2021-2022 Nordica Enforcer Free 115

As Jonathan mentioned in his First Look, the Enforcer Pro is now Nordica’s widest ski and is available in only one length (191 cm). While it carries the increasingly ubiquitous “Pro” designation, it is not a particularly stiff ski, and rather has a flex pattern that is accessible to more than just “pro” level skiers. (It’s also worth noting that the Enforcer Pro effectively replaced the popular Nordica Patron.)

I’ve now had the chance to ski the Enforcer Pro in a variety of conditions, including spring skiing in Alaska and at Mt Bachelor; deep-powder heli skiing at Chugach Powder Guides; and inbounds powder days with the subsequent chop and crud. I’ve also had the opportunity to compare them to quite a few other powder skis in this category (check out our accompanying Deep Dive article).

Mount Point

I’ve been playing with the mount point on a lot of skis lately, but I started at the recommended line on the Enforcer Pro, and haven’t felt any reason to move the bindings. Recommended seems like the sweet spot in the sidecut for hard snow carving, but doesn’t feel unwieldy when I need to pivot and skid. Compared to skis with more forward mounts, the Enforcer Pro does turn easier when initiating the turn from the front half of the ski, but it’s still fairly easy to move them around from a more centered stance.

Spring Conditions

My first turns on the Enforcer Pro were at Alyeska Resort last April. The snow was mostly softened from the sun and heat, with some bumpy, slushy groomers. My most notable first impression from skiing this 191 cm, 115mm-wide ski with two sheets of titanal was just how easy and intuitive it was. I’ve skied a few days on the Enforcer 100 and a few runs on the Enforcer 110, and the friendly, intuitive nature of those skis was immediately notable in the Enforcer Pro, again, despite it’s “Pro” moniker. Tilting them into cleanly carved turns on the soft, bumpy groomers was easy, and the edge hold was among the best I’ve experienced in skis of this waist width.

As with my first impression on groomers, when the soft, spring groomers got bumpy, the Enforcer Pro exhibited the same smoothness and dampness I’ve come to expect from the Enforcer line. It was easy to bend the Enforcer Pro into carved turns, but the shape and metal construction also allowed for smoothly skidded turns and skids.

The smooth composure of the Enforcer Pro did falter a little when really pushing the speed. When I let the skis run on long, steep pitches at both Alyeska and at Mt Bachelor, the relatively soft shovels definitely started to flop. In deeper bumps and chop, this was magnified and prompted me to slow down a little and get back to the Enforcer Pro’s preferred velocity. I’m not saying that the Enforcer Pro can’t rally at high speeds, but they’re not as solid or composed as some other skis out there when hauling through variable conditions.

Deep Powder (Heli Skiing)

I got back on the Enforcer Pro during the first couple weeks of the main season for Chugach Powder Guides this year, and I tossed them in the basket for a couple of sunny powder days. After spending most of the previous weeks on much fatter skis, it took me a few runs to get used to the decreased float and pivotability of the Enforcer Pro compared to all of the 120-140mm skis I’d been using.

Still, the relatively soft shovels of the Enforcer Pro planed up well, and once I got used to putting a little more effort into breaking them free, the Enforcer Pro was capable of drifted turns in deep pow. It does prefer more traditional carved turns, but the Enforcer Pro can be thrown sideways to redirect or control speed when needed.

Resort Powder Days

While the Enforcer Pro does well in deep untracked powder, I think it thrives during lift-served powder days, and Alyeska has had a few great ones this season to test them. Catching first tram on any powder day is a pleasure, but when there’s been 20-30” top to bottom, life is pretty good. Alyeska had such a day recently, and I spent much of it on the Enforcer Pro.

Paul Forward reviews the Nordica Enforcer Pro for Blister
Paul Forward on the Nordica Enforcer Pro.

Just like my time with the Enforcer Pro while heli skiing, dropping into the uncut sections of pow at Alyeska was fun and predictable, albeit a little lacking in float and playfulness compared to fatter, more rockered or softer skis. Once the snow started getting a bit tracked up, however, the Enforcer Pro definitely came into its own.

Deep ruts, soft avalanche debris, and cut-up groomers were all on the menu, and the damp feel and predictable shape of the Pro provided an excellent overall experience. (I feel that the Enforcer Pro has enough tip and tail taper to feel loose in the soft snow, but not so much that the skis easily deflect or feel unpredictable). I go into specific comparisons in my Deep Dive, but I’d say that the Enforcer Pro is among the best lift-served powder skis I’ve used.

Paul Forward reviews the Nordica Enforcer Pro for Blister
Paul Forward on the Nordica Enforcer Pro.

Crud / Chop

In recent days, Alyeska has experienced a warming event with smatterings of new snow and periods of warm sun, and I’ve had a little bit of time off from guiding to enjoy the inbounds skiing. As mentioned above, the Enforcer Pro does great in these conditions. Again, I think this is largely related to the combination of the relatively minimal amount of tip taper combined with the damp metal construction. Just like in spring conditions, when I really let the skis run, the tips start to fold and the skis lost their composure. I should clarify that I weigh over 200 lbs with my boots on, and I’m talking about skiing almost recklessly fast. Overall, the Enforcer Pro remains one of the more stable skis in this class, but they do have a bit of a speed limit when slamming through set-up chop.

