Flotation, stability, torsional stiffness, and edge hold all got the coveted 5’s out of 5 on the scorecard with 4’s given for overall impression, forgiveness, playfulness, quickness, and maneuverability. Alli Ruschp notes that the Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free is “Still one of my favorite powder skis, it's a powerful ski that can go just about anywhere. I feel confident on this ski when I am in powder, the trees, and on ice. Stability on ice is a plus since powder on the East Coast comes with ice underneath. A little heavy and aggressive for an intermediate skier, but designed for a strong skier. Love the play in the tips and tails, making it easy to ski in tight trees and bumps. Slightly fatiguing for a long day of powder skiing.” The extra weight does equate to more stability at speed, so it’s all kind of a tradeoff at some point.
