Nordica "30-Second" ski reviews

These reviews are of new and updated 08/09 models. More detailed reviews of many more models, current and past, are now available on the subscription site.

 Speedmachine Mach 2Solid, smooth, cross-derived front side carver. Similar to the Mach 3, but with a tighter radius and smaller footprint. Great combination of stability, quickness and power. Top rank carver. Best for groomer speed merchants looking for a ski that is more nimble and less demanding than the Mach 3.

Hot Rod Top FuelMainstream all mountain carver and 1-ski-quiver. Smooth, powerful, typically Nordica. Does everything well, including negotiate mild bumps, crud and chunk. It carves with authority and can handle both short radius fall line turns and fast carved GS turns. Tolerant of traditional technique.

Hot Rod NitrousVery like the Top Fuel, but somewhat easier to ski, especially at the sport level. Many skiers will find this a perfect 1-ski-quiver for mostly-frontside-based skiing. It can manage the whole mountain, though not quite as aggressively as the Top Fuel.

Hot Rod HelldiverMany testers noted that the Helldiver is lighter than the Hellcat and easier to handle. Of the two, unless competitive free riding (extreme skiing) is on the schedule, this is the more enjoyable of the two. A big mountain Western/ Alaska/Canadian ski, but with surprising adaptability to groomed and hard snow.

Olympia ConquerPowerful all mountain carver for skilled and strong female skiers who ski fast. Everyone else, see the Victory.

Olympia VictoryAll mountain carver that, as one skier put it succinctly, "Rips on hard snow, great in soft snow!" This analog to the Afterburner actually scored higher among its group than did the Afterburner itself with its testers. Excellent 1-ski-quiver for female all mountain skiers.