Ski: 2024-2025 Nordica Santa Ana 92, 179 cm
Test Location: Crested Butte Mountain Resort, CO
Days Skied: 10+
Available Lengths: 150, 155, 161, 167, 173, 179 cm
Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length (straight-tape pull): 177.6 cm
Stated Weight per Ski: 2040 grams
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 2045 & 2070 grams
Stated Dimensions: 125.5-92-113.5 mm
Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 128-93.5-116 mm
Stated Sidecut Radius (179 cm): 17.5 meters
Measured Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 65 mm / 19.5 mm
Measured Traditional Camber Underfoot: 5.5 mm
Core Materials: poplar/beech + partial titanal layer + elastomer layer + fiberglass laminate
Base: sintered
Factory Recommended Mount Point: -7 cm from center; 81.8 cm from tail
Boots Used: Lange Shadow 115 LV W
Bindings Used: Marker Griffon 13
Intro
Last season, Nordica announced the overhaul of their longstanding and widely popular directional, metal-laminate skis for both women and men: the Santa Ana and Enforcer series.
Over the past decade, we have spent a lot of time on all the previous versions of the Santa Ana and Enforcer lineups, and the Santa Ana skis have stood out for years in the women-specific all-mountain category because of their damp and stable rides.
On paper, several changes have been integrated across the 24/25 lineups, but the core identity of both the Santa Ana and Enforcer series has remained the same. I.e., they’re still designed to be versatile skis for those who prefer fairly strong skis that stay composed in a variety of snow conditions. So, what we were really curious about was how the changes translated to performance on the snow, and how noticeable the on-paper differences would be.
In our First Look video below, we examined the constructional changes. We have since spent a lot more time on both the Santa Ana 92 and Enforcer 99, as well as the Santa Ana 102, Enforcer 94, and Enforcer 104. We’re kicking off our long-term Full Reviews with the Santa Ana 92.
What Nordica says about the Santa Ana 92:
“Complete Confidence
Fall in love with skiing all over again with Nordica’s redesigned Santa Ana 92. A favorite among skiers who spend most of their time on trails, this all-mountain ski offers tremendous versatility and no shortage of confidence. For an especially smooth and stable ride, the Santa Ana 92 features a fresh construction that pairs both a wood core and an elastomer Pulse Core with a sheet of terrain-specific metal. Combined with a versatile waist width, this construction amplifies control and response. And thanks to its outstanding edge hold, the Santa Ana 92 is at home making powerful and precise turns. Fuel your passion with Nordica’s Santa Ana 92.”
Women-Specific Aspects of the Santa Ana Series
Nordica has maintained a women-specific design for the 24/25 Santa Ana lineup, as they have in years past. While both the Santa Ana and Enforcer received similar changes, the Santa Ana skis feature only one sheet of metal, whereas the Enforcer lineup features two sheets of metal.
Nordica has been using their “Terrain-Specific Metal” design in the Santa Ana series for a while, wherein the narrower, more firm-snow-oriented models have metal layers that cover a larger percentage of the whole ski, while the wider models have a metal layer that’s a bit smaller relative to their overall size. The idea is that you get a more precise ride from the skis that will spend more time on firmer snow and a more maneuverable one from the skis that will see more time spent off piste and in softer conditions.
Also worth noting, Nordica offers the Santa Ana 92, Santa Ana 97, and Santa Ana 102 in sizes that range from ~150-179 cm, which is a pretty expansive size range to suit a lot of different skiers.
Construction
As Nordica touched on in their description and we discussed in our First Look video, the Santa Anas feature some constructional changes for 24/25. While they still feature a poplar / beech wood core and layer of metal, Nordica added a new elastomer layer to the core, which is intended to dampen vibrations.
Nordica also uses their “True Tip” design in these skis, which reduces the amount of ABS plastic in the shovel and instead lengthens the wood core to help reduce swing weight.
Shape & Rocker Profile
The 24/25 Santa Ana series features similar shapes but slightly revised rocker profile from previous versions. The new models have a steeper tip rise and a more rockered and turned-up tail.
Overall, the latest Santa Ana 92 looks pretty similar to the prior generation. It features a bit more early tapering at its tips and tails than, say, the Blizzard Black Pearl 94, but its rocker lines aren’t as deep as some skis designed for maximum maneuverability, such as the Salomon QST Lux 92.
