2024 Nordica Santa Ana 98 Ski Review

We’re thanking our lucky stars for the return of the Santa Ana 98 as it’s quite possibly one of the most well-balanced all-mountain skis out there for advanced level skiers. It’s no wonder Nordica maintained the tried-and-true Santa Ana recipe for the 2024 season, with updated graphics but otherwise the same build, shape, and profile. This is great news for those who like a nice blend between precision, stability, versatility and playfulness. Truly existing in a league of its own, the freeride-inspired shape combined with the metal laminate construction gives it a totally unique and impressive feel and level of performance.

We’ve seen the Santa Ana series for a few years now, with the initial introduction blasting onto the scene in 2015/2016. Since then, they have gone through several changes and upgrades, both to the construction and variation of sizes, as well as incorporating touring-specific versions. In the most recent iteration that has remained unchanged for the past few years, the overall build is where we see the proof, and we’re thrilled that Nordica carries it forward into this season. This is where we also see the main difference between the women’s and men’s versions, with the Enforcer series incorporating two full sheets of metal rather than one partial sheet that we see in the Santa Anas.

At a Glance:

2024 Nordica Santa Ana 98

When you factor in the rest of the construction attributes, it’s easy to see why this wider-bodied all-mountain ski delivers such impressive, competitive performance. Nordica’s goal here was to achieve a high level of power and precision without making an overly demanding, challenging ski, and it’s safe to say they nailed it. Starting off with a performance wood core, the Santa Ana 98 has a sturdy and stable start. Where things start to play a larger role in the level of performance is in the single sheet of terrain-specific metal and addition of carbon chassis. Rounding out the stiffness and level of responsiveness, all while keeping the weight to a minimum, the result is an impressive build that is strong, stable yet incredibly agile. The beauty of the metal application here is in its ability to fine-tune each width and model according to its intended terrain. As the widest option in the Santa Ana lineup, the 98 features the least amount of metal to better suit softer snow conditions and provide a more forgiving, playful flex pattern. That said, it certainly does not lack strength and torsional rigidity, allowing it to confidently tackle literally anything and everything you can find on the mountain.

The shape and profile of the 98 allows the conversation to switch gears slightly, becoming less serious and more lighthearted. What we mean when we say that is, given the relatively burly build here, the approach to the shape invites a more playful, versatile demeanor. Blending both all mountain and freeride attributes, we get a range of capabilities, thanks to the wider waist and fair amount of rocker in the tip and tail. Looking specifically at the shovel shape, at 131 mm wide in the 165 cm length, the freeride rocker profile combined with moderate early taper allows it to not only pivot easily in tighter terrain but also provides great flotation in softer snow. With slightly less rocker in the tail and measuring in at 118 mm, you get a relatively flat tail with a good amount of precision and control without feeling locked in. Highly maneuverable and lively for such a strong ski, it performs exceptionally well off-piste without sacrificing performance on-trail. This is in part due to the amount of camber and 15.6-meter turn radius, allowing it to make surprisingly quick, short turns. When you want to engage in a turn and get them high on edge, they certainly respond well in longer, arcing turns too. For a ski this wide, it delivers impressive edge grip and strong carving capabilities, further adding to its versatile nature.

This brings us to the meat of the matter- performance. I have a soft spot for this ski and I’m fully willing to admit that. While there are a number of top picks for me in this width range, based on my style of skiing, the Santa Ana 98 steals the show. I had the opportunity to test this ski several days last season and in a variety of conditions and terrain. Given the level of versatility this ski offers, it’s worth highlighting how it performed on just about everything. Starting with groomers, it’s safe to say this ski can carve. No surprise here, as the construction lends some serious precision and power, especially in an arced turn. Willing and eager to get up on edge, I felt confident and stable, especially at speed. Within my first few turns, I noticed the impressive balance between strength and liveliness. I also couldn’t help myself from going with gravity, forgetting to check my speed limit at times. These things rip, and as far as how I like to ski, well it’s a match made in heaven. Fast and aggressive, they’re also easily maneuverable and precise. While they pack a lot of power, they’re also very easy to transition from edge to edge. With the downhill ski weighted, they love to arc with both skis remaining parallel but without feeling fully locked in. What I loved the most was the amount of energy at the finish of a turn, providing a little kick and pop at the end. While I wouldn’t categorize this ski as a dedicated carving ski, it certainly knows how to perform on-piste, inspiring confidence while keeping you in check to a certain extent.

Venturing off-piste, the Santa Ana 98 really came to life. This surprised me to a certain extent given the level of strength and powerful edge grip it delivers on-piste. There are a few factors at play here, one being the design change, moving from two sheets of metal to one. This really freed up the tips from being weighed down, giving them a softer, bendier flex. The other contributor is the shape. Boasting a directional tail but with an all-mountain demeanor and wider, rockered shovel, you have the ability to float, bounce and smear through just about any conditions. That said, in order to be in control and drive with precision and intention, it definitely requires an aggressive, more forward stance. Meant for an advanced or expert level skier, if you get too backseat, they will punish you. That said, on the right set of feet, the Santa Ana 98’s level of maneuverability and energy in the bumps and trees is awesome. The same level of liveliness that boosts you out of a carved turn transfers over to off-piste performance in a way that truly rounds out the versatility that this ski offers. Where I personally really benefited was from the amount of stability and strength on landings, which is a testament to both the construction and width/shape.

All in all, the Santa Ana 98 is a strong performing, all-mountain ski that combines dynamic power with energetic maneuverability, giving advanced to expert ladies a freeride-focused ski with a wide range of capabilities. The strong but approachable build lends itself to powerful rebound and exceptional edge grip while leaving room for lively energy off-piste. Requiring a skilled driver to access its sweet spot, those looking for a strong, stable all-mountain ski that can charge through anything will love the high-level of performance.