23/24 Test Day 27: Nordica 2

Just because it is late March does not mean full-on spring skiing just yet. This day proved how sneaky Mother Nature can be in the northeast and gave us one of our coldest test days of the season. The sun was out, but the wind was howling. The snow was firm and grippy, which was perfect for our brand test of the day — Nordica. 

We have tested with Nordica a couple of times this season already, but the day had more of a focus on some of their carving-oriented skis, hence the stoke for the hardpack. As the sun softened things up in the afternoon, we swapped to some of their more playful skis. 

TSM co-founder, Eric Gerrmann, got out on the new Steadfast 85. “It’s a ski that anybody can ski,” he said. “It’s fun, it rips and it would be a good everyday ski for a true New England skier that hits at a good price point with the system binding.” 

Not the best option if you’re heading West hunting some deeper pow but great for an intermediate to advanced rider who wants to dig deep on groomers and arc some serious turns. 

Head of the softgoods department, Devon Scovill, spent her day comparing the Santa Ana 93 and Santa Ana 98. In general, she appreciates the Santa Ana series for its stability and ability to cruise through a variety of conditions. She does believe they have a speed limit though and thinks they can feel a little slow to ski on at times.

For outerwear, she wore the Norrona Tamok down750 Jacket. It was not her typical ski coat, so she was glad she had it in her car since it was an unexpectedly cold day. “I had never worn it on an actual ski day, but it skied really well,” she said. “It was super warm and comfortable. The jacket feels less puffy and is more fitted than it appears, so it is also surprisingly flattering.”

Boot fitter, Luc Gordon, echoed Eric’s praise of the Steadfast. “It felt really smooth,” he said. “In terms of turn initiation, it was one of the easiest skis to engage that I’ve been on this year.”

He also spent some time on the Dobermann Multigara DC— a ski that is truly built for gripping, ripping and laying over turns. His fave for the day was their flagship, the Enforcer 94. As a skier who prefers a ski with more rocker on it, he appreciates the Enforcer's blend of power and forgiveness in the tips. “It can really handle any situation and any terrain,” said Luc.

Dylan Lavoie, boot fitter, and resident snowboard tester for the day spent time on one of his favorites, the Lib Tech Lib Rig. On a day like this one, he wanted something with more grip and stability to hold up well on the harder morning conditions but would still be fun when things got sloppy in the afternoon. 

We ended the day with some classic parking lot Après, dreaming of warmer spring skiing days to come. 

For any gear questions, book an appointment to see us in Boston or contact one of our gear experts!