2014 Nordica Blemish Ski Reviews
The big batch of Nordica blemished skis arrived early this year!
If you don't know the drill, the Start Haus gets Nordica's cosmetically blemished skis each year to sell at crazy low prices, which in our opinion is the best deal going in the industry.
A blemished ski has a small cosmetic defect - like a dimple or scratch in the top sheet, that does not affect performance, still caries a normal warranty, and in most cases isn't even noticeable!
If you've been around for one of our blemish ski sales before, you know they go fast. Really fast. Like 500 skis gone in a month fast. So don't wait and miss out on the best deal around.
Need help picking? Our very own Sierra Jim reviews each ski in the new Nordica blem batch below:
This is the women’s specific version of the popular Steadfast model and like the Steadfast, this has been one of the category leaders for some time now. While the ski shares the shape of the Steadfast, the build is different in that is uses two lightweight core stringers that run the full length of the otherwise solid wood core. The result is a lighter ski with a somewhat softer flex making this well suited for the woman skier that is typically, lighter than her male counterparts.
Out on snow, the Hells Belles has always dazzled out testers. Last year, during my testing of women’s skis, I found this to be one of the more solid feeling skis in this width range. The grip is right at the top of the category and the firm tail will give the better skier a solid platform to launch herself from one turn to the next. In broken and mixed snow with any depth, this ski tends to power through rather than lift over the top but once the snow gets deep enough, the wide rockered tip will give the skier adequate floatation for snow up to the boot top or a little more. The light weight and nimble feel make this ski very quick in the bumps but the fairly stiff flex can toss you if you find the back seat too often. At 90mm underfoot this is a great place to start the discussion for an all mountain-all conditions ski for a good skier. The Hells Belles has a bit of a hard snow bias and is best suited for a skier with some skills and experience. An intermediate with a desire to learn the ropes of all mountain skiing could choose this ski as long as she is reasonably aggressive.
The Bell to Belle shares similar construction to many of the other Belle series in that it uses a double wide, lightweight stringer down the center of the wood core. However, the B2B is built on a narrower platform at 78mm underfoot and it has a softer overall flex. These two factors make the Bell to Belle more adaptable to lower edge angles and primarily skidded turns that are typical of many mid level skiers.
On snow this ski is supremely maneuverable in short and medium radius turns. A good skier can lay the Bell to Bell over and get good carving ability but at some point, that skier will find a speed limit. On the other hand, the intermediate will find this width range really facilitates lower angle, skidded turns while still having enough grip for firm snow on fairly steep pitches. The quick and light feel gives the skier confidence in tackling bumps and even some skied out off trail situations. In rough and chalky winter snow at Mammoth last year, we found that it is best to keep speeds moderate in those off trail situations as this light ski is not as damp or stable as some wider skis. At higher speeds it is probably best to keep the edges engaged so the ski can carve The Bell to Belle has a sporty feel as opposed to a damp “cruiser” type of feel and suited for solid intermediate to advanced skiers.
The Wild Belle shares the same construction as many of the other Belle series in that it uses a double wide, lightweight stringer down the center of the wood core. The biggest difference between this ski and the Nemesis and Hells Bells sisters is the width. The Wild Belle is built on a narrower 84mm waist width platform for the skier that wants more quickness and maneuverability on packed surfaces or in skied out off trail situations and bumps. The Wild Belle is slightly softer in the tail than the expert level Hells Belles but it has very nearly the same stiffness otherwise.
On snow this ski is lightning quick and very energetic showing a lot of rebound energy especially in short radius turns. A good skier can lay in big angles and arc turns like crazy but an intermediate will find this width range facilitates lower angle, skidded turns as well. The quick and light feel gives the skier an edge in bumps and the slightly softer tail will make this ski more forgiving than its wider sisters. In rough and chalky winter snow at Mammoth last year, we found that the Wild Belle did just as well or better than its wider siblings with the only downfall being deeper snow. The Wild Belle is a packed snow biased ski with good capability in snow of 6”-10”. This is a great choice for a skier with primarily groomed snow or skied out off piste skiing in mind and it is among the quickest skis in bumps that we tested. While the Hells Belles is best suited for advanced or better skiers, the Wild Belle is slightly tamer and can be a good choice for an aggressive intermediate.