Flex Pattern
Here’s how we’d characterize the flex pattern of the Santa Ana 92:
Tips: 6.5-7
Shovels: 7.5-8.5
In Front of Toe Piece: 9-10
Underfoot: 10
Behind the Heel Piece: 10-9.5
Tails: 9-8.5
The Santa Ana 92 is pretty strong overall, and its flex pattern feels decidedly directional — its tails are notably stiffer than its tips / shovels.
Sidecut Radius
The 179 cm Santa Ana 92 has a stated sidecut radius of 17.5 m. The prior-generation 179 cm Santa Ana 93 had a stated sidecut radius of 17.1 m, which is overall very similar and nothing wildly out of the ordinary for this class.
Mount Point
With a recommended mount point of about -7 cm from true center, the Santa Ana 92 has a slightly more forward mount point than some comparable options in the directional, metal-laminate class.
Weight (and Comparisons)
Our 179 cm Santa Ana 92 came in at about 2060 grams per ski, making it one of the heavier current women-specific skis we've weighed.
For reference, here are some of our measured weights (per ski in grams) for some notable skis. As always, keep in mind the length and width differences to try to keep things more apples-to-apples.
1393 & 1419 Ferreol Explo 86, 174 cm
1496 & 1509 Head Kore 85 W, 170 cm
1550 & 1603 Elan Ripstick 94 W, 168 cm
1563 & 1577 Dynastar M-Pro 92 W, 162 cm
1572 & 1575 Head Kore 91 W, 170 cm
1578 & 1583 Head Kore 103 W, 170 cm
1627 & 1653 Head Kore 97 W, 170 cm
1638 & 1639 Atomic Maven 93 C, 172 cm
1690 & 1700 Blizzard Black Pearl 84, 170 cm
1693 & 1710 Moment Sierra, 172 cm
1697 & 1742 Salomon Stance 88 W, 174 cm
1711 & 1712 Majesty Havoc 90 Ti, 178 cm
1741 & 1747 Nordica Unleashed 98 W, 174 cm
1744 & 1921 Atomic Maven 103 CTi, 178 cm
1745 & 1734 Salomon Stance 94 W, 168 cm
1751 & 1752 Blizzard Sheeva 9, 172 cm
1760 & 1771 Shaggy's Belle 90, 174 cm
1762 & 1779 K2 Mindbender 89Ti W, 170 cm
1762 & 1781 Dynastar M-Pro 92 W, 178cm
1762 & 1830 DPS Kaizen 105, 179 cm
1764 & 1794 Fischer Ranger 90, 170 cm
1773 & 1785 Blizzard Black Pearl 88, 170 cm
1787 & 1798 Faction Dancer 2, 172 cm
1788 & 1793 Zag Harfang 96 Lady, 170 cm
1792 & 1792 Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free, 172 cm (20/21–23/24)
1797 & 1839 Rossignol Rallybird 104 Ti, 171 cm (20/21–23/24)
1812 & 1817 Salomon Stance 94 W, 174 cm
1815 & 1825 Majesty Havoc 100 Ti, 176 cm
1817 & 1818 Dynastar M-Pro 98 W, 178 cm
1822 & 1843 Armada Reliance 92 Ti, 172 cm
1845 & 1873 Blizzard Black Pearl 97, 171 cm (21/22-23/24)
1847 & 1854 Wagner Summit 106, 172 cm
1851 & 1856 Blizzard Sheeva 10, 180 cm
1880 & 1916 Fischer Ranger 102, 176 cm
1882 & 1938 Salomon Stance 102, 176 cm
1883 & 1925 Volkl Secret 96, 170 cm
1884 & 1894 Folsom Cash 106, 176 cm
1885 & 1907 Salomon QST Lumen 98, 176 cm
1928 & 1945 K2 Mindbender 99Ti W, 172 cm
1933 & 1953 Blizzard Black Pearl 94, 176 cm
1933 & 1975 Volkl Secret 96, 170 cm (21/22–23/24)
1957 & 1974 4FRNT MSP CC, 171cm
1958 & 1960 Faction Dancer 3, 172 cm
1969 & 1988 4FRNT MSP CC, 171 cm (20/21–22/23)
1994 & 2001 Peak 98 by Bode, 178 cm
2010 & 2063 Volkl Secret 102, 170 cm
2045 & 2070 Nordica Santa Ana 92, 179 cm
2125 & 2139 Nordica Santa Ana 102, 179 cm
With all the tech and specs out of the way, let’s get into how all of that translates on snow:
For the 2024-2025 season, we’ve partnered with Carv to use their Carv 2 sensors and digital ski coach app to not only learn more about our own skiing technique, but also add more useful info to our ski reviews. Here, you’ll see us reference some of the data that the Carv 2 sensors record and analyze while we’re skiing. Check out our announcement to learn more about how Carv works, why we’re excited to use it as a tool for our reviews, and how to get a discount on your own Carv setup.
