2018-2019 Nordica Enforcer 110

Ski: 2018-2019 Nordica Enforcer 110, 185 cm

Available Lengths: 169, 177, 185, 191 cm

Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length: 183.4 cm

Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 2182 & 2218 grams

Stated Dimensions: 140-110-129 mm

Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 141-109-131 mm

Stated Sidecut Radius: 18.5 meters

Construction: Energy 2 Ti Balsa

Core: Balsa / Poplar / Beach / Iso Wood

Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 70 mm / 48 mm

Traditional Camber Underfoot: ~3 mm

Factory Recommended Mount Point: -8.7 cm from center; ~83.0 cm from tail

Blister’s Recommended Mount Point: Factory Line

Boots / Bindings: HEAD Raptor 140 RS / Marker Jester

Days Skied: 3

Test Locations: Mt Bachelor, Bend, Oregon

[Note: Our review was conducted on the 17/18 Nordica Enforcer 110, which comes back unchanged for 18/19, except for the graphics. And you can now also read our 2nd Look at the Enforcer 110 from 3.21.18]

Intro

After the SIA show back at the end of January, this is what I had to say about the new Nordica Enforcer 110, and I’ll include now a few new notes / updates to what I wrote back then, then we’ll get to my review of the Enforcer 110 from our time at Mt Bachelor.

Jonathan Ellsworth reviews the Nordica Enforcer 110 for Blister Gear Review.
Jonathan Ellsworth at Mt Bachelor on the Nordica Enforcer 110.

What Is It?

In effect, the Enforcer 110 replaces the Nordica Patron. And we’re psyched about this.

While the Patron is a good ski in many ways and a lot of skiers loved it, it had one of the oddest tips we have ever seen on a ski — we called it “The Spear,” or “The Pancake,” because it’s the only ski we’ve ever reviewed where you could take your ski pole and pancake the tip completely flat to the snow. So when that tip got undulating at speed in bumped-up terrain, that pancake could turn into a spear, and … you get the idea.

Like the Nordica Enforcer 100 and 93, the new Enforcer 110 doesn’t have a spear / pancake tip. And furthermore we are big fans of the Enforcer 100 and Enforcer 93, and the Enforcer 110 looks every bit as interesting. Here’s why…

Flex Pattern / Shape

We’re pretty excited by how strong this ski feels. The tails of the Enforcer 110 are a bit stiffer than the Enforcer 100 — more in-line with the Enforcer 93.

Here is how I would describe the flex pattern of our test pair:

Tips: 6.5-7
Shovels: 7-8
In Front of Toe Piece: 9-9.5
Underfoot: 10
Behind Heel Piece: 9-8
Tails: 8-8.5

In other words, while the Enforcer 110 has a fairly strong and nicely supportive tail, this ski has fairly soft shovels. And in a related move that makes sense given the wider width of the 110, it has a deeper tip rocker line (for more flotation in deeper snow), and more tail splay than the Enforcer 100.

It’s fair to say that Nordica did a nice job of altering the shape of the Enforcer 110 to suit it toward improved deeper-snow performance.

The Competition?

Given that LINE isn’t bringing back the Supernatural 108 next season (Sigh. Rest In Peace, good ski), it feels like very good timing for the Enforcer 110, and it’s possible that the Supernatural 108 will end up bearing the closest resemblance to it.

On the other end of things, it’s possible that the new 110 will bear some resemblance to the (softer) J Skis The Metal. But given the weight of the Enforcer 110, I suspect that the SN108 and The Metal will be in play.

Other potentially interesting comparisons will include: Blizzard Cochise, possibly the revised Head Monster 108, Moment Belafonte, and ON3P Wrenegade 108.

The Review:

Groomers

On groomers, the Enforcer 110 bears a strong family resemblance to the Enforcer 100, which really shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. The two skis share a pretty similar construction and a very similar flex pattern. And the 185 cm Enforcer 110 shows the same willingness to make quicker, shorter turns, or to set a strong edge and sit in a turn for bigger, sweeping GS turns.

While the Enforcer 93 is the cleanest carver of the Enforcer series, the Enforcer 100 and Enforcer 110 are also both fun skis to carve.

On end-of-day groomers, when piles of soft snow have been pushed around, the Enforcer 110 definitely has a speed limit. Granted, it is a pretty high speed limit, but if best-in-class top-end stability is what you’re after, it’s not the Enforcer 110. But as I’ve been swapping back and forth onto the Enforcer 110 over the course of the past several days, I keep thinking to myself, “Fairly strong, fun to carve, quite nice.”

