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The Scores (out of 10)

• Overall Score: 7.74/10
• Rank: #3
• Versatility: 7.67
• Crud Performance: 8.17
• Flotation: 7.83
• Playfulness: 6.83
• Responsiveness: 7.83
• Quickness: 6.5
• Hard-Snow Integrity: 8.5
• Stability at Speed: 8.5
• Forgiveness: 6

The Specs

• Price: $800
• Lengths: 165, 172, 179, 186, 191
• Dimensions: 135-104-124
• Radius: 18.5
• Level: Advanced, Expert

In a Nutshell

• Pros: Hard-Snow Integrity (#2), Stability at Speed (#1)
• Cons: Forgiveness (#17), Playfulness (#9)

The Nordica Enforcer series has been a dominating product line for years, and for a good reason. Powerful, ultra-dependable, and predictable, the Enforcer 104 Free doesn鈥檛 mess around, giving back tenfold whatever you put into it. In the Enforcer lineup, 鈥淔ree鈥� designates that the model has a turned up tail to enhance versatility and playfulness, a profile you鈥檒l find in the wider skis of the Enforcer line. The Enforcer 104 is the slimmest in the Free series, with a girthier 110 and 115 for deep days that demand more float. Testers found that Enforcer 104 provided ample girth and a solid platform for smearing turns in spring corn, soft snow, and crud. Testers called it a safe choice as an everyday ripper for those out West or a solid pow ski for those out East.

The ski鈥檚 wood core, carbon reinforcement, and full-length sidewalls churn out horsepower, while subtle tip rocker and camber give the ski enough effective edge to appease powerful skiers who still want to be able to lay trenches on a wide ski. 鈥淭his ski literally can do anything,鈥� said tester Chad Jacob, a race coach from the East. 鈥淚t skis like a bigger version of its baby brothers in the narrower categories. It skis very confidently and wants to be pushed.鈥�

Power is this ski鈥檚 defining trait. Thanks to Nordica鈥檚 stiff carbon-reinforced chassis, it easily powers through cut-up snow without deflecting, provides substantial edge grip on groomers, and strikes just the right balance between burly and buttery for any turn shape the mountain requires.

Read more: Learn How the Nordica Enforcer 104 Free Stacked Up Against the Competition

While Nordica鈥檚 True Tip technology reduces the amount of plastic in the tip and tail and extends the length of the wood core into the shovel to lighten up swing weight and boost maneuverability, few testers would call the Enforcer 104 Free easy to turn or maneuverable. It takes an advanced skier to unlock the potential of this ski, and only those who know how to drive a ski from the front and actively steer their skis will be rewarded on this one. Forgiveness is not the Enforcer鈥檚 fort茅, so don鈥檛 expect this ski to let you down easily when your legs have turned to jello by the afternoon. You need to be ready to put some muscle into it because 鈥渃ruising鈥� isn鈥檛 in the Enforcer Free鈥檚 vocabulary. According to 6-foot-5 tester and expert skier Sam Cox, this ski 鈥渕ight beat people without strong fundamentals up.鈥�

If maximizing the ski day is your objective, and you thrive on pushing the speed limit, the Enforcer 104 Free is the ski for you. But for the skilled skier, the Enforcer 104 Free is a lean, mean, terrain-dominating machine. Weaving through tight trees takes a fair amount of concentration but charges down wide open faces. While more relaxed skiers might want to cross this ski off their list, our most aggressive testers marveled at the Enforcer 104 Free鈥檚 downhill chops. Snowbird freeride coach Tommy Flitton nailed it when he called the Enforcer 104 Free 鈥渁 fun, burly ski for the big dawg in your life.鈥�

is a freelance ski journalist based in Jackson, Wyoming with work featured in SKI Magazine, Powder Magazine, Freeskier, Teton Gravity Research, and Ascent Backcountry Snow Journal. She spends winters backcountry skiing in Grand Teton National Park and riding lifts at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, with the occasional trip to the Alps (for the food, obviously). While she’s been in ski boots since she learned to walk, Lily has been professionally writing about skiing, gear, and all things outdoors for the past seven years. In addition to an all-consuming addiction to powder skiing mixed with heavy doses of Type II fun, Lily takes snacking seriously, and when she鈥檚 not writing or sliding on snow, she鈥檚 likely deep into a baking project in her tiny kitchen. She is the co-author of , a collection of dirtbag-friendly recipes inspired by life in a mountain town.