The First Belle is Nordica's novice to intermediate offering in this collection of “Belle” skis. It uses a combination of sidewall and cap construction that takes out some of the stiffness associated with the higher level offerings in the series. The benefit of this construction is that can soften the tip and tail enough so that it eliminates the edge catching tendencies for intermediate level skiers while still maintaining enough grip underfoot for confidence on harder snow and steeper pitches.
We seldom get a chance to test skis at this level and when we do, sometimes we find them pretty lacking. However, out testers (experts all) found the First Belle to be surprisingly good on a variety of surfaces and conditions. We found the grip underfoot to inspire confidence for even a better skier and the ride was smooth and controlled. One thing that is common to the other skis in the Nordica “Belle” collection is the light and nimble feel which allows most any skier to turn on a dime and get some change back. This is a ski for a skier coming off of rentals and wanting to progress quickly but it will serve a conservative intermediate very well too. The First Belle comes in two versions; flat (meaning no binding) and also in the EVO version (includes a system binding) There is no advantage either way but it does offer options.
This model is one of the few in this width range that is heavily laden with hard snow technology. The Fire Arrow 84 EDT has a solid wood and metal layup along with a sophisticated binding plate/interface system derived from a race plate. In addition the EDT term refers to a carbon fiber stringer that overlays the extremities of the ski to provide exceptional snow feel.
I first tested the 84 EDT at Winter Park on cold firm snow. When I took the ski out, the only size available at the time was a 168. I had a pretty tight schedule that day, so rather than wait and hope to get the size that I would normally test (174-177), I took it. My first turns are always at slowish speeds on the rather flat and usually crowded run away from the unloading area. The 84 engaged easily enough at slower speeds but it took some input to get it to bend. Once I got that going, it carved nicely in medium to long “cruiser” turns. Cutting away from the crowd, I sped off to where I had some room and turned the ski loose down the fall line. Immediately, the tip hooked up with a moderate edge angle and arced smoothly back under me. When the cross-under was complete, the ski released out the other side with power but not with a slingshot feel. As the run progressed, I let the angles and the speeds build up supposing that sooner or later the 168 would get a little shaky. Nope!……didn’t happen. In fact, this ski was so solid and stable that at one point I was wondering if they had given me a 176 instead. As I skied back to the corral to get the next ski, I was amazed at how the 168 had performed. In fact, it was so amazing that I went back late in the day to get it again. This wasn’t because I was unsure about the ski, it was simply that I had a free run available and that was the ski I wanted to ski on.
Later that year at WP at Mammoth and then again in this year’s tests, I got the chance to try the FA 84 EDT in some more mixed conditions. I knew what the ski was supposed to be about and I wouldn’t really expect great things in bumps etc. but this category requires some mixed conditions performance, so I took the ski through the whole gamut of conditions that were available. It was no surprise that the 176 was a little cumbersome in tight bumps. This is just not a swivelly short turn ski. However, in bumps that were spaced out and scattered and mixed with crusty blown in snow, it was really very good. The stability of the 84 really shone through in the rough snow and this is a testament to the technology. The 84 EDT is more akin in feel to the frontside specialists but the width does make it better in shallow mixed snow than the narrower more specialized skis. For medium to long turns on hard or rough snow, the grip and exceptional dampening make this the best in this width class for those conditions.
The FA 84 Pro shares the shape with the EDT version but it’s a pretty different ski. The 84 Pro has a similar plate setup but without the carbon fiber suspension arms of the EDT version. The Pro also has a somewhat softer overall flex and is lighter in weight. While the Pro gives up a little in grip and dampening to its more powerful brother you’ll seldom find snow icy enough to challenge this ski very much. The payback for the skier is that the Pro is more versatile in turn shape.
When I first skied the 84 Pro it was at Winter Park on very cold, hard snow. While the 84 EDT is certainly best in class for those conditions, the 84 Pro is fairly close. The Pro initiates better at lower speeds and is more capable in short radius turns particularly at moderate speeds. The hardest snow I could find at Winter Park was not much of a challenge and I think the 84 Pro has enough grip for all but the iciest of conditions. At higher angles and speeds, the ski has plenty of stability and grip and is only slightly less damp than the EDT. In mixed and softer conditions out west, the 84 Pro was more nimble than the EDT but still felt as if it were more at home on firmer conditions than in softer ones. Tight bumps were not the forte’ of the 84 pro although given its stellar performance on hard and rough snow, that’s not a realistic expectation. This is a hard snow biased ski with moderate capabilities in soft and mixed conditions.