FULL REVIEW
Kara Williard (5’9”, 170 lbs / 175 cm, 77 kg): Last January, we received a couple of slightly mysterious Nordica models at Blister HQ, which we eventually found out were the updated 24/25 versions of the Nordica Santa Ana 92 and Enforcer 99. Since then, Nordica has rolled out their entirely new 24/25 Santa Ana and Enforcer lineups, and you can view all the details in this video.
Longtime readers of Blister will know that I (and several of our other reviewers) have gotten along well with various versions of Nordica’s Santa Ana skis. My initial reaction to the news of an overhauled lineup left me both intrigued and slightly apprehensive.
As I mentioned in my Flash Review, I’ve been excited to be testing the new Santa Ana 92 in a 179 cm length, since the 172 cm Santa Ana 93 we’ve previously tested always felt a bit short for me. I’m glad that Nordica is offering a really broad size range for the 24/25 skis, though, given the length differences between the versions we’ve tested, I’ll do my best to note where any differences I noticed between them might be influenced by the different lengths.
With that caveat out of the way, I have spent many days on the 179 cm Santa Ana 92 and 179 cm Santa Ana 102 over the past year, and I am ready to offer my full report on where the Santa Ana 92 excels and how it compares to the rest of the women’s all-mountain market.
Groomers
The Santa Ana 92 is a ski that performs very well on piste, despite its versatility elsewhere. Throughout my days skiing the Santa Ana 92, I always enjoyed carving it on piste.
On grippy groomers, especially those with natural snow, the Santa Ana 92 is extremely precise and stable. It feels confidence-inspiring when tipping into high edge angles and applying as much force as my legs could muster. It carves really, really well in general, but especially for an all-mountain ski.
The Santa Ana 92 is a powerful ski across the board. On groomers, the more pressure I applied to the shovels via a forward stance, the livelier and snappier the Santa Ana 92 felt.
Although it feels most intuitive when skiing in this manner, I found that I could still back off it a little and make quicker and/or less precise skids and slarves. By that, I mean I didn’t always need to keep it on edge, and the Santa Ana 92 never felt overly punishing when I had to ease up to rest my tired legs.
As the groomers get a bit scraped off, the Santa Ana 92 is still an impressively stable and precise ski for its width. However, if on-piste precision is your very top priority, a narrower, more piste-specific ski would likely be your best bet.
My Carv data on the Santa Ana 92 reinforces my general perceptions of its on-piste performance. After lapping groomers for many days on many different skis, the days I spent carving groomers on the Santa Ana 92 yielded some of my best carving data, particularly in terms of Carv’s overall “Ski IQ,” as well as my max edge angles, and mid-turn edge build (the latter is Carv’s metric that “measures how much you continue to build edge angles in the middle phase of the turn”).
Compared to the prior-gen Santa Ana 93, I found the Santa Ana 92 to be a bit more precise and powerful, as well as a bit more damp and stable. Some of this (particularly overall stability) could be attributed to the difference in length, but the Santa Ana 92 feels like an overall more precise and powerful ski compared to past versions.
Moguls, Trees, & Tight Terrain
The Santa Ana 92 is a well-rounded all-mountain ski, especially considering how enjoyable it is on-piste. I did plenty of skiing in moguls and tight terrain aboard the Santa Ana 92, and what has stood out is how damp and stable it is, while also feeling quite energetic. The Santa Ana 92 is not particularly playful overall – it’s not very surfy, forgiving, or the quickest in terms of swing weight. But if I commit to a forward stance and drive it through each turn, I’ve found it can feel quite lively and dynamic.
