2027 Nordica Santa Ana 102

For 2027, the Nordica Santa Ana 102 is a carryover model, featuring the same construction, profile, and graphics as last year. 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. These skis turn very well for their width and will satisfy the desires of carving enthusiasts as well as creative skiers.

Even though it’s a women’s ski, the Santa Ana 102 has a high-performance ceiling. 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. We get the beech/poplar wood blend but 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 except for 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.” That edge hold is a big plus when it comes to variable conditions and terrain.

Even with a strong and sturdy build, the shape makes this ski stand out. 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!” Nice to see that the graphics carry over as they do look quite sharp.

Power and performance are all found right here. The Santa Ana 102 offers skilled skiers a highly 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. With a broad range of sizes, these skis will suit the needs of many advanced and expert skiers.