2022 Nordica Enforcer 88

For true all-mountain skiing on the advanced and expert levels, it's hard to overlook the Nordica Enforcer 88. We've been blessed with this ski for a few years now, and are stoked it's returning unchanged but for graphics in 2022. Built with Nordica's full wood core and two sheets of metal, the skis also get the Carbon Chassis that stiffens the ski without adding weight. As a result, this is the most torsionally stiff and grippy of the Enforcer skis, all the while retaining the more freeride-oriented roots of the wider Enforcer skis. In the 186 cm length, the skis generate a 17.5-meter turn radius, but in a lot of ways it feels a bit longer than that, mostly due to the rocker profile and taper shape. It's not really hooky or grabby, and while that means it's not the most carveable 88 out there on the hill, it's certainly one of the floatiest and best in crud and chop. We talk a lot about the 88's and their ability to really do it all in a versatile format, and this ski is one of the prime examples of how that works out in the right way.

Bob St.Pierre owns a 186, and while he'd like to try it in a 191 (does not come in said length), the 186 skis true to size and is "really, really fun." He scores the ski 5's out of 5 for stability, torsional stiffness, edge grip, versatility, and overall impression. 4's go to quickness and maneuverability, while 3's are given for flotation and forgiveness. Bob states that "the Enforcer 88 is my go-to, everyday ski for here in Stowe. I love this thing for pretty much any and all conditions and terrain, and while there are better floating skis and better carving skis out there in the world, I do not think there's a ski that does what the Enforcer 88 does in terms of range and versatility at such a high-performance level. I've been on stiffer 88's like the Brahma, or more precise ones like the Kastle MX 88, but there's nothing I've been on that is equal to the performance and well-rounded power as the Enforcer 88. Even when skiing a Stockli Stormrider 88 and this in back to back days, it's impressive how the Nordica stand up to the much more expensive Stockli. Strong and agile are two things that don't often go together in a ski, but these have that in spades. Perhaps a bit too stiff and heavy to be used at slower speeds, these skis do prefer a bit of velocity to get them to sing, and that's not a bad thing."

Noah Labow is more often found on freestyle and freeride skis, so it's great to hear what he has to say about a dual-metal all-mountain ski. He was on the 179 and notes that it skis true to size. He gave top marks of 5's out of 5 for overall impression, versatility, torsional stiffness, edge hold, playfulness, and stability. I like how he has that top mark for playfulness, as it still does have that wider Enforcer pedigree. Noah calls it a "Great every day ski, I really enjoyed the stiff tail and even flex underfoot. I was able to make every turn shape and feel stable and aggressive moving down the mountain. The ski slices and dice is well, The stiff tail is also not for the lazy skier, make sure you’re in the front of your boots." On the 186, Jeffrey Siegel notes that it is the right length for him, as he also owns an Enforcer 93 in a 185. Jeffrey's top scores were 4's out of 5 for overall impression, stability, torsional stiffness, and edge hold, with 3's lining the rest of the scorecard. The Enforcer 88 just rips. I like the core feel of the 88 the best of any of the Enforcers. They’re all powerful skis, but I feel like the 88 has that little extra oomph, that little bit of pop that makes a ski really fun. I think it excels as a frontside carving freeride ski. It’s wide enough to be versatile, but not so wide that it becomes a chore to get over on edge. It doesn’t quite fit my surfier off-piste skiing style, but for those skiers that like to work the ski through a turn no matter where they are, it’s one of the best. Definitely an expert ski."

Great in the bumps and trees, but really outstanding on the groomers and in the crud, the 2022 Nordica Enforcer 88 returns for another season of true all-mountain domination. Thanks to the shape, profile, and construction of these skis, advanced and expert skiers will get all they need to succeed on the hill, from east coast to the west, and from Europe to the Southern Hemisphere, these skis have it all going for them and then some.