2026 Nordica Santa Ana 102

The 2026 Nordica Santa Ana 102 gets a graphic refresh but returns otherwise unchanged. This is now year two of the current generation, offering capable and confident skiers a lot to like when it comes to mixing on trail carving and off-trail performance. The 102 is a great place to be with a bit of a soft snow lean, so if you’re more of an adventurous skier who likes to seek out deeper snow and more technical terrain, you’ll love the Santa Ana 102’s shape, profile, and sturdy construction.

Nordica has never been a company to shy away from making strong yet playful skis. Moving in the direction of more power and directional precision, while it's a combination of build and shape, there are a few construction elements at play here. First and foremost, we’re getting some sweet technology applied to the core. While we still get the beech/poplar wood blend, though sourced through a different supplier, the implementation of the Pulse Core layer is where things get exciting. The rubberized polymer material, which is placed directly underfoot, acts as a dampening device, smoothing out chatter and vibrations and ultimately creating a more balanced, consistent feel. Nordica’s tried and true Terrain-Specific metal remains a staple to the build, with full-length metal from tip to tail and full-width metal throughout with the exception of the mid-body and mid-tail. Providing an ideal amount of flex in the torsional stiffness of the ski where there is less metal, this creates better soft-snow performance and suppleness. The stability and degree of power underfoot and in the tip and tail is a result of the additional metal where needed most. Tester Lauren Morton calls it the “best freeride ski so far. Cut through all the chop but nicely held an edge.”

For 2026, we get a similar shape and profile as last year. While power and precision are still very much in the conversation, Nordica wanted to maintain the high-performance nature while inviting a more energetic, lively feel, particularly in the back of the ski. At 102 mm underfoot, this width is ideal for versatile soft snow performance, especially when you factor in the 17.5-meter turn radius in the 167 cm length. This allows for wider arcing turns down the fall line with less punishment if you’re not in full go mode. Given the livelier nature, it does respond better and with greater feedback if you decide to shorten the turn radius. Annie MacDonald calls it “fairly playful for the width. Super stable and so fun in the corn. It would be a great powder ski. Nailed the graphics!”

These are some strong and sturdy skis. While the previous Santa Ana model never made us question its capabilities, the new Santa Ana 102 offers skilled skiers a slightly more balanced, responsive feel with playful performance in soft snow conditions. Without losing any degree of power or strength, those looking for a hard charger with enough width and playfulness for powder days but plenty of grip and versatility for on-piste terrain will love this Santa Ana 102. Not many skis have this blend of energy and strength.