2022 Nordica Enforcer 115 Free

This ski was built to crush big mountains. I could end the intro there. But I won't, because these cool skis deserve more attention and praise. Starting with the construction, these skis are built with Nordica's lighter wood core, but since there's so much of it, and in a thicker amount throughout, these skis still have the power to handle some of the biggest lines on the planet. Two sheets of metal are added to that thick (but light) wood core, creating the stable and damp feeling that is necessary for top speeds in deep snow on steep terrain. Also, Nordica uses their Carbon Chassis to add a bit more strength to the longitudinal stiffness without adding much weight to the setup, and that's all good news for skiers who are looking to max out their GNAR points.

I like how we don't have to refer to a tester's size, as they all come in a burly 191 cm length. Good news for Bob St.Pierre, who uses that size in his Enforcer 100's and notes that "it works really well for the construction and shape of the ski, and while I'm sure it removes some skiers from the possibility of ever owning the Enforcer 115 Free, it's still pretty cool that they do this." The good news is that not far down the line in terms of width, the Enforcer 110 is offered in the shorter sizes. Bob scored the ski 5's out of 5 for flotation, stability, and overall impression. 3's were given for quickness, maneuverability, playfulness, and forgiveness. "This thing is pretty beastly. You do not feel a whole lot of anything under your feet, and that's by design. The sheer amount of material involved in the ski is ample enough to make the ski totally and completely solid at any speed, and I love how the 21.5-meter turn radius is still short enough to have the ski carve an arc. Not all skis in this width can do that, and I appreciate the ski's ability to cut across the fall line if needed." A lot of the wider skis are in the mid-20's in terms of radius, so having the 115 Free on the lower end of the 20's increases the fun-factor and the energy from the ski, which is no small feat given the volume of ski.

Also fortunately for Marcus Shakun, the 191 suits him just fine. He scored the big 115 5 out of 5 for flotation, and 4's for stability, torsional stiffness, and edge hold. He notes that this ski is for "The Big mountain guy who never thinks he has enough ski. Expert resident tough guy!! I think obviously we know what this ski is designed to do. Go fast charge ski big lines with some fun. In soft heavy snow or dry blower pow this is a weapon. Stable as can be at speeds as has to be at speed to really appreciate. So that guy that skis at 60mph plus you have no excuses, crank your DIN to 18 and have fun. Versatility is not it’s game, however it’s a beefier 110 with I really enjoy and can find that playfulness if you hammer down."

Really fun, but for the limited few who can not only ski a 191 with two sheets of metal, but also who ski in places that have wide enough spaces and deep enough snow to warrant the 115 Free. We should all be so lucky to ride in these zones, and as such, it's hard to call this a ski for everyone and everywhere, but rather it's a specific tool for a specific job that has to have it all lined up properly in order to go. When you do, though, there's not much better out there in the world than the Nordica Enforcer 115 Free.