The 2023 Nordica Wild Belle 84 is a pretty cool ski that's geared towards the ladies and their pursuit of all-mountain carving perfection. Thanks to the shape, profile, and construction of the skis, carving and all-mountain skiers will appreciate the stability and quickness that these skis generate. Built with a double core, that is, two different, thinner wood cores sandwiched on top of each other, you're getting a more natural flex to the ski with better energy coming out of the turn. At 84 mm underfoot, these skis are trying to cross the threshold between the front side and all-mountain formats, but really, they're likely happier somewhere in the middle. The shape could lean to the all-mountain and versatile side of the spectrum, but the build and profile share more in common with front side and carving skis. At the end of the day, it's all about having fun out there on the hill, and these skis will certainly allow you to do that.
ROCKER PROFILE
Rocker / Camber
CORE MATERIALS
Rubber Laminate
PREFERRED TERRAIN
Groomers, All Mountain
On the 162, Alli Ruschp noted that they skied a little short for her style. That radius does get a bit tight when you get shorter in these skis, and if you like to open it up like Alli does, then you should size up or go with something with a longer arc. Regardless, she seemed to like the rest of the ski, giving it 5's out of 5 for overall impression, torsional stiffness, edge grip, forgiveness, quickness, and maneuverability. Versatility and playfulness got the 4's, so we're in pretty high-mark territory here with the Wild Belle 84. Alli leans more to the front side for this ski, noting that it is a "Great front side carving ski for Nordica! Approachable, forgiving and fun. The rubber between the wood cores really helps to dampen the ski for a smoother ride. For those ladies, moms, etcetera, looking for a ski to hit the trails with, this is a great option. Smooth and light, make it easy to turn and get on edge." I like the sound of the smooth and light for sure!
Brooke Mars was on the 156, noting that it while it was a bit short for her, it did ski true to size. She gave it 5’s out of 5 for torsional stiffness, edge hold, and stability. Due to the carvy nature of the ski, she also bookended those scores with lower marks of 2’s out of 5 for versatility, playfulness, and flotation. She notes that “Aside from how well this ski was able to hold an edge, there was nothing too outstanding about them. I preferred them on the firmer snow rather than in the sugar which I can’t say about many other skis of this width.” A mid-80's ski should be versatile, but it seems like Brooke is putting these more into the front side realm.
Having that strong control over the edges is a big plus for a lot of skiers out there, and it makes a lot of sense, especially considering most skiers spend most of their time on groomed or manicured snow. If you’re looking for a ski that boosts confidence and carving performance, the Nordica Wild Belle 84 DC is surely a strong contender for intermediate through advanced skiers.
