2021 Nordica Santa Ana 88
1

Ski Stats

Sidecut 118.5/88/106.5 @ 158cm
Radius 14m @ 158cm
Lengths 151,158,165,172
Weight 1715g
MSRP $700
FIND
3
1
1
Tester: Brooke Froelich First day I skied the Santa Ana 88 was for a photo/video shoot on a spring storm day with heavy snow. I was hesitant to ski with a new pair of skis under those conditions. However, the SA 88's were super intuitive to ski. By my second turn, I forgot I was on a new model. They were stiff enough to cut through crud, and playful enough to quickly respond in powder or variable terrain. Just a SUPER all-around fun ski! For only being 88mm underfoot, I thought I might have to work a little harder in powder. Not much! I still bring this ski on powder days, and always have fun on them. Now, is it a true powder ski? No – you’re going to get more face shots with the 88s than you will on the 110s. You'll work a little harder in deep powder, but it will stand up to anything you encounter. Additionally, this is HANDS DOWN my favorite pair of skis for the backcountry. The SA 88 is relatively lightweight for how responsive and solid it skis. I like a ski in the backcountry that will let me confidently hop turn in a chute, that will solidly bust through sun crust, and will be a PLEASURE to ski for the patches of powder we find along the way. If you want a one-ski quiver, the Santa Ana 88 will do ANYTHING you want her to.

Tester: Brooke Froelich

The last two winters I have had the pleasure of spending time on several of the Santa Anas, and I have LOVED them all. In the morning when I’m loading up my pair of skis for the day, I keep finding myself pulling out my SA 88’s again and again. Let me tell you more about them…

First day I skied them was for a photo/video shoot on a spring storm day with heavy snow. I was hesitant to ski with a new pair of skis under those conditions. However, the SA 88’s were super intuitive to ski. By my second turn, I forgot I was on a new model – it felt like I’d always been on them. They were stiff enough to cut through crud, and playful enough to quickly respond in powder or variable terrain. Just a SUPER all-around fun ski! For only being 88mm underfoot, I thought I might have to work a little harder in powder. Not much! I still bring this ski on powder days, and always have fun on them.

While I do have a pair of true groomer skis, I still bring this ski to the resort most days when I want to ski groomed runs because I know I will always want to venture off the groomers at some point during the day. It carves well, and when I want to venture off the groomers, it charges down everything I encounter.

Additionally, this is HANDS DOWN my favorite pair of skis for the backcountry (I have Marker Kingpin bindings on my pair). The SA 88 is relatively lightweight for how responsive and solid it skis. I like a ski in the backcountry that will let me confidently hop turn in a chute, that will solidly bust through sun crust, and will be a PLEASURE to ski for the patches of powder we find along the way. Most days I am skiing down the mountain pulling a chariot with two kids down a narrow road – this is some of the most technical skiing I’ve done, ha-ha!

Now, is it a true powder ski? No – you’re going to get more face shots with the 88s than you will on the 110s. That being said, aren’t we all chasing after some face shots on a powder day anyway? You’ll work a little harder in deep powder, but it will stand up to anything you encounter.

If you want a one-ski quiver, the Santa Ana 88 will do ANYTHING you want her to. I’ve skied two seasons on this ski, and am excited to ski it again next winter!

    Find this ski at the following Realskiers Test Centers


  • Powder House

Women’s Test Data Advisory

Please be advised that our 2022 women’s ski reviews do not show any test data, on either our public or members’ sites. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we haven’t been able to collect sufficient test results to justify showing a statistical summary.

While Realskiers members won’t be able to see stats on women’s reviews, they will see a longer, more in-depth narrative than what’s posted on our public site.

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