New for 2026 is the Nordica Unleashed 98 CA, but don’t be fooled – this ski contains no carbon. It’s simple yet effective construction brings the fun and power of the Unleashed 98 to a wider audience by retaining the shape and profile of the 98, but without the titanal, giving the 98 CA an energetic and smooth feel that’s a bit friendlier than its metal counterpart, but remains just as versatile.

Why we like it:

The simplicity of the Unleashed 98 CA’s construction allows for a lighter ski that’s still quite responsive, making them awesome in tight East Coast trees.

Who it's for:

Progressing Intermediate up to Expert budget conscious skiers looking for a playful and peppy all mountain ski will get the most out of the Unleashed 98 CA.

Highlights:

Despite the “CA” in the name, the 2026 Unleashed 98 CA doesn’t contain any carbon fiber. Instead, Nordica took the shape, profile, and construction of the original Unleashed 98 and removed the titanal layer, opening up the performance band to a broader range of skillsets. While there is a small loss of very top end performance, what’s gained is a friendlier flex and poppier feel, offering all the advantages of the Unleashed with Ti, but with more energy and less input from the skier. The Poplar and Beech core give a smooth and powerful feel, and the Unleashed’s long effective edge ensures a stable and clean carve on firm snow.

Things to consider:

For heavier skiers and those looking to push the top end of speed and performance, the Unleashed 98 with the Terrain Specific Titanal laminate would be a better bet.

Fit & sizing considerations:

These ski true to size. They have a long effective edge, but beware of sizing down if you’re an advanced to expert skier, as you may find the limit of that shorter size on groomed terrain.