Well, this was a nice surprise coming from Nordica for 2024! The Steadfast 85 DC is one of the more impressive new skis we got on this year, and that’s saying a lot considering all the wonderful new skis out there. The Steadfast series has replaced the long-beloved Navigator series, and for whatever reason, those Navigators didn’t really take off. We sold a ton of 80’s and 85’s, but it was sad when they did away with the 90’s as we felt that was the sweet spot for the ski. There was a lot of love for the 85’s, especially before they moved away from the Titanal Hex Frame, and that love is going to return for 2024 when it comes to the Steadfast 85 DC. This is a front side ski disguised as an all-mountain ski. Or it’s an all-mountain ski pretending to be a front side ski. Either way you choose to look at it, it’s a sharp carver with surprising versatility. While groomers are the forte of the ski, there’s no denying that for bumps and some softer snow, this ski is a whole lot of fun.

The new story here is the use of Nordica’s Double Core. While we see a lot of manufacturers using vertical stringers glued together to achieve a certain result, there have been some, specifically recently, that are using horizontal laminates to create the ski’s character. In the Steadfast 85, skiers get their Energy Ti DC core, consisting of four horizontal layers of power, agility, and dampness. The ski features a top wood laminate, a titanal layer, a pulse core sheet that dampens vibrations, and a second wood laminate. These sandwiched layers all add up to an incredibly smooth and powerful construction. The flex is appropriate for skiers who are looking to make a variety of turn shapes and styles, while the damping is off the charts. Having the metal layer in the middle makes a big difference in terms of overall snow feel and weight distribution, allowing skiers to access a new level of precision, power, and silence.

As an 85 mm underfooted ski, the key here is well-roundedness. While the overall footprint looks a lot more like a front side ski, and the addition of a system binding leans it more to that side of the spectrum, the overall performance of the ski when it comes to all-around behavior is pretty amazing. In the 179, we’re getting a turn radius of 15.8-meters, so that means the ski is ready and willing to carve clean turns across the fall line. The nice thing here is that there’s some roundness to the shape, allowing for better off-trail performance and versatility. They save the more squared-off shaping for the Spitfire series of skis, so if you’re looking for true front side and race-like performance, that’s likely a better fit. For most other skiers, the Steadfast 85 is the place to be. There’s not a whole lot of rocker going on here—just enough to facilitate transitions between turns and an easier entry phase. Overall, it’s a mainly cambered ski that loves to be on edge.

Whether people jump on board or not, this new Steadfast 85 DC should be very popular this year. It’s one of those skis that most people should be on, rather than something wider and harder to ski. The blend of medium demand and the friendly overall composure of the ski makes a lot of sense for a lot of skiers, making this an excellent choice for intermediate through expert skiers who are spending most of their time on smoother and groomed terrain. If you choose to venture off-trail from time to time, this ski certainly has the all-mountain capabilities to get you where you need to go.