For versatile ladies that like to mix it up on the hill, in bounds or out, these skis are up to the task at hand. The hybrid touring skis of the world have lit the industry on fire, and nowhere is it more apparent than in Nordica’s Santa Ana Unlimited line. For 2024, the Unlimited 93 returns unchanged, bringing with it a light weight, fun-loving yet energetic shape, and a poppy personality that works great both on and off the trails. We talk a lot about skis in the mid-90's as being supremely versatile, and while that is still the case with this ski, the addition of the touring potential takes the ceiling of this ski to the next level. By taking an existing footprint and lightening the load, Nordica has turned a wonderful freeride ski into a touring hybrid that can handle either resort or backcountry, or both, in a given day. It’s all about mixing it up out there, and these skis allow for just that, but at an exceedingly high level.

While the normal Santa Ana 93 is built with a performance wood core with narrower stringers of wood glued together, the Unlimited version uses a macroblock construction, consisting of lighter wood in larger chunks. With larger chunks we get less adhesive and epoxy, so the blend of these techniques creates a lighter weight overall. In addition to that, we’re getting two applications of carbon. The first runs below the wood core and is a full carbon laminate that stiffens the ski and provides tons of energy. On top of the core, Nordica uses carbon stringers along the fiberglass laminate—this adds another layer of pop to the mix, stiffening the ski and providing grip and rebound. In the 165, this ski hits the scale at 1335grams, keeping it well within reason for a touring ski, while keeping the build strong enough to handle some pretty aggressive alpine skiing.

The shape stays identical to the alpine version of the ski, as that’s where these things really made a reputation for themselves. Why bother changing up something that they know so many skiers like and enjoy—the shape is a huge part of what makes a Santa Ana what it is. By having the sidecut extend beyond the rocker, they’re able to mix prime flotation with a long effective edge. This keeps the smoothness of the ski totally intact while boosting the soft snow capabilities at the same time. With a turn radius of 15.5-meters in the 165, this ski is a bit turnier than most touring-specific skis, and that’s just fine with Nordica. For profile, the skis use 50% camber to go along with 30% in the tip and 20% in the tail. That makes the ski floaty, and when the lighter weight and slight taper shape join in on the fun, this 93 is about as versatile as it gets from a soft snow standpoint.

In terms of skier application, this ski is a great choice for anyone who’s looking to get into the touring world but isn’t sure about some of these touring-specific skis. Usually, we see accomplished alpine skiers end up on a ski like the 93 Unlimited because it’s more of a known quantity, giving the skier more confidence both in the purchase as well as on the hill. It’s pretty stiff, so skiers should be at least of the intermediate level to access the top of the performance band. That said, if you’re just an alpine skier looking for a lighter version of a Santa Ana 93, this ski will fit that bill, too, proving its overall versatility in a number of different ways.