2027 Nordica Unleashed 106 & Unleashed 106 CA Introduction & First Impressions

For 2027 Nordica gives us two brand new skis in the Unleashed line—the 106 and the 106 CA. These will take the place of the Unleashed 108, and are built and shaped more in the fashion of the Unleashed 120 which we saw at the end of the 2026 season. While it’s less of a twin tip shape than the 98 or 108 (or 114 for that matter), the new 106’s feature more of a direct freeride character, and it fits just perfectly with Nordica’s overall ski making attitude. For years, we touted the Unleashed 108 as being uncommonly good at carving turns at its width, and that characteristic certainly continues forward into the 2027 106’s. Also last year, we got the CA version of the Unleashed 98, offering a bit more of a peppy and approachable feel to an awesome existing shape. That, too, carries into the 2027 Unleashed 106 CA, which in our minds, is just a whole bunch of fun. By skewing Unleashed more towards directional and powerful freeride, they are leaning away from a freestyle and slopestyle focus with a flatter profile and more stable carving properties.

At a Glance:

2027 Nordica Unleashed 106

2027 Nordica Unleashed 106 CA

The Unleashed 106 utilizes what they are calling Drift Lock Technology to power the ski. This consists of a light poplar wood core, a carbon strip, and one layer of Drift Lock Metal. This is the same laminate that we see in the Unleashed 120, which runs from the contact points from the tips to the tails and is just wider than the binding mounting zone throughout. The concept here is that the ski feels drifty when you want it to and locked into the turns when asked. In the 106 CA, the metal is simply removed so you get the same wood core and carbon strip but no metal. The Ti version also boasts slightly thicker fiberglass layers to add more boost to the mix. There’s not a huge difference in weight in these skis, with the CA version coming in at about 50 grams lighter. Nordica states the 106 Ti weighs 1900 g/ski in the 185 while the CA is 1860. We don’t have flat skis to measure, but the weight of our demos with bindings back up that difference. Sizing is another area where we see some differences, with the CA offering sizes ranging from 185 at the top end all the way down to a 152 on the short side. The Ti version starts at 157 and heads all the way up to a 190. The flex of the skis is on the stiffer side, for both, as there’s not a notable difference when hand flexing.

In terms of shaping, both 106’s share the same footprint. The shape, called Freeride Flow, is certainly the new way of thinking for Nordica, stemming from that new 120. Compared to the 108, the new 106 uses longer rocker lengths and increased taper in both tips and tails to make for a smoother and smearier style. It makes sense when you think about it from a creativity standpoint, as well as combining it to having strong on-trail characteristics. Our belief that the Unleashed series has a ton of carving potential is not lost on this new ski due to the shape. It’s also fair to say that there is more compliance in a softer snow format with this increased rocker profile and taper shape. The fact that it’s slightly narrower doesn’t decrease the flotation at all, and in fact increases mobility in tighter spaces. This ski is very happy at a variety of edge angles and in various turn shapes and styles. In the 185’s we get measurements of 138.5/106/127.5 with a turn radius of 18.7-meters. Amazingly, and we’ll talk about this in performance; it feels longer than that. These skis do like to run and are incredibly compliant and comfortable at speed. The shape allows skiers to easily release the tails and engage the edges, but the construction makes it more demanding. This blend of performance attributes results in a definitive Nordica feel, with performance and power outweighing playfulness and creativity.

Bob's Take:

Clicking into the skis, it’s apparent that these are both high-performance models with sturdy characters. Starting with the CA, it’s important to note that it still has a hefty feel with a direct connection to the snow underfoot. On-trail, it takes a brief second for the ski to engage but once it does it really takes off. You can then lean into it as much as you want and stand strong on firmer snow with full confidence. The energy out of the tail is quite good for a ski this wide, and once again, we find ourselves touting the carving capacity of a 106 freeride twin tip with no metal. The longer turn preference stands out, especially at speed. While the CA allows you to vary turn shape and style with great levels of approachability, the Ti version is more locked in—that's the metal speaking up. It’s a damp and powerful carver with total confidence even on firmer snow and at higher edge angles. If you want it to make shorter carves, you have to do the work—the ski won’t do it for you.

