2021 NORDICA ENFORCER 94 SKI REVIEW
Skiers are a curious group. We love to know every little thing about our gear, and for the most part, skis get top billing. It seems like there is an infinite amount of ways to build a ski, and why we’ve settled on the current and modern shapes, profiles, and technologies, I couldn’t tell you. What we have learned, is that some skis find a following for one reason or another, and the company builds off of that success. The 2021 Nordica Enforcer 94 is a prime example of how a very well respected and endeared ski just up and improved itself. It could have been left well enough alone with the Enforcer 93—an all-mountain weapon with versatility and horsepower to spare, but Nordica chose to make an alteration, and in our time on the ski, it’s hard to argue with the results.
We’ve talked about it in the past regarding Nordica, but it’s remarkable how they’ve developed the Enforcer line into a brand within a brand. Not counting kids or ladies’ skis, the men’s Enforcer line has 6 different models, and now more than ever, Nordica has made some strong distinctions among the group. The 94 is the second narrowest and has been the subject of a greater change than the other models in the lineup. It’s the most different from the previous ski, and most of it starts with the build. Borrowing from the Enforcer 88 and the Enforcer 104 Free from last season, the 94 keeps the full wood core and the two full sheets of metal and adds the carbon chassis. By integrating carbon strips into the fiberglass laminate, the ski gets stiffer while weighing less. This weight loss is a theme moving forward in the ski, with the integration of Nordica’s True Tip Technology. Swing weight is a big thing in skis, and this is Nordica’s offensive weapon against stodgy tips. By replacing the ABS sidewall material that used to circumnavigate the entirety of the ski with an extension of the thinner wood core at the tips, Nordica has made the ski lighter feeling and more playful without sacrificing the rock-solid stability of the ski as a whole. For Nordica, this is a theme moving forward, as the Enforcers 88, 94, and 100 now all share the same construction recipe.
New length options are another big change for the Enforcer 94, now offered in a 165,172, 179, 186, and a 191. This tighter gap makes the ski more specific to the skier size and style. The sidecut, radius, and rocker profile all change per length, as does the core thickness. As a result, the new Enforcer 94 will appeal to more skiers as the build is seemingly customized to the pilot. Lighter skiers will not feel overpowered by the appropriate length for their height and larger skiers will enjoy a deeper rocker profile in those longer lengths. It’s this type of innovation that keeps Nordica and its Enforcer line at the top of the game. So all that said, do these changes actually change the performance and the behavior of the ski? Do we have to compare it to the 93 or should we treat it as its own new thing? Most importantly, is it the right ski for you? Yes, maybe, and probably are the short answers.
First, I felt everything that Nordica talked about in terms of the shape changes, the build modifications, and the length-specific performance. Maybe it’s mental and the 94 just seems wider than the 93, but it did feel like there was more surface area underfoot. I got to ski the Enforcer 94 on a 4-6 inch powder day that ranged from untracked trees to an icy subsurface under the chopped up powder. Pretty good testing conditions for a ski like this. Even though I’d like to give the 191 a whirl, my 186 tester was pretty close. Tip engagement was effortless, as there’s really something to be said for the True Tip Tech. Nordica says it all the time, but the shape of the ski extends beyond the sidecut, and you can feel it from the shovel to the tail. The skis make clean, round turns, and the harder you push in, the rounder they’re going to get. With an 18.2-meter turn radius at the 186 cm length, it’s a clean and sharp turner that makes good use of its rocker profile. The tails are stiff, but have that rocker built in to take the edge off. While not as playful due to the metal, the rocker and the rounded off-tail make for a relatively easy and fun release.
Second, it’s hard to not look at it through the lens of the 93. Basically, in a bigger-picture sense, it’s the same ski. It occupies the same place in Nordica’s lineup and delivers a similar level of high-performance. But as ski nerds, tech weenies, and just straight up enthusiasts, we love to look at the details and the finer points that’ll make the whole experience just a bit more rewarding. While the 93 was simply a thinner 100, the 94 is a new and different model with differences in shape, construction, and personality. I found it to be more playful and preferred rounder turns versus the 93 which I felt lacked sophistication from time to time. Former racers seemed to gravitate to the 93, and I don’t think that’s going to change but the new 2021 Nordica Enforcer 94 should have a broader appeal to those skiers who are looking at high-performance skis with this general shape.
Third, is this ski right for you? Probably. The changes in performance and sizing make the ski a lot more appealing for a variety of skier types. Bigger and more aggressive skiers will feel right at home on the longer lengths, and lighter and smaller skiers won’t be overpowered by the shorter sizes. This length-dependent performance really opens up the model to a wider base and since the skis already have an appealing shape, profile, and construction, the Enforcer 94 solidifies itself as a true do-it-all ski that you quite frankly don’t have to think too much about. It’s not a lazy ski by any stretch, and the stiffness of the tails is no joke, but the tip to tail performance and personality will jive well with a broad audience.
More carbon, lighter tips, new shapes, sizes, and rocker profiles—these are just a few of the differences that either improve upon an already wonderful ski, or are integral aspects of a totally new build, depending on your point of view. You can take these things on any terrain, at any time, and in any snow conditions. Their well-roundedness is virtually unsurpassed in the ski world and we’re excited to see the reception that accompanies these sharp and precise performance tools.
