qualities that we like to see in skis like this, as oftentimes they focus on one or the other, but the 2021 Nordica Santa Ana 110 Free is able to achieve both simultaneously. And that's a good thing for us!