The Steadfast was a new model for Nordica for 2011-12 and it returns for its third season unchanged. This ski uses Nordica's lightweight stringer down the center of the core in order to reduce weight without materially affecting the properties of the wood core. The Steadfast has a modest amount of tip rocker and a non rockered tail. Nordica markets the Steadfast as a “sidecountry” ski but don’t for a moment think that this ski is not well suited for everyday resort use. The Steadfast has been highly acclaimed by our testers and in skiing publications alike ever since its introduction.
In skiing the Steadfast, the light weight and the tip rise are noticeable especially at slower speeds and on the flatter parts of the test hill. The Steadfast is lightning quick but at lower edge angles the rockered tip feels a little disengaged. This is a characteristic of most all skis with tip rocker and should not be viewed as a negative. As the speed picks up and more angles are applied, the tip connects and the ride becomes more stable. Despite the light weight and non metal build, the Steadfast has very good edge grip and is among the best in this category for that. The lightness is especially notable in bumps and soft, mixed conditions where the Steadfast feels extraordinarily nimble. Once engaged, you can pressure the Steadfast hard and it can handle most any speed you are likely to throw at it. Even at high speeds, the Steadfast grips well and feels stable but it is not especially damp. We give the Steadfast an even bias between hard and soft snow and it is really well balanced. The Steadfast is one of the standard bearers for this category and will serve skiers both east and west very well. We generally don’t suggest the Steadfast for lower level or learning skiers as it is best suited for skiers with good skills.
As in many positions in their “Hell & Back and Belle” collections, Nordica has produced a couple of skis with very similar builds and flex patterns with the largest differences being in the width. This is the case with the Burner vs. the Steadfast. While the Steadfast has won magazine awards and great acclaim around the ski world, it really is a pretty wide ski for some applications and skiers. Enter the Burner which uses the same basic build as the Steadfast but is a narrower 84mm waist width.
We test the Burner every year and every time we reach the same conclusion, this is a serious ski and not dumbed-down for lower level skiers. It simply gives the skier a little more bias toward packed conditions and bumps. The narrower width brings a notable difference in nimbleness and the ski just sort of “fits” into tight bumps better than a wider ski would. The Burner meets Nordica’s high standards for grip and stability which are always at or near the top in their respective categories. You can really think of the Steadfast and the Burner as almost the same ski, with differences in width according to regional snow conditions or skier preferences.
Nordica was one of the first companies to heavily tout the lightweight “sidecountry” ski concept when they brought out the Steadfast and the Hell and Back a couple of years ago. Skiers have not exactly broken the doors down to trade in their alpine setups in favor of this new idea, but fortunately for Nordica, their skis are exceptional as normal inbounds skis anyway. In fact the Steadfast and Hell and Back have been universally praised by the skiing press and rewarded with top scores in the magazine tests when skied against ‘normal’ alpine skis. Both of these models are universally loved by the Start Haus testers as well. The Hell and Back was originally derived from the long running Enforcer model and in fact, it shared the same basic shape but without the metal layers and using a lightweight stringer in the core. I have tested the Hell and Back every year and owned one in my constantly revolving quiver for a year as well.
Every time that I ski the Hell and Back, I am impressed by a couple of things. One of those things is balance. The Helen (as we like to call it) has a very even flex that is in the medium-stiff range for this category. This allows it to bend evenly and pull the skier around smoothly whether it is on firm snow, soft snow with some depth, or on that nasty test run at Mammoth where the conditions can only be described as rough. The other thing that is really notable about the Helen is the grip. This light and nimble ski has grip that is in the upper reaches of this category despite not having metal in it. While a lot of good skiers think that they need a ski with metal for stability and grip, the Nordicas really don’t need it. For western biased skis, they offer all the grip any skier could realistically want. The benefit of course it that the light weight really helps to make this ski lightning quick in mixed snow and choppy terrain. While the Hell and Back is not as damp as some of the heavier metal skis, it is much snappier and energetic than all of them and that places the emphasis on what most people buy this ski category for ... mixed snow versatility.
There are cases in the ski world where a really good ski is overshadowed by one of its stablemates. This is the case with the Soul Rider which is overshadowed by its brother ski, the Hell and Back. The Helen receives critical acclaim from the press, and great responses from our testers and customers as well while the SR is a little overlooked.The Soul Rider is very similar in width, dimensions, and even in construction to the Hell and back but it is an enormously different ski. The Soul Rider is a twin while the Helen is a flat tailed ski. The Soul is also notably softer in the tip and tail.
