2021 Nordica Santa Ana 98

There are some changes this year with the Santa Ana line, and we're pretty big fans. While the previous version of the skis measured 100 mm underfoot, they get a little slimmer, with 2 mm taken out of the middle. At 98, there's not a huge difference in terms of the overall performance, but hey, every bit counts. The build is where the bigger changes take place. Whereas in previous years, the Santa Ana had a balsa wood core and two sheets of metal, the 2021 skis have a denser wood core with one sheet of metal. Additionally, they do a nice job at making the metal more specific to the terrain and snow conditions that the skis are meant to be used on. The narrower Santa Ana skis have a wider metal laminate while the wider skis have a narrower metal layer. This makes the ski more appropriate for its intended application.

As the one in the middle, the 98 tries to hit all of the right notes in terms of how the ski is built and shaped, with the intention being true all-mountain skiing with ultimate versatility. Additional changes consist of the implementation of true tip technology. By replacing the full sidewall with a more streamlined tip with carbon, the skis get a lighter swing weight and increased maneuverability. These differences are certainly palpable, making the ski more of a traditional women's ski. If you're looking for the older builds, you can still get the men's Enforcer skis of the similar width, and that should satisfy the most aggressive of lady skiers out there.

In the powder, these skis have a decent amount of width and rocker to really make a nice and floaty personality, and this is where I think the new build makes the most sense, is in softer snow. the previous Santa Ana 100 was a good soft-snow ski for sure, but the new build adds to the smeariness and playfulness. That does take a bit of performance away from the front-side aspect of the ski in terms of overall heft and edge grip, but the quickness and maneuverability of the ski is certainly superior to its predecessor. Same goes for bumps and trees. With a bit narrower of a waist, the skis can swivel and slither through some tight bumps and woods to be sure. I think Nordica did a good job here, also separating the 98 a bit further from the wider 104 in the line. This allows skiers a bit more of a gap to decide what ski to be on. For most skiers who don't spend the majority of their time in fresh snow, I think the 98 makes a lot of sense. If you're going to get only one pair of skis, it's hard to argue against these.

For advanced and expert skiers looking for the ultimate in high-performance versatility, you definitely need to check out these updated and refined Santa Ana 98's from Nordica. They have the hard and soft-snow capabilities to get you where you need to go. They are stable and damp thanks to the denser wood, but lighter and more playful with the true tip and the terrain-specific metal. Overall, a great change for an already wonderful all-mountain ski.