The post 2023 Nordica Enforcer 104 Free Review appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

This article was first published by .

The Scores (out of 10)

• Overall Score: 7.54/10
• Rank: #5
• Versatility: 7.86
• Crud Performance: 7.43
• Flotation: 7.71
• Playfulness: 7.57
• Responsiveness: 8
• Quickness: 7.71
• Hard-Snow Integrity: 6.29
• Stability at Speed: 6.71
• Forgiveness: 7.43

The Specs

• Price: $950
• Lengths: 172, 180, 188
• Dimensions: 136-102-126
• Radius: 18.5
• Level: Intermediate to Expert

In a Nutshell

• Pros: Quickness (#3), Responsiveness (#3)
• Cons: Hard-Snow Integrity (#11), Stability at Speed (#10)

The Declivity 102 Ti, the second-widest option in the line, is a directional charger with freeride roots built to take the mountain by storm. It may have Armada in front of its name, but don鈥檛 write off the Declivity 102 Ti as a smeary freeride ski that can鈥檛 lay an edge. The Declivity Ti series combines the burly, hard-charging prowess of the Declivity X (the beefy 115mm Tof Henry pro collab model) with a more versatile all-mountain chassis, offering an 82mm, 92mm, 102mm, and 108mm waist width option for any day of the season.

A lightweight caruba wood core, full-length sidewalls, layered fiberglass, and Titanal layers with vertical cut-outs filled with elastic in the tip create a springy yet rock-solid feel underfoot, so you can point this ski where you want and trust that it will go there with precision and control. Despite feeling quiet and smooth on firm snow, the relatively light construction keeps the ski from feeling too hefty, saving your legs at the end of a long day and preventing you from getting tossed around by the ski. 鈥淭hese skis are super quick edge to edge, but also a blast when tipped up and allowed to run in a longer turn,鈥� said tester Jon Sexauer, impressed with this ski鈥檚 on-piste capabilities.

Read more: Learn How the Armada Declivity 102 Ti Stacked Up Against the Competition

Those capabilities come courtesy of the camber underfoot, rocker in the tip, and a flat tail, which not only gives the Declivity 102 Ti enough effective edge to rail on groomers but allows it to flow through crud and mixed snow. 鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to manipulate in challenging conditions,鈥� added Sexauer. 鈥淚t鈥檚 precise and nimble with the perfect blend of dampness, stability at speed, and easy turn initiation in soft snow and tight terrain.鈥�

Sexauer wasn鈥檛 the only one surprised by the hardpack performance of the Declivity, given how smeary and soft snow-oriented Armada skis have been in the past. 鈥淭he robust build makes it significantly more grippy and nimble than I anticipated,鈥� said tester Sam Cox. 鈥淭hese shred hard; they鈥檙e not your typical Armada type of playful.鈥�

Because the Declivity 102 Ti handles light storm totals and smeary corn easily, testers recommend it as a solid middle-of-the-road wide all-mountain ski that many skiers would be satisfied with as a daily driver for 98 percent of the season.

The Declivity 102 Ti is approachable for intermediate skiers but has enough power under the hood to satisfy everyone except the most demanding former racers on the hill. While the 102 Ti does remarkably well in the crud, it鈥檚 not our top choice for sending it down locked up groomers at top speeds.

鈥淚 imagine the big ego chargers would find some faults with this ski鈥檚 stability at speed, but those skiers will get tired sooner or later and rethink their attitude,鈥� quipped tester Matt Schiller, who described the Declivity 102 Ti as 鈥渃onfidence-boosting and technique-rewarding.鈥�

is a freelance ski journalist based in Jackson, Wyoming with work featured in SKI Magazine, Powder Magazine, Freeskier, Teton Gravity Research, and Ascent Backcountry Snow Journal. She spends winters backcountry skiing in Grand Teton National Park and riding lifts at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, with the occasional trip to the Alps (for the food, obviously). While she’s been in ski boots since she learned to walk, Lily has been professionally writing about skiing, gear, and all things outdoors for the past seven years. In addition to an all-consuming addiction to powder skiing mixed with heavy doses of Type II fun, Lily takes snacking seriously, and when she鈥檚 not writing or sliding on snow, she鈥檚 likely deep into a baking project in her tiny kitchen. She is the co-author of , a collection of dirtbag-friendly recipes inspired by life in a mountain town.

