Reshaped and rebuilt for 2027, the Nordica Unleashed 114 is a wide-waisted freeride ski with a brand-new construction that blends a poplar core with carbon reinforcement and a single tuned strip of Drift Lock Metal underfoot. The redesign drops some of the rigidity of the prior version in favor of a more lively, more pivot-friendly feel that still has the bones to handle chop and crud at speed.

Why we like it:

The new Drift Lock build is the headline change and it delivers. The previous 114 had a full sheet of terrain-specific metal that made it more locked-in and demanding to ski. The new strip-of-metal approach keeps the damping and edge hold where you need them, right under the boot, and sets the tips and tails free to pivot and slash. The result is a 114 that's significantly more playful in soft snow without giving up the serious-skier composure Nordica is known for.

Who it's for:

Advanced and expert skiers who chase soft snow and want a ski that handles deep days but stays manageable when they're not blower. The Unleashed 114 fits skiers who think of themselves as freeride first, all-mountain second. Aspiring freeride competitors will find a lot to like here too.

Highlights:

The redesign starts with the shape. Sidecut at the 186 measures 146-114-135 with a 20.4-meter turn radius, which is straighter and longer than the prior version, and that change pairs with deeper tip rocker and a partial twin-tip tail to give the ski a more open, drifty feel. Underneath that, the construction has been rebuilt around Drift Lock Technology: a poplar Lite Performance Wood Core sits between carbon stringers, with a single tuned strip of titanal running roughly binding-width along the centerline. That strip is what damps high-speed chop and adds stability, but because it doesn't extend to the edges, the tips and tails stay lively. The Freeride Flow Shape design language, which Nordica uses across the Unleashed line, tunes tip and tail rocker to each waist width independently. On the 114, that means significant tip splay for float and a moderately rockered tail with enough kick to release cleanly out of a slash or smear. True Tip technology in the shovels trims out ABS plastic and runs wood to the very end of the ski, which keeps swing weight reasonable on a platform this wide.

Things to consider:

This is a powder-leaning freeride ski, full stop. It can carve a turn and it will hold an edge through chop, but that's not what it's built for. If you ski mostly on-trail or you're not getting many soft snow days, the Unleashed 114 is going to spend a lot of time in the closet. The Unleashed 98 is a much better fit if you want something with freeride DNA that can also pull resort duty.

Fit & sizing considerations:

Sizes long thanks to deep rocker. Drop a length compared to a more directional all-mountain ski. If you spend more time in tight spots than open bowls, drop another size for easier maneuverability.