Nordica Santa Ana 93 review 2019
PROSKILAB™ reviewers' comments
The Santa Ana 93 is the narrowest in the Santa Ana all-mountain and freeski line.
On the groomed runs, the ski was notable for its liveliness and the grip provided by the ski's tail as long as you don't ride it too far forward. The ski is relatively snappy for this category and super fun in short turns.
Off-piste, it floats easily in powder and cuts through chopped-up snow because it has a relatively wide waist, for this category.
The reviewers found the ski soft at the tip and stiff in the tail, which meant that riders need time to adapt to it, and need to find the right positioning. While the stiff tail boosts grip, the softer tip means rides are less incisive on hard pack.
The Santa Ana 93 is a great solution for good riders who want a very versatile all-mountain ski.
Review: Pros
- Versatile
- Great piste/off-piste compromise
- Manoeuvrable, easy turn initiation
- Comfortable in short turns
- Good skid/carving transition
- Incisive
Review: Cons
- Inconsistent flex, soft at the tip and stiff in the tail
- Needs time to adapt and good positioning
- Floats at high speed on hard pack
The ski review scores
| Turn initiation | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 11.0 |
| Stability | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 11.0 |
| Stability/turning performance | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 13.0 |
| Grip | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.0 |
| Short turn performance | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 14.0 |
| Long turn performance | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.0 |
| Skid turn performance | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 11.0 |
| Handleability | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 11.0 |
| Comfort | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 11.0 |
| Snow contact | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 11.0 |
| Soft snow fluidity | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.8 |
| Freeride - Flotation quality | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 14.8 |
| Handling in powder | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 13.8 |
| Performance on hard snow | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 13.0 |
| Freeride - Performance on hard snow | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 10.0 |
| All-terrain comfort | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 11.0 |
Who's it for?
Manufacturer's remarks
Well-balanced and particularly attractive, the Santa Ana 93 ski is in its element wherever it is in the mountain. The narrowest in the Santa Ana collection, the ski will carve out impeccable turns on the groomers and will wow the audience in the powder. It features a balsawood and carbon core, sandwiched between two sheets of metal, a formula that keeps weight to a minimum and makes it easy to handle.
The ski also helps to boost confidence, dampening vibrations and ensuring strong edge hold for especially smooth and stable rides. Finally, the early rise tip and the rocker in the tail give it extra flotation in the powder as well as perfect responses in every situation. The short radius makes it easy to handle both in turns and in transitions. And with 93 mm underfoot, it's exceptionally versatile. It's the perfect ski for riders who want to explore the mountain from every angle. Light, powerful and agile, the Santa Ana 93 is the best-balanced ski in the collection.
Features of the Santa Ana 93
| Brand : | Nordica |
| Model : | Santa Ana 93 |
| Year : | 2019 |
| Family : | All-mountain |
| Size tested : | 169 cm |
| Tip size : | 124 mm |
| Waist size : | 93 mm |
| Tail size : | 112 mm |
| Radius for the size reviewed : | 13 m |
Your review
Reviewed by PROSKILAB™
in La Clusaz, France, March 2018