This is especially true whenever I found myself actively putting a lot of force / input into the ski; it seemed to reciprocate this energy pretty well. Just like my experience on piste, the more I worked to bend the ski, the more pop it returned in each transition to launch me between turns. This made for a very fun and lively ride in most moguls, especially relative to how calm and composed it can feel at higher speeds.
The Santa Ana 92 is not the most agile or maneuverable ski in its class by any means, but experienced skiers with good technique may be surprised by how dynamic it feels. I could let off a bit and didn’t have to be on my A-game the entire time to enjoy it (especially in broader-spaced bumps), but I think this ski really excels and “comes alive” when pushed a bit harder.
On days when I am looking for an easy, forgiving ride on long, tight mogul runs, I would likely choose a more playful, less demanding ski (e.g., Nordica’s Unleashed 98). But for days with a lot of firm snow, groomers, and some tight terrain mixed in, the Santa Ana 92 is a well-rounded, suitable option – especially within the directional, metal-laminate category.
Powder & Soft Chop
The damp, stable ride that the Santa Ana 92 offers on firm or shallow snow can certainly translate well to chop, but this ski wouldn’t be my first choice for soft or deep conditions. Of course, the wider Santa Ana 102 floats quite a bit better than the narrower Santa Ana 92, and it’s more maneuverable, but the Santa Ana 92 still has some traits that can work well in these conditions.
The Santa Ana 92 does a respectable job of keeping from getting bogged down / hung up in soft chop, relative to its width, and it does a great job of keeping its composure in shallower, cut-up conditions.
However, the deeper and/or more variable the snow, the more I found myself getting thrown out off balance on this ski. In punchier or deeper snow, my natural inclination is to be slightly more upright and centered over a ski, but the Santa Ana 92 doesn’t respond very well to that. It always responds best to a forward stance, which limits its capability in deeper snow where taking that approach can lead to the tips submerging.
For these reasons, the Santa Ana 92 stands out as a ski most enjoyable on-piste and across the entire mountain when conditions are firm or shallower than a few inches. It’s less ideal for softer, deeper conditions, when I’d be more inclined to grab something wider than 100 mm underfoot.
Firm Chop & Crud
The Santa Ana 92 has the potential to be a great ski in shallow crud, provided you maintain the form / technique that it prefers. When I get more centered or backseat on this ski, its tails can hang up and feel a bit punishing, especially in less-than-ideal snow conditions. This sensitivity to stance is similar to my experience on the wider Santa Ana 102. That ski is a bit more accessible in crud and other variable snow, but the new 102 feels a bit more precise and demanding than the prior-gen Santa Ana 104 Free.
That said, the excellent suspension of the Santa Ana 92 has translated quite well to shallow chop and crud. I suspect it’s not quite as damp as the men’s Enforcer series, given that the Santa Ana models are lighter and feature less metal. But when looking at other women’s skis in its class, the Santa Ana 92 is definitely among the better skis I’ve tested when it comes to composure in chop and how it mutes out rough snow conditions.
Compared to the previous Santa Ana 93, I’ve found this new version to be a touch more precise and quite a bit more stable. As for stability, I imagine some of that comes from skiing this latest version in a longer length that feels more appropriate for me, but I also think that Nordica’s construction changes have improved the damping and composure – which is saying a lot, considering that the old Santa Anas already felt pretty impressive in this regard. This is something that our male reviewers have also noticed when comparing the 24/25 Enforcers to the previous versions.
There are plenty of more rockered, softer, and/or lighter skis in this class that are more nimble and forgiving, so if you want something that’s more intuitive when skiing more conservatively, check out our Deep Dive comparisons and our Winter Buyer’s Guide. But the Santa Ana 92 warrants a close look for those who prefer a more planted and composed ride, even if it’s not the most forgiving when they make a mistake or get off balance.
Length
In the past, many of the Santa Ana skis were available up to a 172 cm length. I could get along with some of them, but I often found myself wanting to try a longer version.