Big, Open Bowls (Mt Bachelor’s Summit)

Our first day at Mt Bachelor, things were fully bluebird and basically perfect. There was virtually no wind off the top of the Summit, and there was lots of perfect chalk. In open terrain and good snow like this, this is where you basically just go as fast as possible, making big, sweeping turns. And the Enforcer 110 handled this snow and terrain very well.

I couldn’t really bring myself to slow down and make more controlled turns, but if that’s how you prefer to approach scenarios like this, well that would have been a piece of cake for the Enforcer 110. I promise you, you will have zero complaints.

Jonathan Ellsworth reviews the Nordica Enforcer 110 for Blister Gear Review.
Jonathan Ellsworth on the Nordica Enforcer 110, Mt Bachelor, OR.

As for the very fast / big turns approach, the Enforcer 110 performed quite well in forgiving chalk, but at the flatter runout from the bottom of the summit — where the snow turned more variable and got chunkier and grabbier — I definitely found the speed limit of the Enforcer 110. To be clear, I was still absolutely hauling. And those soft tips and tails of the Enforcer 110 lost all composure, and I began to worry that it might end badly. But I tried the same approach on some other skis, and I think that snow at those speeds was going to be a very difficult ask for any ski to handle, and I think the 192 cm Dynastar Pro Rider or the 190 cm Moment Bibby / Blister Pro would have been my top two choices.

NEXT: Trees / Tight Places, Moguls, Etc.

50 comments on “2018-2019 Nordica Enforcer 110”

  1. This looks a lot like a stiffer Line Sick Day 110. Having actually seen them do you think that they would perform in a similar manner or are they going to be a vastly different ski?

    • Today I ski’d both the Line Sick Day 110 in a 185 and the Enforcer 110 in 177. I feel like the Enforcer was a lot more “playful” and easier to get on edge….I thoroughly enjoyed the Enforcer. Went back to the Nordica tent 2 different times because I couldn’t get enough….then again could have been the length. I wish I would have tried the Enforcer in 185

  2. I was bummed when Line discontinued the Influence 105…one of my most beloved skis. I like the Supernatural 108…what are they thinking?

    • my thought on line. They make a titanal ski, they make it for 2-3 seasons, then they skip a season of having a titanal ski, and come out with a new one again. Prophet, influence, supernatural. Went from traditional camber to tip rocker, to rocker camber rocker. What’s next? Probably redesign of the titanal insert and maybe they’ll go to the rocker flat rocker as it seems suited to the style of skiing the titanal line skis are oriented at.. directional charging and technical directional skiing thought to broaden the market they have made them more and more playful.

  3. As at least a bit of a Nordica fanboy (still loving the Hell & Backs!) I’m stoked to see the Enforcer lineup add a 110, but I’m also at least a bit dismayed to see that it includes most (all?) of the excessive tail rocker of the Patron.

    • What is the effect of excessive tail rocker?

      These look like great skis, excited to see how they compare to the 100’s.

      • The big tail rocker makes the skis ski shorter, which can make it easier to turn such a wide and heavy ski, but can affect edge grip negatively. IMO the rocker wasn’t the problem on the patron(I have them and love them along with their metal counterpart helldorado.) it was that the tails on both skis were pretty soft. The major effect this has is shrinking the fore-aft balance sweet spot. I get in a pretty low stance with both skis to help counteract this, but if you get backseat, the tails may not be able to help kick you back forward. The enforcer 110 and the enforcer pro are attempts to do away with this limitation. I got to ski the enforcer pro today and they were great, but I still love my patrons and helldo’s. for most skiers, these new models do seem like an improvement though.

  4. Really liked the enforcer 100 but thought the tail was too soft. Stiffer tail here sounds good but way too much tail rocker for my liking.

  5. Looks fun! Maybe heavy, but fun. Big fan of the original 98mm Enforcers with the turned up twintip thing. Anything over boot deep made them feel small and their tails could feel a bit fat, but overall great ski.
    Funny looking rocker/camber profile. Does it work?

    • To me, that looks like more of a rockered kick tail than anything like a true twin, but maybe that’s wishful thinking.

  6. This ski certainly looks interesting. I’d also love to see J Skis come out with a 115 ish waisted Metal. Could replace the supernatural fan base.

  7. I demo’d this in a 177 today and LOVED IT! It was very playful yet powered though the soft crud, floated powder nicely, and handled groomers at high speed no prob! I will definitely own this ski as my all around, go to everyday ski. I was also looking hard at the Volkl 100eight but at the end of the day, this Nordica Enforcer 110 had me grinning ear to ear after each run. I also tried Line Sick Day, Elan Rip Stick, Volkl Confession, and an Atomic??…all 104 to 116 underfoot and 177 to 186 in length. By far had the most fun on the enforcer.

