2027 Nordica Santa Ana 87

The 2027 Nordica Santa Ana 87 is a carryover ski for this year with the same shape, graphic, and construction as last year. Maintaining the successful traits that have awarded this line the deserved reputation, the overall personality has simply been repeated. Featuring the most metal per ski in the lineup, this 87 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. These are agile and mobile skis that can hold up to firm and variable conditions and terrain.

The Santa Ana 87 is strong, powerful and stable; the approach to construction focused heavily on the use of metal, moderately dense wood, and plenty of durability. Nordica focuses on balancing 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 Colleen Fitzgerald notes that “The ski was responsive, quick, and playful. It did well on the firm snow and ice, keeping speed through variations conditions on the same run. Overall a confident ride and a lot of fun! It did well on a hard pack groomer, icy crud, and feels like it would do well in softer conditions as well.”

Skis in the mid to upper 80’s make a lot of sense in a Vermont all-mountain format. 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 uses a fair amount of tail rocker. 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 finds 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 an 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. Tester Kristin Connors states that “This ski stands out for its blend of stiffness and stability with a surprisingly nimble feel. They turn on a dime and respond precisely to input, even in firmer conditions where some skis feel less compliant. These are a strong frontside all mountain ski. They work well on firm trails and chopped up groomers. I can also see these being fun in a few inches of fresh snow on groomers, and through trees or bumps.”

This ski is all about versatility and precision. The 2027 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. If you want strong edge grip and a solid overall feel, these skis are a fantastic option.