For reference, I’m 5’9”, 170 lbs (175 cm, 77 kg,) and I typically prefer skis in lengths between 170-185 cm, with the shorter skis often falling into the more demanding and directional category. Interestingly, the Santa Anas fall into this category, but the previous 172 cm Santa Ana 93 always felt too short for me, which is why I didn’t get along with it too well. Given that, I was excited to try the new 179 cm Santa Ana 92, and it definitely feels like the right length for me.
Yes, it is one of the heavier and longer skis I’ve tried in this class, but I’ve really enjoyed it in most situations, as long as I was skiing strong and maintaining a traditional, forward stance. Despite its length, it hasn’t felt overly demanding to me. Where the Santa Ana 92 really excels — on firmer snow and groomers — the stability and composure of the 179 cm length have been much appreciated.
All this to say, I probably would have preferred the prior-gen Santa Ana 93 in a longer length. While the new Santa Ana 92 does feel a bit more damp and precise, I don’t think there’s much reason to switch up your length if you already enjoyed one of the previous Santa Anas in a given length. If you’re coming from much lighter, softer, and/or more rockered skis, it might make sense to size down on the Santa Ana 92, but I think most people who think this is the right ski for them should stick to their usual size for this class. If you want more advice on choosing ski lengths and the factors that go into that decision, check out our article and video on How to Think about Ski Length.
Who’s It For?
First off, for Santa Ana fans who were concerned by the news of the 24/25 updates, I can pretty confidently say that this new version maintains a lot of what people like me have come to like about the previous skis. However, the new Santa Ana 92 feels a touch more energetic, stable, and precise — all without feeling significantly more demanding.
For strong, directional skiers who want a strong, directional ski, Nordica’s latest Santa Anas are still some of our top picks. As for the Santa Ana 92 in particular, this ski makes the most sense for someone who fits that description and wants a narrow-ish all-mountain ski that offers good suspension and edge hold on groomers and firm off-piste snow.
If all this sounds good, but you’ll spend more time in softer, deeper, or more variable conditions, the Santa Ana 102 makes more sense, and I will have a lot more to say about that ski pretty soon.
Overall, the precise, powerful, and composed ride of the Santa Ana 92 will appeal most to stronger skiers who are looking for a ski that rewards their active input with stability and a fun amount of energy.
Bottom Line
For about a decade, Nordica’s Santa Ana series have been reference skis for us in the directional, women-specific category. The revised 24/25 updates offer subtle but appreciable improvements to those who liked these skis for their precision and stability, all while preserving the skis’ core identity. The latest Santa Ana 92 feels at home on piste, offering impressive precision and composure, while still being versatile enough to enjoy as an all-mountain ski in firmer, more consistent off-piste conditions.
Our Deep Dives, Winter Buyer’s Guide, & Flash Reviews
BLISTER+ members and those who purchase our Digital Access Pass can check out the Deep Dive comparisons linked below, where we compare a given ski, bike, etc. to a whole bunch of other comparable products in its class. Don’t have access? Get our Digital Access Pass to read all of our Deep Dive comparisons, as well as our Flash Reviews, where we provide our initial impressions as soon as we start testing gear.
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On that note, you can also get our thoughts on this ski and 300+ others in our 2024-2025 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide. BLISTER+ members already have access, or you can purchase the guide on its own to get the the print copy + digital version at no extra cost, or the digital-only edition.
24/25 Nordica Santa Ana 92
Nordica is updating all their Santa Ana skis for 24/25, and we’ve been skiing the replacement for the Santa Ana 93, the new Santa Ana 92. Check out our initial on-snow impressions.
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2024-2025 Blister Digital Winter Buyer’s Guide
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Deep Dive: Nordica Santa Ana 92
We compare the Nordica Santa Ana 92 to the previous Nordica Santa Ana 93, Nordica Santa Ana 102, Blizzard Black Pearl 94, Volkl Secret 96, K2 Mindbender 89Ti W, Majesty Havoc 90 Ti, Atomic Maven 93 C, Dynastar M-Pro 92 W, Blizzard Sheeva 9, Armada Reliance 92 Ti, Peak 98 by Bode, K2 Mindbender 99Ti W, & 4FRNT MSP CC.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.
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