2025 Nordica Santa Ana Ski Preview

The Santa Ana lineup is getting a refresh for 2025, and we think that’s a very good thing. It’s been a solid series of skis for quite some time, and that will most certainly continue moving forward. There are some other skis like Blizzard Black Pearl that have undergone a full wholesale change while Santa Ana gets some slight alterations for more invigorating skiing. This has always been a really fun line of skis, mainly because it’s not only women’s specific, but also very high performance. They made something that could hold up to the rigors of very aggressive skiing while also being different from the men’s versions. That thread continues for 2025, with a very similar level of performance, but with a more refined feel.

For 2025, we get four models (not counting the Santa Ana 80 which returns unchanged): the 87, 92, 97, and 102. Within these skis, you get everything you need from a high-performance all-mountain perspective—sharp carving, decent flotation, excellent on-trail capabilities, and all-around versatility. These new models are not vastly different or wholesale changes from what they were before, rather, skiers who have been looking for more energy, more versatility, and a turnier ski will likely be more satisfied with the 2025 versions, although we have no love lost for the previous skis when it comes to high performance and all-mountain dominance.

In terms of construction, we see some new technologies being implemented here, and most of them have lived adjacently in Nordica’s world and are now implemented into Santa Ana. The wood core has been re-sourced, so they have a different supplier of wood in this ski. It’s still a mix of poplar and beech, creating a nice mix of power and energy. On top of the wood core, we get Nordica’s Terrain-Specific metal that is a full length, but not full width titanal laminate to put more stability and smoothness in the tips and tails and underfoot, while the midbody and the mid-tail have less metal as you get to the edge. This allows for a bit of a flex in the torsional stiffness of the ski, increasing quickness and suppleness when soft snow is involved. Underfoot, Nordica adds a Pulse Core layer, which is a rubberized polymer that smooths out the ski, especially in the middle-portion of the ski. This tech is borrowed from the Double Core skis in Nordica’s line like the Spitfire and Wild Belle on-trail models, and we think it’ll work great in the Santa Ana line as well. The weights of the ski are not altered by any noticeable amount. If you’re looking for a lighter Santa Ana (or a heavier one, for that matter), the new models won’t really make much of a difference. Sizing is slightly changed as well, breaking every 6 cm (except for the 150 to 155 span). The wider two models go up to the 179 while the narrower two start at 150 and top out at 173.

Shaping is where we see a larger change, and most notably in the wider widths. There’s a progression here, but the 87 is less pronounced than the 102, especially in the tail rocker profile. This is allowing the ski to move more towards the directional, and this makes sense with the emergence of the Unleashed series of skis that occupy more of the freestyle/freeride realm within Nordica’s lineup. The changes in widths don’t make an enormous difference either—if you were a 98 skier before, the 97 won’t feel terribly narrow. Because of the more dramatic rocker in the tail, and the slight change in measurements, the skis have a slightly longer turn radius, but it doesn’t quite feel like that. One of the culprits here is the forward movement of the mount point. All skis have bumped up about 1cm from previous, and this puts you more in the center of the camber, allowing for a more reactive and precise initiation phase in the turn. This also allows for an energetic release point and makes it incredibly rewarding from tip to the waist to the tail. Overall, the changes in shape and build contribute to a smoother and more energetic ski experience—one that so many advanced and expert skiers will thoroughly enjoy.

At a Glance:

2025 Nordica Santa Ana 87 Skis

This is the quick-turning rocket ship of the group. It’s an all-mountain ski that’s masking itself as a front side carver. Feel free to load it up with energy and lay it on its edge—the ski will respond tenaciously as you move through the turn. There’s excellent rebound here as well, making it an awesome choice for skilled skiers who spend most of their time on groomed surfaces but also want something with a bit of a freeride flair. In the moguls and tighter trees, this ski is totally useful and engaging. While the tails are stiff, if you like that level of responsiveness, you’ll love the new Santa Ana 87.

At a Glance:

2025 Nordica Santa Ana 92 Skis

With slightly more tail rocker and a highly useful shape, the Santa Ana 92 makes a strong case for a one-ski quiver. This thing does it all. It makes any turn shape at any time on any snow condition or terrain. If you just think about a specific turn, the ski makes it naturally. We’ve had it on rock-hard groomer as well as 6-8 inches of fresh, and the 92 handles it all without thinking twice. This ski, for its mix of shape and build, is very confidence inspiring for those who are looking to push their limits to the next level. It’s smooth, powerful, and cohesive from tip to tail, delivering a top-notch level of performance and snow feel for a variety of skiers.

At a Glance:

2025 Nordica Santa Ana 97 Skis

While you could certainly argue that the 92 is one of the more versatile skis out there, the Santa Ana 97 might have something to say about that. It’s a better argument if you ski in an area with softer snow. The 97 blends fantastic carving and turning performance with a better off-trail character than ever before. The tail rocker starts to get a bit more dramatic with the 97 and we’re seeing a boost in mobility, flotation, and flickability in the ski that we’ve never seen before. While in the past, some may have been tentative of the powerful tail and wider platform for all-mountain skiing, the new ski puts those hesitations on the back burner. These skis are more approachable and versatile, while handling high speed turns and carving with little to no hesitation.

At a Glance:

2025 Nordica Santa Ana 102 Skis

In the world of wider all-mountain skis, the Santa Ana 102 holds a very strong title. There’s not a whole lot that this ski can’t do. The big changes here, other than the slight modifications to the build, are the flattening of the skis, which is an interesting direction to take. While the older 104 may have felt on the heavy and demanding side, especially since it had more rocker than most, the new 102 is flatter, creating more of a directional character. This makes sense based on what we normally see skiers doing on the 104, and the fact that the Unleashed series exists allows this move to the more on-trail a lot more palatable. At the end of the day, this ski still rips, it just goes a bit harder when it comes to carving and charging down more aggressive terrain.