The sidecut radius of the Nordica GT 80 Ti and GT 84 Ti both calculate out at 15.5m, but you’d never guess it based on how they handle on snow. The GT 84 Ti is clearly devoted to mid-radius turns (or longer), while the GT 80 Ti is predisposed to turns of the slalom persuasion. Whether you believe one is superior to the other is a matter of taste. They’re both so good that if you and a buddy were trying them out side by side, neither of you would want to switch skis.

Start a string of slalom turns and the GT 80 Ti shines brighter with every arc. As it picks up speed the ski becomes more energetic, moving from edge to edge with quiet assurance. The GT 80 Ti is an edge angle agnostic, willing to respond to a skier with an upright stance but ever ready to get down to business if the skier starts to lay it over. Pretty, powerful turns are second nature.

As for its off-trail interests, corn that’s turned to corn pone is no problem and it regards a bump field with blasé, seen-it-all-before disdain. Spring slop does zip to dislodge its grip. But throw it in a couloir lined with two feet of freshies and it will sink like you were wearing concrete galoshes.

For the skilled skier, the GT 80 Ti won’t require a second of adaptation. It has an intuitive sense of how to grip hard snow, and it doesn’t take the strength of a Marvel superhero to control it. It allows the skier to execute any turn without requiring much in the way of effort in return.