What an absolute blast to ski on this new 2024 Nordica Spitfire 74 DC Pro. There’s so much power and precision going on in this ski due to the new construction and shaping. For years, we’ve loved these Spitfire skis, and that level of appreciation continues into 2024, but with additional concepts and characteristics that take the ski to the next level. The big thing with the new 74 is that it’s a melding of the outgoing 72 and 76, but with new construction. Three skis in this range was just one too many, so Nordica kept the wider 80, and introduced the 74 as a mix of the two narrower versions. It seems to work, providing skiers a simpler range to choose from, and for skis like this, the 74 seems to be a better fit than the 72 or 76. Still totally applicable in a ski bum race or front side carving, this new 74 is an amazing choice for skiers who are of the advanced and expert levels, and former racers, who are looking to lay down some of the cleanest and roundest arcs on the planet.

The Double Core construction is the big game changer when it comes to the overall performance of this ski versus the outgoing models. By using horizontal laminates of wood rather than vertical stringers, the engineers at Nordica keep the ski powerful, stable, and energetic, all while increasing the smoothness and damping. There are so few unwanted vibrations in this ski it’s silly. While the previous version had all the energy and power, it was louder, so by turning down the volume while keeping the performance, Nordica’s quality has increased. They use two layers of wood, two titanal laminates, and a pulse core in the middle to quiet the ski even further. This makes for a stout and sturdy ski that can rip turns on ice and hard pack all while keeping the chatter to an absolute minimum. This does add some weight to the build, but overall, it’s so incredibly turny that it’s tough to notice the extra heft. This translates to extra stability, and that characteristic works quite well for this ski’s application. We’re also getting the XCell 12 binding on the FDT Race Plate, adding to the system’s overall quality and high-end nature.

At 74 mm underfoot, this ski is built and ready to tear up the groomers, ice, and firm snow from top to bottom. Equally at home in the gates as it is just cruising high-speed trails, this Spitfire 74 prefers to be in a carved turn rather than ridden flat. The Steadfast series of skis is more aligned with mellower angles, while the Spitfire is all about riding that edge and propelling into and out of turns with speed and purpose. In the 175, the ski produces a 16.5-meter turn radius, which is right where we expect to see an on-trail GS ski live its best life. There is little to no taper or rocker to speak of in this ski, providing true tip to tail edge contact and a long and smooth effective edge. That said, it’s pretty darn demanding, so you have to have a good skillset to get the most performance out of the ski.

This new carving ski has the race-like heritage and the smooth and powerful performance from the new Double Core. As such, the expert skier will find the most success here, and when paired with the right terrain and snow conditions, this thing is an absolute beast. It’s amazing how quick and agile it is from edge to edge given the weight, and a lot of that has to do with the new build and shape. This premium setup will satisfy the needs and wants of the world’s most demanding front side skiers.