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PTO Review
We skied them. Here's how they stack up.
These skis span 2 categories (All-Mountain, Carving). Scores reflect each ski's intended use — direct comparison across all dimensions may be misleading.
Santa Ana 82 — intermediate-to-advanced women who spend most of the day on groomers and firm snow and want quick, short-radius carving. Octo — intermediate-to-advanced skiers who love carving groomers and want something lighter and more playful than traditional metal carving skis. Check the radar chart below to see where each one wins.
Each row compares all skis on one dimension. 🏆 marks the highest score.
| Dimension | Santa Ana 82 | Octo |
|---|---|---|
| Carving | 8🏆 | 8🏆 |
| Park | 1 | 2🏆 |
| Playfulness | 6 | 7🏆 |
| Forgiveness | 8🏆 | 6 |
| Stability | 6🏆 | 6🏆 |
| Powder | 3🏆 | 2 |
Intermediate-to-advanced women who spend most of the day on groomers and firm snow and want quick, short-radius carving. It suits skiers building both their carving and their first off-piste skills, lighter or less-aggressive skiers who want the most forgiving Santa Ana, and firm-snow and East Coast skiers who value edge grip and edge-to-edge quickness over float - genuine Santa Ana metal quality at the lowest price in the line.
Progressing beginners: it is still a titanal ski that wants input, and too much ski for a first pair. Powder- and soft-snow-first skiers should look elsewhere - at 82mm the float is low, and the wider Santa Ana 92 or 97, or a dedicated powder ski, is the tool for deep days. Anyone who wants one ski for variable or Western snow should size up the line; the 82 is too narrow to cover the whole mountain. Skiers chasing carve rebound and pop, or a locked-in race-carve, will find the stiff tails give predictability rather than energy. And chargers who want high-speed bomber stability should look elsewhere - this is a light, narrow ski with only moderate composure at speed.
Intermediate-to-advanced skiers who love carving groomers and want something lighter and more playful than traditional metal carving skis.
Ice coast carvers who need maximum edge hold. High-speed chargers. Anyone who ventures off-piste.
The Santa Ana 82 is best for intermediate-to-advanced women who spend most of the day on groomers and firm snow and want quick, short-radius carving. The Octo is best for intermediate-to-advanced skiers who love carving groomers and want something lighter and more playful than traditional. The right choice depends on your primary terrain, ability level, and riding style.
The Nordica Santa Ana 82 scores highest in Stability at 6/10, making it the strongest all-mountain option. It handles groomers, chop, and variable conditions without losing composure, so it's the best single-ski choice for skiers who want one pair for the whole mountain.
The Nordica Santa Ana 82 leads in Carving with a PTO score of 8/10. Its edge grip on hard snow and groomed runs is the strongest in this comparison.
The Nordica Santa Ana 82 is the most forgiving option with a Forgiveness score of 8/10. It doesn't punish imperfect technique, making it the easiest ski to progress on among these.
Not sure? Ask us.