When we get the SR out on snow we are dazzled by its light, playful nature. The Soul Rider is nimble, quick and enormously fun to ski and is one of the very best of this width range in bumps, shallow soft snow and powder. If there is a payback to this easy going personality, it is that the SR does not have the grip or stability of its stiffer brother. This is one of those tradeoff skis for sure. The grip is adequate for most western conditions and stability is good up to medium speeds, but the ski really shines in the mixed stuff. For the power skier that wants to muscle his skis and conquer the mountain, this is not the choice. Rather it is for someone that wants to make the mountain his playground and toy with the terrain rather than dominate it.
Nordica Vagabond & Nordica El Capo
Nordica has jumped into this width category with two new ski models that are based off of tried and true constructions from the past. These new skis have entirely new shapes to go along with this new 107mm width and the shapes are identical. Both models skis have low tip rise, even lower tail rise and both tip and tail have a subtle taper. The El Capo has metal top and bottom and a solid core while the Vagabond has no metal in the layup and a lightweight stringer down the center of its wood core. Because these two skis are so similar in shape, I decided to ski them back to back and review them together. It is worth noting that these skis run pretty long for their stated size and a 185 is every bit as long as many 188s. However, the low rockered sections at tip and tail reduce the running length and these skis don’t feel as the overall look might indicate.
My first run on the Vagabond came at Mammoth and the first turns were down the tightest bumps on the infamous side of chair #1. These weren’t real bumps in the sense of calling it a mogul field but rather they were only about half formed and firmed and scoured by the wind. Right away the light weight of the Vagabond made it feel exceptionally quick for this wide of a ski (and in a 185 length). The tapered tip helped the ski to snake easily into the turns and the tail never threatened to hang up. I broke off the quick turns right near the bottom and made a hard left traverse at pretty good speed. Because the hill is dropping away to the left, this gives the sensation that you are skiing around a giant round ball and that you are actually going uphill as you traverse to get more turns. When I had gotten the room, I dropped back down the fall line and this time, I opened it up to medium-high speeds and the Vagabond was still easy and nimble but the rough traverse and the varied wind scoured snow was no challenge either. One more traverse left and I got to the steepest part and here I went from short to medium to long turns in quick succession. This lightweight ski didn’t feel shaky at all until the very last turn or two and even that was on really ratty snow. I took the last run down to the lift as an opportunity to see how fast the Vagabond could go on groomers but I really couldn’t find a limit so I couldn’t answer my own question. The light Vagabond is really nimble for a ski of this width and has the typical Nordica grip which is among the best in class. The dampening is better than expected for such a light ski but not quite the equal of a couple others in this category.
When I steered the El Capo across to the same run I had been down minutes before on the Vagabond, I was sorta thinking to myself “man…..this better be good ‘cause the Vagabond is a hard act to follow”. I followed the previous run almost turn for turn and the differing personality of the El Capo was evident right away. The El Capo was not as nimble as the Vagabond had been but it was glassy smooth and damp. The El Capo wanted to make a medium turn and seemed to be waiting for the throttle to be cracked. The faster I went, the more the El Capo wanted to go for it. The bend was continuous from the tip to the tail and felt just right. Through the roughest sections of this pitch, the El Capo felt totally controlled and it just wouldn’t shake loose. This is not a real stiff ski but like the old Enforcer of years gone by, the flex seemed just right and the stability, grip and dampening are top notch. The difference between the El Cap and the Vagabond are simply different personalities. The El Capo is smooth, stable and quiet while the Vagabond is light, springy and quick. Both do a great job and are among our favorites in the category. The choice between these two is very much a Ginger vs. Mary Ann thing. It would be a tough choice between the two, but you sorta couldn’t go wrong with either.
The Wildfire is the women's version of the Vagabond and shares the shape but adds the women's specific double width core stringers of lightweight materials. While Nordica does not publicize this ski a whole lot, it has a spectacular blend of characteristics. First, the weight and taper at tip and tail make the Wildfire feel exceptionally maneuverable for a ski of this considerable width. While there is rocker at the tip and a little at the tail, it is pretty modest and the feel is completely conventional.