Paul Forward reviews the Nordica Enforcer Pro for Blister
Paul Forward on the Nordica Enforcer Pro.

Playfulness

Compared to many skis in this waist width, the Enforcer Pro has a fairly traditional mount point, and it’s not a particularly light ski. The Enforcer Pro’s flex is fairly poppy and the shovels soft enough for reasonably easy nose presses, but they’re not particularly well balanced in the air compared to more center-mounted skis. As mentioned above, slashes are fairly easy, but the Enforcer Pro is definitely not a “jibby pow ski.”

Who’s It For?

Despite its “Pro” designation, 191cm length, and titanal construction, the Enforcer Pro is a surprisingly accessible ski and shouldn’t scare away skiers who don’t have sponsor stickers all over their helmets and skis. Some of the best skiers I know ski hard on the Enforcer Pro in a wide array of conditions, and I don’t hear much from anyone about significant performance limitations for expert skiers. And yet I’ve also seen a 10- to 20-day-per-year skier who usually rides much shorter skis (e.g. 177 cm Enforcer 100) jump on the 191 cm Enforcer Pro and thoroughly enjoy it in a wide variety of conditions.

Paul Forward reviews the Nordica Enforcer Pro for Blister
Paul Forward on the Nordica Enforcer Pro.

I’m not saying that the Enforcer Pro skis super short, but if you’re lamenting the lack of a ~185 cm version, give the 191cm Pro a demo before you write it off as too long. These skis may represent the best combination of stability and ease of use I’ve encountered in this waist width.

Bottom Line

The Enforcer Pro 115 is a damp, stable ski that thrives in inbounds powder conditions, prefers a more forward stance, and is surprisingly forgiving. Overall, it’s an excellent addition to the Enforcer line, and should be on the short list for anyone looking for an inbounds powder ski.

Deep Dive Comparisons: Nordica Enforcer Pro

Become a Blister Member or Deep Dive subscriber and check out our Deep Dive of the Enforcer Pro to see how it stacks up against the Volkl Confession, ON3P Wrenegade 114, Moment Bibby / Blister Pro, HEAD Kore 117, DPS Alchemist Wailer 112, and more.

NEXT: Rocker Profile Pics

14 comments on “2021-2022 Nordica Enforcer Free 115”

  1. I would love to hear a comparison to the Nordica Girish which you seemed to like but never really followed up with a full review on.
    It is an awesome ski.

    I am also personally interested in the Head Cyclic which may also compare.

    Thanks
    Albert

  2. Hi,
    I am wondering to compare
    Salomon Q 115
    Line Supernatural 115
    Nordica Enforcer Pro

    How is the new Nordica compares to old Salomon or/and Line

    Thank you,

    Oleg

  3. “…but how at home the Enforcer Pro will feel in crud and chop remains to be seen”

    OK, as an unapologetic resort skier, THIS will probably be the key aspect of your upcoming review, for me.

    And a comparison of the tails to the late, unlamented by you guys, Patron.

    TIA!

  4. I got to ski these today. Crazy fun. I own the helldorados which these are the unofficial replacement for. They are slightly wider but feel lighter, less rocketed especially in the tail, and have much stiffer tails than the helldorado. Despite the longer length( my helldorados are 185) and less rocketed tail they didn’t seem significantly longer and were still relatively easy to ski. While I have yet to find the speed limit on my helldorados, the enforcer pro felt smoother with the tips and tails flapping less than the helldos. I didn’t find much more than 2 inches of Manmade snow today, but these things were a blast.

    • I would really love to know the answer to this question as well. Please, please provide some insight if possible.

  5. Been rocking these skis for a couple seasons now… love them to death. That being said I’ve been really enjoying the more forward mount point on my bibby tours. Have you guys played around with the mount point on the enforcer pros? My only real gripe with them is they feel very unbalanced in the air compared to my Bibby’s. I’m considering moving them up a couple cm’s as I tend to ski with a bit of a centred stance as well.

  6. A great powerful yet surprisingly playful big mountain ski for what it does to chop, groomers, chickenhead coral reef, slush and powder piles. In tight firm moguls I just try to slide and smear through and it’s pretty smooth but can be jarring and rough when you mess up but are fun in them when it’s soft. So much fun.

  7. The Enforcer 115 has been in production for five seasons with no changes to the construction. Clearly, the Enforcer Free series is still well loved, but I wonder if any changes are on the way for 22-23. Maybe they’ll adopt some form of shaped metal like K2, Volkl, Fischer, Line and others.

  8. I skied these all last year as my primary ski in Santa Fe and Taos and loved them. If the snow is only a little bit soft, they are great. The most versatile ski I have ever used in 50 years of skiing. On refrozen crap I went back to my M5’s, otherwise they are great for just about anything. I like them so much I bought a second backup pair. Good decision as they just discontinued this ski. Now we are stuck with the 110 Free which isn’t as good.

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