2023 Nordica Unleashed 90 W

For 2023, Nordica introduces Unleashed, which takes the place of Soul Rider moving forward, the Unleashed 90W is a fun-loving twin tip that has a pretty simple build, but fun and rewarding shapes that make it an ideal choice not only for freestyle-oriented skiers, but those who appreciate all-mountain versatility as well. The 90 operates on a somewhat different level than the 98 and 108, as it lacks the terrain-specific metal laminate of the wider skis in the line. This makes it a bit lighter, more maneuverable, and quicker than the models with metal, and that’s mainly good news for the skier that this Unleashed 90 W is intended for. In the 160 cm length, the skis shape up to produce a 15.4-meter turn radius, so they’re on the turny side of the spectrum, and the fact that they’re on the flexible side means that skiers of a wide range of abilities will be able to access the whole sidecut and radius of the ski. If you’re an intermediate through advanced skier who loves to both carve turns on the groomers as well as rip through the bumps and trees, all the while keeping park and pipe in mind, the 2023 Nordica Unleashed 90 W is a fantastic option for you.

On the 168, Alix Klein noted the sizing as “great,” giving her highest scores of 4 out of 5 for all categories except for a lone 3 in flotation. This is a high baseline of scores, and indicates strongly that the Unleashed 90 W is a versatile ski that appeals to a wide range of skiers, conditions, and terrain. Alix notes that the Unleashed 90 W is “Surprisingly versatile and dynamic in its ability to carve tight turns and then rail large GS turns. Playful and poppy this ski is a great choice for the gnar skiing female.” We always enjoy seeing the word “surprising” in feedback from testers as that means that the company has certainly done something right to make a specific aspect of a ski stand out.

Brooke Mars noted that the skis felt a little short for her, and would likely size up to the Unleashed 90 men’s in the 174—they're identical skis other than sizing and graphics. Regardless, she gave top marks of 5 out of 5 for overall impression, forgiveness, playfulness, and stability. Interesting to see stability here, especially when she felt they were short, but that’s another feather in the cap for Nordica as their ability to make both fun-loving and high-performance twin tips becomes ever more clear. Brooke uses our magical word “surprise” for this ski as well, and we always like to point that out “I was convinced at first, I wasn’t going to like this ski. Once I hit a steeper pitch, I was pleasantly surprised how well it held an edge. I also popped over a couple piles of crud bumps and was happy they felt stable under my feet upon landing. I would love to take these skis spring skiing down superstar at Killington.”

From moguls and trees to steeps and park, the 2023 Nordica Unleashed 90 W makes a lot of sense for a ton of skiers who may overlook twin tips in the realm of all-mountain skis. At 90 mm underfoot, they’re quite versatile, and then given the lighter and poppy build with the twin tip, the usefulness of these skis really comes to life. If our testers can be surprised by these skis in such positive manners, then so, likely, can you.