The post 2023 Armada Declivity 102 Ti Review appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

This article was first published by .

The Scores (out of 10)

• Overall Score: 8.59/10
• Rank: #1
• Versatility: 9.57
• Crud Performance: 9
• Flotation:听7.86
• Playfulness: 7.86
• Responsiveness: 8.86
• Quickness:听8.14
• Hard-Snow Integrity: 9
• Stability at Speed: 8.86
• Forgiveness: 6.57

The Specs

• Price: $800
• Lengths: 170, 177, 184, 191
• Dimensions: 142-102-124
• Radius: 16 (177cm)
• Level: Advanced, Expert

In a Nutshell

• Pros: Stability at Speed (#1), Responsiveness (#1)
• Cons: Playfulness (#2), Forgiveness (#12)

The all-new Mantra 102 won us over with its ability to chow down on any conditions the mountain threw at us. With so many exceptional wide all-mountain skis on the market, to have the Mantra 102 be such a standout is a testament to V枚lkl鈥檚 commitment to their craft, and according to tester Peter Nestor, a professional boot fitter from Sun Valley, 鈥渋t鈥檚 the benchmark of the category.鈥�

The ski鈥檚 102mm waist is a happy middle ground between the sleek 96mm M6 Mantra and the pow-hungry Katana 108. As such, it鈥檚 a nimble and energetic ski that testers raved about in soft snow, hardpack, and crud. 鈥淭his was one of the best skis I鈥檝e been on in years,鈥� said Montana-based tester Sam Cox, though he added it鈥檚 a ski primarily 鈥渁imed at advanced skiers.鈥�

The poplar and beech wood core, full-height sidewalls, and Titanal frame create a lively ski with plenty of pop that stays firmly planted on the ground when rallying fast hardpack turns. Its elegant lines are tailored toward edge hold on natural snow and demolishing crud while providing enough surface area to sail through fresh powder smoothly. Carbon tips boost the torsional rigidity advanced skiers among our test crew raved about while reducing swing weight for easy steering and responsiveness in the trees. Speed demons, take note: we couldn鈥檛 find the speed limit鈥攖his ski arcs fast turns with incredible precision.

搁别濒补迟别诲:听See How the V枚lkl Mantra 102 Compares to Its Closest Competition

Despite its all-mountain prowess, the Mantra 102 is not for the faint of heart. 鈥淪trong intermediate skiers can get on the Mantra, but only the best skiers will unlock its full potential,鈥� said tester Jon Sexauer, an expert skier with a freestyle background. 鈥淚 was surprised how much of a difference speed made with this ski. It feels a little difficult to manage at slower speeds, but as you speed up, this ski feels smoother and more enjoyable. If you鈥檙e strong or bold enough to open it up, the Mantra 102 will reward you.鈥�

With a 20m turn radius, the Mantra 102 favors fast, wide open turns instead of slithering through the woods at low speeds, but V枚lkl鈥檚 3D sidecut design does allow you to transition from long radius to short turns when the terrain suddenly changes. 鈥淰枚lkl has a winner here,鈥� said Alta local Gabe Glosband, who noted that before the Mantra, he had yet to find a V枚lkl ski with enough playful energy. 鈥淚 could easily ski this ski every day and be very happy. This ski is category-defining.鈥�

鈥淎n absolute hoot at full throttle in wide open terrain,鈥� said Sexauer. 鈥淚f you enjoy powering through crud, this ski can do it, but you have to be on top of it. Just don鈥檛 expect the Mantra 102 to let you off the hook when your legs are trashed at the end of the day. They aren鈥檛 forgiving and will make you pay for mistakes.鈥�

is a freelance ski journalist based in Jackson, Wyoming with work featured in SKI Magazine, Powder Magazine, Freeskier, Teton Gravity Research, and Ascent Backcountry Snow Journal. She spends winters backcountry skiing in Grand Teton National Park and riding lifts at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, with the occasional trip to the Alps (for the food, obviously). While she’s been in ski boots since she learned to walk, Lily has been professionally writing about skiing, gear, and all things outdoors for the past seven years. In addition to an all-consuming addiction to powder skiing mixed with heavy doses of Type II fun, Lily takes snacking seriously, and when she鈥檚 not writing or sliding on snow, she鈥檚 likely deep into a baking project in her tiny kitchen. She is the co-author of , a collection of dirtbag-friendly recipes inspired by life in a mountain town.

