2025 Nordica Santa Ana 87

As a vector member of the AME Women’s community, the revised Nordica Santa Ana 87 epitomizes the qualities that can take an intermediate woman to the next level. It’s a breakthrough ski, a step above whatever this recreational skier is currently using, be it a rental, a hand-me-down or a package ski made for soft snow and green trails. Skis like the Santa Ana 87 open the door to skiing the whole mountain, ready to take you off the beaten path whenever you are. Within the 4-model Santa Ana line-up, the 87mm-waisted Santa Ana 87 hits the sweet spot for the women who wants to be able to travel off-trail without losing the carving qualities they’ll want when skiing the groom is the only game in town. The key contributor the SA 87’s accurate grip on corduroy is a top Titanal laminate that runs nearly edge to edge underfoot, accentuating edging accuracy over the smeary drift of its wider sisters. The SA 87’s modified metal topsheet is an inherited trait passed down from its predecessor, the Santa Ana 88, but what lies beneath is a new core that contributes to a smoother flex and more effortless edging. The Double Core at the heart of the Santa Ana 87 slips a layer of elastomer into its wood-core lay-up, so it’s easier for a lightweight skier to flex it while still holding a precise trajectory through tracked-out trails. First-time Peter Glenn ski tester Carlene Johnson, whose comments were consistently spot-on, filed this snapshot of the Santa Ana 87’s limitless potential: “This was my favorite ski of the day!” she exulted. “It was great at both upper and lower mountain runs in a variety of snow conditions. It was so responsive to even the smallest movement and the edges dug in to everything I needed it to and it was just a phenomenal ride!”