2026 Nordica Santa Ana 87

While we get a new graphic for 2026, the Nordica Santa Ana 87 returns otherwise unchanged. Maintaining the successful traits that have awarded this line the deserved reputation, the overall personality has simply been refined. Featuring the most metal per ski in the lineup, this ski shines on firm snow, with quick feedback and strong edge grip, designed to carve with energy and precision. The versatile shape and sturdy build work harmoniously together, making this ski a top contender for a narrow all-mountain ski for advanced skiers. We get a lot of energy, grip, and pop out of these well-rounded skis.

Nordica does a great job adding sturdiness and energy to the mix. Strong, powerful and stable, the approach to construction focused heavily on the use of metal, moderately dense wood, and plenty of durability. With this generation's rendition, Nordica focuses on balancing out the burliness with some dampening qualities, rounding out the characteristics a bit. The Pulse Core layer features a rubberized polymer material which is placed directly underfoot and acts as a dampening mechanism. Absorbing unwanted vibrations and shock from variable terrain conditions, it doesn’t add much weight and compliments the beech/poplar wood blend nicely. Terrain specific metal is once again the staple of the Santa Ana construction, with full-length metal from tip to tail and full-width metal everywhere except the mid-body and mid-tail. As the second narrowest in the lineup, the Santa Ana 87 features significantly more metal than the wider options, making it the most fit for groomer performance. Tester Meghan Bentley calls it “fun and forgiving. Good for heavy snow or slush—it's super-versatile.”

Here in Vermont, there’s a lot of use for a shape like this. Where the Santa Ana 87 differs from carving specific skis is the versatility, and the shape has a lot to do with that. To provide a wider range of capabilities, plus additional energy from the back of the ski, Nordica decided to slightly increase the tail rocker and tail splay. While this didn’t necessarily change the level of precision, it greatly enhanced responsiveness and amount of maneuverability. Easier to release in tight terrain yet highly capable in an arced turn, Nordica really found an ideal balance for this ski. Generating a 16-meter turn radius in the 161 cm length, for a carving ski, this is wider than some, making it great for arcing strong, open turns down the fall line as well as quick, energetic turns. The 87 mm waist width is bookended by a 118 mm tip width and 106 mm tail width, which gives the ski a directional feel while also providing enough surface area for off-piste versatility. The agility helps in bumps, trees, and other technical zones.

Mixing terrain and snow conditions are what this ski is all about. The 2026 Santa Ana 87 makes a strong argument for a narrow all-mountain ski, combining precise edge grip with energetic maneuverability to provide a mix of capabilities. Easy to release from edge to edge but eager to rail a turn, this carving machine has no problem transitioning between different terrain. Strong intermediates to advanced skiers who want quick feedback and plenty of power will love what this ski can do all over the mountain. It has a higher level than you may expect, so it’s okay to size down if you’re caught in the middle.