About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the skis, which I tested for 20 days in December of 2021.

My take

The Nordica Enforcer 104 Free is a true one-ski quiver crusher for the intermediate-to-advanced all the way up to the pro skier. Versatile, stiff, and damp, this ski can be pushed hard in almost any conditions encountered at the resort.

About the skis I tested

• Model: 2022 Nordica Enforcer 104 Free
• Size: 184cm

About me

• Height: 5’10”
• Weight: 170 lbs
• Experience: 25+ years of skiing

Test conditions

• When I tested these: December of 2021
• Days tested: 20+
• Mount position: +1 cm from recommended
• Boots: Rossignol AllSpeed Elite 130 2021
• Boot Size: 26.5
• Bindings: Tyrolia Attack 14
• Where I’ve used it: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
• Terrain: Everywhere in bounds at the resort and some side country missions as well. Moguls, glades, chutes, groomers, powder

How they performs

What I was looking for

While demoing the Enforcer 104 I was looking for a bombproof, all-mountain ski that can blast through powder chop at high speeds and feel comfortable leaning the edge over and carving like hell. I also wanted to be able to finish with a park lap spinning threes and landing switch.

Why I chose this gear

I work for a ski shop at the base of JHMR and was able to demo these whenever I pleased; it was one of my favorite pairs of skis in our fleet. Once I learned how strong of a ski this was, I was blown away with the versatility in high speed/demanding conditions. My other favorite is the Head Kore 105. This is a lighter-weight option, but it’s certainly not as damp as the Enforcer.

What I love about them

• Speed: This ski is extremely comfortable at high speeds and makes me feel like a superhero when pushing its limits. At times I actually felt like the ski wanted to go faster than I could even handle. The metal in the ski absorbs a massive amount of energy coming from the ground while the carbon stringers maintain stiffness without sacrificing weight.
• Edge hold/Groomers: For a full 104m waisted twin tip with a considerable amount of tip and tail rocker, this may be the best carving ski of this category I have ever tried. The torsional stability of this ski is phenomenal, and the tips rarely flutter. Of course, any full twin, powder-focused ski will eventually release its edge prematurely when pushed to the limits when compared with a true carving ski that is all camber and less than 80mm underfoot.
• Powder: At 104mm underfoot and a considerable amount of tip and tail rocker, this ski is plenty competent on most powder days. It really shines in open, inbound terrain where the powder has been cut up and the ski can just blast a straight line through anything in its path. In untouched, deep powder in the backcountry, the ski can feel a bit sluggish and heavy, as it is a bit overkill unless skiing big mountain lines at pro-level speeds.
• Trees: This ski shines in glades that are spread out and allow for high-speed maneuvers. In tighter trees that demand very quick and sharp turns, this ski may feel tough to navigate and keep under control due to the higher swing weight and burly construction.
• Moguls: Similar to its glade performance, the Enforcer 104 can support even the fastest mogul skiers out there when the pitch allows for high-speed bump crushing. The considerable amount of tip and tail rocker prevents the tips from getting hung up in the snow, while the damp feel of these skis absorbs a huge amount of energy coming from each mogul. Again, as I mentioned about tree skiing, some less advanced skiers may feel that these skis are tough to maneuver quickly because of the weight and strength of the ski.
• Park/switch riding: With almost a full-twin tip shape, this ski can easily spend hours lapping the park. The energy in the tip and tail allow the rider to pop off the ground with ease, while the metal dampens harsh landings when the air time is bigger than expected. While the fairly centered mounting on this ski allows for predictable spinning, the overall weight of these skis aren’t the best for making quick rotations.
• Backcountry: Although intended as an in-bounds, aggressive, all-mountain/powder ski, there is certainly enough powder performance to support people chasing storms in the backcountry. Coming in at 2255 grams, this is certainly not going to perform well on the way up in the backcountry on big tours. For reference, the touring-specific model of this ski, the Enforcer 104 Unlimited comes in at roughly 1700 grams—a considerable 555 gram difference.
• Durability: The enforcer was one of the most used skis in our demo fleet and had minimal to normal amount of damage compared with most other brands. The topsheets seem to wear nicely without any peeling or cracking. The skis generally saw anywhere from 20–100 days of use.
• Stability: This ski stays incredibly stable because of its burly build. It uses two sheets of metal and carbon stringers to create an incredibly damp, stiff, and strong ride. I can’t imagine an off-piste situation that would push these skis past their tipping point.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Turns: The predictable rocker profile of this ski allows for easy edge release and engagement, making turns feel natural and easy to customize to one’s needs. The rocker in the tip and tail allows for easy slide turns when needed but can also dig in to carve seamlessly. This allows for a high level of trust and confidence in the ski when needing to make awkward transitions or last-second turns. This beast of a ski is certainly not an easy ski to move around with ease and requires someone with a lot of power and experience. The intermediate and below may just feel like this ski only wants to go straight and is too tough to make easy turns.
• Weight: This ski has moderate weight and feel for the two sheets of metal in the core, and it doesn’t feel too difficult to maneuver for the advanced to expert skier. For a weaker advanced skier and below, this ski may feel as if they are the ones in control and be a little too much to handle.

Favorite moment with this gear

Racing the tram down to the bottom of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort on a late afternoon, sleeper pow day was an unforgettable experience.

Value for the money vs. other options

The Nordica Enforcer 104 comes in at a very reasonable price point compared with some higher-end brands such as Bomber or Stöckli. Similar skis from popular brands like the Head Kore, Blizzard Rustler, and Völkl Mantra all fall within a similar price range of around $700-900.

Final verdict

The Nordica Enforcer 104 Free is a perfect out-West, one-ski quiver for the very strong intermediate to the expert skier that wants to blast down the entire mountain as fast as possible—no matter what conditions are thrown at them. This ski can hang no matter how aggressive the skier.