Nordica Santa Ana 97 25/26

The Santa Ana 97 is the widest option before you step up to the 102 — it's the women's equivalent of the Enforcer 99/104 gap. 97mm gives you genuine off-piste capability. Powder stashes, crud, variable spring conditions, and deep days at PNW resorts are all in play.

At 1,740g in the 161, it's actually lighter than the 92 (1,750g). How? Nordica narrows the titanal sheet as the waist gets wider — less metal, less weight, but slightly less dampening. In practice, the 97mm surface area compensates. The ski still feels stable, just with a slightly different character. It's a touch more forgiving and a touch less precise on hardpack than the 87 or 92.

Six sizes from 150 to 179 is the widest range in the Santa Ana lineup. The 173 and 179 give taller, more aggressive women a real big-mountain option.

16.5m radius is medium — short enough for trees, long enough for open bowls. The rocker profile leans a bit more toward the tips than the 87, which helps float and makes turn initiation in soft snow effortless.