Off trail, the CA version is shiftier and easier to steer in tighter spaces like trees and bumps, but it doesn’t handle crud and chop as easily or smoothly as the Ti. When the snow is broken and unpredictable, the Ti stands out as a more compelling choice for advanced, expert, and aggressive skiers. They both have a smooth feel in that choppy snow and have a good mix of staying on top for flotation and finding the bottom for more of a direct connection to the sub surface. It’s still a relatively hefty ski, in both builds, and in this shape, does require a good deal of attention on the skier’s behalf. While some could argue that the new ski does take some freestyle attitude out of the equation, we’d counter with the fact that we didn’t really find the Unleashed 108 to be particularly effective as a slopestyle or trick ski either.

Matt's Reaction:

As an Unleashed 108 owner and lover, I have been very excited to get on these 106’s. I was really hoping that they would retain their on-trail carving performance while boosting their off-trail maneuverability. Both the regular and CA versions delivered exactly that. These new 106’s are noticeably stiffer from tip to tail than the outgoing 108. The stability and power you feel underfoot is considerable and really exemplifies how this is a true, high-performance, freeride ski. Variable conditions are no problem as they just plow through anything. Need to dump some speed by putting them sideways, no issues there either. Although there is less metal than the 108, there is still a lot of dampness and smoothness here. In a carving format, they are incredible for a 106. The torsional stiffness underfoot and in the forebody locks you in and holds you from the beginning to the end of the turn. Because of the new tapered tip shape, they initiate further down the ski. This is where they differ from the outgoing 108, which initiated from the very tips due to the minimal taper. What this results in is a similar “hookiness” that the 108 provided (Which was awesome) in a carving format but then added more surfiness and maneuverability in softer snow and ungroomed terrain. The CA shares these same characteristics but with a lighter chassis and lower swing weight. They don’t have as much bite or smoothness as the Ti version in a carved turn. However, the CA feels quicker, forgiving, and maneuverable in the trees and tighter, more technical, terrain. Overall, I think Nordica nailed it here. This is a freeride ski through and through, and a Nordica freeride ski at that. To me that means that it isn’t going to be the surfiest, most maneuverable, and forgiving mid-100 mm freeride ski, but it’ll carve shockingly well, be super stable and powerful, and give strong and technical skiers what they need to destroy whatever is in front of them. It’s quite impressive how they were able to take the already amazing 108 and retain the things they were known for, while boosting the performance characteristics that it lacked compared to other models in its category. Big props, Nordica!

Jeff's Feedback:

I’ve spent a lot of time on Nordica skis over the past couple decades. From fond memories with Soul Riders to a love affair with the Enforcer 104 Free and most recently learning to love to carve on an Unleashed 98, I feel like I’ve been through a lot of emotions on Nordica skis. Recently, I’ve admittedly been missing that Enforcer 104 Free. I don’t think I’ve shied away from sharing that sentiment. Don’t get me wrong, I like the previous (current) generation of Unleashed (I literally just bought myself an Unleashed 98 CA) and I thoroughly enjoy laying over turns on the Enforcers, nothing could quite provide the same feeling as that old Enforcer 104 Free.

When I got wind of a new Unleashed 106 and Unleashed 106 CA, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would it be more of a twin tip? Would it be more of a freeride ski like the Enforcer 104 Free? I just wasn’t sure. While there’s undeniably a part of me that wishes it was more of a twin tip, I think it’s a good thing that the Unleashed 106 leans more towards the directional freeride side of the market. Simply put, in my opinion, this feels like a wonderful progression from that old Enforcer 104 Free. You can do all the things on them. You can rip carving turns on a groomer if you want to and people on narrower carving skis will look at you with jealousy. You can just point them down the fall line through choppy steep terrain and they stay wonderfully composed (especially the ski with metal). You can wiggle through trees in soft snow more easily than on any 2026 Nordica (unless you’re in super deep snow on the 120). Accomplishing all of those things is very impressive and a really nice direction for Nordica to go in with their freeride skis. You’re probably not going to see the Unleashed 106 in your local terrain park. You are, on the other hand, going to see them on Freeride podiums around the world. Actually, they’ve already been on Freeride podiums. Nordica is known for high performance, strong skis and they’ve continued that with two excellent skis that take that power and blend it with some soft snow performance, a more drifty feel, and a more progressive attitude than most of their skis in the past couple years. 

I’m excited for the skis, I’m excited for Nordica as a brand to have a really fun, different, new ski to talk about. I’m excited to ski them more, although I’m not terribly excited to decide which I like more as they’re both a lot of fun. I’m currently leaning towards being more of an Unleashed 106 CA skier, but that could certainly change through more testing.