Out on snow this last year, out testers marveled at the “all mountain” feel of the Wildfire. While this ski is wide enough for all but the deepest (read Heli-skiing) powder, it also has a “normal” feel when outside of the deep stuff. The substantial cambered section gives the Wildfire very good grip underfoot while the rocker and taper in the tip and tail allow it to slither through rough bumps more easily that one would expect for this width of ski. That is the type of feel that a great all mountain ski would have but when you get the Wildfire in deeper snow (knee deep) it floats and bends well enough to be thought of as powder specific as well. This is a pretty rare set of characteristics that very few skis can match.
The Patron uses a wide 113mm chassis with substantial tip and tail rise and a conventional section underfoot with low camber. The Patron differs from many other double rise skis in that the sidecut continues to get wider past the contact points so there is no early taper or reverse sidecut component to it. The Patron uses a conventional wood core.
I skied the Patron three different times in last years’ test cycle in a wide variety of conditions and it has a pretty different feel than many of the other double rise skis in this width range. As you’d expect, a ski this wide and with a significant tip and tail rocker floats exceptionally well in powder and the deeper it gets, the better this ski is. Many other skis are widest at the contact points and then the tip and tails taper in from there and become narrower than the contact points. This reduces pressure at the extremities and allows the ski to pivot or “slarve” while under the surface. The Patron does not do this as easily but the payback is that the ski feels much more conventional than heavily tapered skis. The Patron is also a little firmer in flex underfoot than some of these other types so that combines with the shape to make it somewhat more stable both in choppy crud and when outside of the powder altogether. This stability gives the Patron a higher speed capability than many skis with early taper tips and tails. Assuming that you can find good edge angles, you can actually get the tip and tail to engage which is something that heavily tapered skis can’t do. This helps to minimize some of the annoying tip flap that some skis give you. The Patron is lightning quick in the trees and grips well underfoot when out of the powder which is not a common thing.
This is the Women’s specific version of the Patron and it combines the Patrons 113mm width with the light weight double core of the “Belle” collection. Like the Patron, the La Nina has a cambered section underfoot and notable amounts of rocker in the tip and tail. The lightweight construction from the “Belle” series allows Nordica to build a very specific women's flex into the La Nina.
The La Nina has been on the market for a couple of years and has been exceptionally well received by the skiing press as one of the very best women's powder skis available. Our testers agree and the real key to their assessments is the broad range of skill levels and conditions that it is suited for. The La Nina is quick, nimble, floaty and very easy for the powder novice to handle. Yet, for all that, out expert women (who tend to choose longer sizes) find the La Nina to be stable enough to charge the crud and grippy enough underfoot to rail on groomers. Unlike heavily rockered skis or skis with a lot of taper at tip and tail, the La Nina feels more or less “normal” when the angles build and the extremities engage. For a powder specific ski……this is one that offers a lot of capability outside of the deep stuff and you don’t need to be a hard charger to ski it.
The Helldorado shares the shape and rocker profile of the Patron but it is a very different ski. While the Patron, uses a wood core with glass and carbon fiber laminates, the Heldo wraps the same core in Titanal (metal) layers. The result of this build is a heavier and more stable ski with exceptional grip underfoot for a powder ski.
In testing the Heldo for a couple of years now, we have found it to be definitely on the “charger” end of the stability scale. There are few skis in this width range that allow the kind of aggressive skiing in soft and mixed crud that this one does. In testing in mixed and chalky semi-bumpy terrain at mammoth last year, we found that the Heldo is just too much ski to dance and dice though the terrain. Rather, the ski wants to make medium to long turns and it is so damp and stable that is pretty much crushes anything short of fully formed and firmed up moguls. On the other hand, in tracked out calf to knee deep crud, the Heldo tracks smoothly without the skier feeling like he is getting knocked around. The Helldorado is probably not the choice for the skier that wants to learn how to ski powder. This is a ski for someone that already has the skill set established. For that skier, the Heldo is quick enough in the trees and supremely stable in wide open bowls. When the mountain gets all tracked out and crudded up, some of the softer and more nimble powder skis will make the better skier want to put them away. He won’t feel that way about the Heldo.
Nordica always has something in their collection for Pro Level athletes and the Bushy is the “Pro Model” ski of Nordica athlete Rory Bushfeld. This is a no nonsense ski with a huge 127mm waist width, firm flex and notable rocker. This is a ski for the biggest lines and the toughest snow conditions and is honestly best suited for elite level skiers with aspirations to filming for TGR. While we have a couple of skiers at our store that fit that description, you reviewer is not one of them and even if this ski had been available to test (it wasn’t) I was not prepared to take it out. This ski was not tested and I suppose that those who might want to consider this ski already know all about it and also know who they are.