  8. Hi Jonathan,

    Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought I remembered the Nordica rep at SIA telling me that these actually had a balsa core unlike the poplar (I think) that comprises the Enforcer 100 and 93.

    • Hi, John – your information is correct (mostly). The Enforcer 110 and Enforcer Pro have what Nordica is calling their “Energy 2 Titanium Balsa” construction, though that “balsa” core in the 110 and Pro is actually a blended core that uses Balsa, Poplar, Beech, and ISO Wood, while the Enforcer 93 and 100’s core is said to be made of just poplar and beech. But yes, Balsa is present in the 110 and Pro, but not in the 93 and 100.

  9. Now that the team has spent some time at Bachelor what would be the one ski quiver you would recommend for the area?

    Thanks

  10. Hi Jonathan,
    Interested to see if you’re going to review the Head Rsptor RS140 and if you have tried the zipfit’s in them? I Love my Fischer RC4 130’s. My only gripe is that I can’t crank up the temp in my heated boot bag and those shells are cold.

  11. Wait, Jonathan… did you say revised head monster 108? What’s going on with that? Do I need to buy the current version now!?!

  12. Hey Jonathan. Thanks for the review. Is it possible to ask how they compare to the Black Crows Atris? I am looking for something that a balance of solid and fun, and is versatile enough to work well in all kinds of Alpine off piste conditions. Obviously it will not be great in all conditions, but as long as it can hold it’s own. The Supernatural 108 always sounded perfect, but I always wanted to see a longer length. Thanks for any advice you can give.

  13. “…I think that snow at those speeds was going to be a very difficult ask for any ski to handle”

    Yep, what you said. Enforcer 110 didn’t feel like it was trying to be a crusher like the Dynastar Pro Rider. The Pro Rider types (Metal Katana, etc) love to be flat out firewalled (perhaps a bit single minded) but the Enforcer 110 was freakishly, consistently good in a basket of ways AND can be pushed really quite hard. Which brings up this,

    Someone please ski the Enforcer 110 in a 190cm and comment here (Johnathan?). Quickly, before I pull the trigger on the 185. 185 was intuitive, so neutral (in the best way possible) and just so… sweet that if the 190 maintains all of that and adds a touch of rage… palpitating thinking about it.

  14. “…and I think the 192 cm Dynastar Pro Rider or the 190 cm Moment Bibby / Blister Pro would have been my top two choices.”

    Would you say the same for the 184 Bibby? Given the metal construction, additional weight, and reduced rocker (I think) of the Enforcer 110, my suspicion would be the 110 would handle these conditions better than the 184 Bibby? Or do the soft shovels of the Enforcer negate that?

    • Hmmm, that’s tough question. I think the 185 cm Enforcer 110 might get a slight edge over the 184 Bibby — but I think the more important thing is to keep in mind the sentence that Andy quoted in the comment right above yours: very few skis in existence would have handled those speeds and those conditions well — so I really don’t think the 184 Bibby would have faired much (any?) better than the 185 cm Enforcer 110.

      On those particular laps that we’re discussing (and again, we’re just talking about the lower runout portion of the summit of Bachelor on this particular day, I was disappointed that the Enforcer 110 didn’t keep it together better. But I was skiing with reviewer Cy Whitling, and Cy thought that was pretty stupid / unfair, and he just said (twice): “No ski would handle this section well, not at those speeds.”

      Point is, my comments in that paragraph are pretty context-specific. I think the temptation is to sometimes grab on to a point of criticism and generalize out from there. But as I — and Andy right above you — have both attested, in less gruesome conditions, I think many skiers are going to find that the Enforcer 110 offers enough top-end stability and smoothness and ease of initiation. Hopefully my review — plus this Comments section plus Andy’s comments plus our Deep Dive Comparisons — provide enough details to let you locate the ski.

  15. Hi Jonathan,

    Thanks for this review, along with your deep dive, they were very informative. Do you have any recommended bindings for the Enforcer 110? The Marker Griffon 13 ID are often recommended for the Enforcer 100’s, but I have heard reports that they can be difficult to get into in deep powder.

    Thanks!

    P.S. I hope that your recovery is going well!

    • First off, thank you Blister for the brilliant insight and critical reviews!

      I would also like some information about mounting the Griffon 13 ID on these skis. I ski in-area with stiff AT boots, and am planning on mounting my new 110’s with these bindings. In addition, and most importantly, I read that the test pair was mounted (and you recommend) on the center line. Does this recommendation still hold true?

      Thanks again!

