The new Unlimited series from Nordica for 2023 makes a lot of sense for skiers who are looking for a lighter ski that can tour as well as rip resort laps. In the 88 mm width, these skis are certainly on the lighter side of the spectrum, with the 165 cm length coming in at 1310 grams per ski. They do this by constructing the ski with a lite performance wood core and carbon-fiberglass laminates. It still has the same shape and profile of the regular Santa Ana 88, so it’s an established platform to base itself on.
ROCKER PROFILE
Rocker / Camber / Rocker
CORE MATERIALS
Dual Carbon Laminate
PREFERRED TERRAIN
All Mountain, Touring, Groomers
This type of hybrid ski is super popular these days, as there’s a lot of emphasis on downhill-style skis with touring capabilities. These 50/50 skis are equally at home on groomed terrain and lift-served conditions as they are with a pin tech binding in the distant backcountry. By using a lighter weight ski in the all-mountain body, Nordica is tapping into the potential for versatility for a lot of skiers.
You can put a variety of bindings on this ski, ranging from super-light alpinist style to full-on alpine ones. Boots, too, can be another decision to be made, as the one-boot quiver such as a Nordica Strider allows skiers to skin and climb as well as rip downhill turns. This type of versatility from an equipment standpoint is pretty awesome considering the amount of fantastic gear out there.
If you’re looking for a lighter ski that has the shape and profile of an established all-mountain ski, the Nordica Santa Ana 88 Unlimited is tough to beat. The fact that it has applications both in and out of bounds makes it all the more well-rounded and desirable.