The post 2023 V枚lkl Mantra 102 Review appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

This article was first published by .

The Scores (out of 10)

• Overall Score: 8.35/10
• Rank: #2
• Versatility: 9
• Crud Performance: 8
• Flotation: 8
• Playfulness: 8.57
• Responsiveness: 8.86
• Quickness: 8.57
• Hard-Snow Integrity: 8.14
• Stability at Speed: 8.57
• Forgiveness: 8.29

The Specs

• Price: $900
• Lengths: 180, 187, 194
• Dimensions: 138-106-12
• Radius: 21 (187cm)
• Level: Advanced, Expert

In a Nutshell

• Pros: Playfulness (#1), Quickness (#1)
• Cons: Hard-Snow Integrity (#4), Stability at Speed (#3)

It鈥檚 rare to come across a ski that鈥檚 intuitive for the user on the first run, but that鈥檚 the Sender 106 Ti+ in a nutshell. The Sender series is an evolution of the Black Ops Sender skis and the wildly successful S-Series, and the resulting all-new Sender 106 Ti+ is a lively freeride ski with serious all-mountain chops.

Featuring a responsibly sourced poplar core, carbon layers, and a Titanal beam, the 106 Ti+ harnesses ample power for popping, carving, and slashing all over the hill while quieting harsh feedback on firm snow. The 106mm waist鈥攖he second widest option in the Sender line after the beefier 112mm Sender Squad鈥攑rovides the perfect platform to float through soft snow. Testers found that waist width hits the sweet spot, giving the ski top marks in Playfulness and Quickness thanks to effortless turn initiation in crud and soft snow.

鈥淭he more variables in the snow, the steadier it stayed,鈥� commented Matt Schiller, a longtime ski tester and professional boot fitter based in Park City, Utah. 鈥淚 found no issues from hard boiler plate to wet crud. Your eyes can lead you into any terrain, and your feet will be planted and connected.鈥� Rossignol鈥檚 signature AirTip technology, which features a low-density honeycomb pattern in the rockered tip and tails, keeps swing weight low so you can smear, pivot, and swivel on a dime while also cutting vibrations for a smooth ride.

搁别濒补迟别诲:听See How the Rossignol Sender 106 Ti+ Compares to Its Closest Competition

While the Sender 106 Ti+ doesn鈥檛 have the same need for speed as some of the other all-mountain skis we tested (stability scores dipped when we rallied fast down hardpack), it can hold its own on firm snow, as long as you鈥檙e not expecting to rail the cleanest turns of your life on frozen groomers. Advanced skiers will enjoy the 106 Ti+鈥檚 ability to open it up, but testers agreed you don鈥檛 have to be throwing down to access the potential of these skis. As you push the ski, it becomes more energetic and performs better. 鈥淪trong intermediate skiers will enjoy how easy it is to ride the Sender 106 Ti+ and be able to grow with the ski as they start exploring the mountain more,鈥� said tester Jon Sexauer, an expert skier who grew up in the terrain park. 鈥淎dvanced skiers will have no issue riding these anywhere on the mountain.鈥� In short, playful freeriders will enjoy the intuitive nature of these capable planks, while intermediate skiers will feel like they have a set of keys to unlock new terrain on the hill.

鈥淎bsolutely the best evolution of a storied brand using vast experience to lead the sport in what is possible for all-mountain ripping,鈥� said Schiller. If the mountain is your canvas, then the Sender 106 is your brush.

is a freelance ski journalist based in Jackson, Wyoming with work featured in SKI Magazine, Powder Magazine, Freeskier, Teton Gravity Research, and Ascent Backcountry Snow Journal. She spends winters backcountry skiing in Grand Teton National Park and riding lifts at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, with the occasional trip to the Alps (for the food, obviously). While she’s been in ski boots since she learned to walk, Lily has been professionally writing about skiing, gear, and all things outdoors for the past seven years. In addition to an all-consuming addiction to powder skiing mixed with heavy doses of Type II fun, Lily takes snacking seriously, and when she鈥檚 not writing or sliding on snow, she鈥檚 likely deep into a baking project in her tiny kitchen. She is the co-author of , a collection of dirtbag-friendly recipes inspired by life in a mountain town.

The post 2023 Rossignol Sender 106 Ti+ Review appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.