  16. Do you think moving up 1-2 cm of line would affect the stability and float of this ski very much while giving it a bit more pivoty freestyle/better in the air feel? Has anyone skied it in front of the line? Thanks!

  17. Any additional thoughts on length and whether they ski “short”?
    I demo’d and really liked the 100 in a 177.
    But with the bit bigger rocker tip and tail in the 110 and more powder oriented I’m wondering if 185 is better option even though at the upper end of what i usually ski.

    • A little late on the reply, but… I own the Enforcer 100 in a 185. (50 days on it, expert skier, 6′ 155lb) I got the 110 at 191 for the reasons you are thinking about … However, after skiing the 110 at 191 for about 6 days I sold it and sized down to the 185. The extra stability of the longer ski was nice in wide open conditions and for top speeds, charging harder, but the shorter length was more fun, especially in tighter trees and bumps. For me it didn’t loose any stability compared to the 100. My sense is that if the 110 loses any stability by having extra rocker it gains it back by being 10mm wider. (It is almost exactly the same weight.) It doesn’t “ski short”. It just has a bit more playful tail and more float in pow. So in my experience, if you are looking for a little more stability then size up, if you are happy with the length of your Enforcer 100, then get the same in the E110. There is a lot of ‘overlap’ between these two skis and they could both easily be a 1 ski quiver depending on your area.

  18. I’m a 200lb 6’1” guy and have 5 trips out on the Enforcer 110 at 185 this season.
    As a stronger intermediate/advanced skier, these skis really rip on and off piste.
    Carve much better than the QST 106 I tried last year, and have great stability underfoot. My daily drivers before were tip rocker/camber (13-14) Mantras at 184. Even on groomer days, I prefer the way these carve with the 18m radius. Fantastic manureverable powder ski with plenty of float. Great blend of strength and forgiveness.
    Haven’t tried the Head Kore series, but even with my limited experience I’m one of those people who really value metal in a ski.

    At my size, I really like the 185. It does ski shorter than the Mantra 184, but was plenty of float and stability even in 10 inches. Sure, the 191 would float a bit better but IMO the 185 has it all while retaining quickness. Personally I value quick skis and these sure are.
    I wouldn’t mind trying an Enforcer 92, but then I know the classic Mantra would be retired and I love those skis!
    These are great skis!

  19. I’m on the fence, Enforcer 110 or Tahoe 106. I’m on Tahoe 96’s as my daily driver and I love them but I’ve outgrown them (I’m a much stronger skier then when I bought them). The 106 seemed like the natural step up, basically just a burlier version of what I’m on now. Everything made sense until today when I skied the Enforcer and had a blast tearing up the remnants of yesterday’s storm. What I experienced held true with this review, the skis were great but they left a bit to be desired in variable snow. What I’m wondering is if the 106 has a significant performance advantage in difficult snow?

  20. Anyone here that has skied the new soul 7 and this one? I am doubting between these two models… i like to ski everywhere with a nice tempo. Love to make off piste bumps and jumps but do spend lot’s of time on groomers as well searching for those nice spots. Love skiing in the European woods but planning a trip to Japan this february.

    I’m affraid that the soul 7 would maybe feel to light and not as stable as the enforcer 110. Right now i am skiing Apo rocko from 2014 in the 186 cm version. I myself am 1.83 m (aproxx 6ft and my weight is 183 lbs).
    Also i am wondering with the enforcers if i would go with the 185 of 191 version…

  21. To other “big” guys looking for a POW ski that can still carve, I’m 6’3″ and 245 lbs. Yesterday was my first day on the 110’s in a 191 with Look Pivot 14’s. 7″ new pow at Snowbasin UT and snowing hard all morning. First run, hated them, but visibility was shat, then the haze moved off and it was just falling snow, I was able to get into some trees on black diamonds and let the ski do its thing, once it picked up a little speed I was in pure heaven, I can’t believe how well these things turn and smear in powder and tight spaces. They bash through crud as well and handled groomers just fine. I’m in love. I can see why so many of the staff have Enforcer skis.

  22. I’m looking for a good ski for deep snow in steeper tree’d terrain…Northwest trees around Bachelor. This looks like it might be a good fit. Any other recommendations you can give?

  23. looking for a ski that would be good in deeper snow in the trees around Nortwest at Bachelor. This looks like a good fit. I’ve also considered the following. Blizzard Rustler 11, Atomic Backland 107 or 117, Bent Chetler. I’ve also considered the Voile Supercharger with a shift (maybe a little more versatile). Looking for one that can push through the heavier deep stuff.
    I’m open to other brands. These are the ones that keep catching my eye. What comes to mind when you think of steep and deep in the trees? Any thoughts or opinions would be much appreciated.

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