The Nemesis is the women’s specific version of the Hell and Back and like the H&B, the Nemesis uses top and bottom layers of carbon fiber but adds a dual stringer of lightweight material in the core. This makes the Nemesis slightly lighter, softer, and more damp than most of the metal layup skis in this category.the metal skis. The Nemesis has been our best selling women’s ski in this class and our #1 seller off of demo for this width range.
Each year when I test women’s skis, I test the Nemesis again even though it hasn’t changed. I do this because I feel that the Nemesis is sort of the gold standard in Women’s skis in this width range. I got onto the Nemesis this year in about the middle of the day and right away it rose to the top of my rankings for this category. I seldom say that a ski is best in class but in this case, the Nemesis gets that nod. For my tastes, this ski has the best balance of skills in this width category. The Nemesis has a very even bend from tip to tail and with a reasonable amount of edge angle, you’ll feel the whole ski in contact with the snow. The Nemesis grips very well and has a good blend of damping and energy. The light weight makes the Nemesis feel light and nimble for a ski of this width and the turn finish is well modulated with just the right energy. The Nemesis is stellar in crud and mixed conditions and only takes a back seat in very deep powder to skis that are a fair bit wider and/or have significant rocker. The Nemesis is a great one ski quiver for a better skier especially for western conditions. The Nemesis is sold flat.
The Ace is Nordica's pro level park ski. This ski has a symmetrical shape and a center mounted stance and mount position. This ski is built with full camber, metal layup and a narrow tip and tail dimension. The result is a ski that feels solid and stable arcing on the iciest half pipe and has a lot of pop off the lip. While not especially light, the Ace trades off the playful feel of the lighter skis for greater stability. The construction of the Ace gives it very good grip and a relatively damp feel which would allow it to have good utility as an all mountain twin as long as the skier is willing to adapt to the mount position and symmetrical shape. We had little opportunity for testing of the Ace but the one tester that did get on it said that it is for better skiers and he also noted that it worked well in bumps.
The OMW (One Man Wolfpack) is the antethesis to the Ace among Nordica’s twin collection. This is a tapered shape with full camber, set back stance, and lightweight wood core with no metal. Despite having the same 86mm waist as the Ace, the OMW really resembles the Soul Rider more than it does the Ace. The feel of the OMW is light, quick, loads of pop and has a super high fun factor. With the proper mount point, this ski could make sense as a park specific ski but really, it is going to get it’s best following among skiers that want a twin that is energetic and carefree in the park but fun and easy in all mountain situations and even in some shallow powder. Those skiers will probably not choose a center mount. Serious park skiers (or bigger skiers) will prefer the Ace but those who live for the whole mountain and not just the park, will prefer the OMW or the Soul Rider.
The Avenger is a name that has been around in Nordicas lineup for some time. These have always been Nordicas mid level skis but as usual for Nordica, these models have often outperformed comparable offerings from other brands at similar price points. We tested the Avenger a couple of years ago and were quite surprised by how well it performed for our expert group of testers (not exactly the target skier type) The Avenger offers a highly useful width range for most regions and snow conditions but the most notable thing about this ski was the level of edge grip and stability we found. We found ourselves ripping around the hill at moderately high speeds and passing most of the folks on the hill. All the while the Avenger was “enough” of everything and not too much of anything. At the end of the test session many of our testers confided that this ski was/is enough ski for anyone that covets or already claims intermediate status and is looking for a great groomer ski with some upside potential and modest aspirations toward bumps or packed/mixed off trail conditions. This is a great balance of performance vs. price and it worked equally well for male and female testers.
The Elexa is one of Nordica's entry level women's specific skis. Like the HR74 the Elexa uses a 3-d ribbed construction to impart more strength and stiffness than would normally be possible at lower price points. To their credit, Nordica does not just use a different color of paint on the unisex architecture for their women's ski. The structural ribs on the Elexa are lower profile than on the unisex ski and this results in a flex that is ideally suited to the woman in this performance range. This is not a noodley soft ski that would inhibit the skiers upside potential. Rather this is a medium flex with a deep sidecut and a small (but proper) amount of tip and tail rocker. This provides a combination of shape and sidecut to help the skier coming from rentals to truly develop some skills. The Elexa also offers enough performance to satisfy that skier when they do develop those skills. The “EVO” name in the skis title reflects the fact that this ski is sold as a combined system ski that integrates the 311 binding with the EVO plate system.
