If you want lightweight and stable all mountain skis, the new Nordica Astral 84 seems to provide it all. At 84mm underfoot they are best ridden on piste, but with enough responsiveness from their ultralight balsa wood core to provide a lively ride off-piste too.
The Balsa wood is strong and light, making them a perfect choice for these women specific skis as it provides the strength without increasing the weight. In addition they employ the new Torsion Bridge Titanium Construction which has a single layer of titanium underneath the topsheet that adds extra stability and edge hold at all but the highest speeds while only adding a minimal amount of weight to the skis.
Speaking of the topsheet, this is one pretty ski. We loved the graphics and colour, indeed the whole range looks great with a more freeride look to the all-mountain collection and would love to be seen with these on our feet.
The blunt nose shape claims to initiate turns quickly, however we find this makes turning a little trickier off-piste. It does help to absorb vibrations but doesn't live up to expectation of versatility when the snow is cut up, as the narrowing of the tips struggle to float through variable snow. However the design has specifically included a longer ski-snow contact point along the side of the skis in order to grip higher up towards the tips, which can be felt on-piste.
The new Nordica Astral 84 are excellent skis for the intermediate to advanced skier that will spend most of their time on the groomers, but will nip off the side from time to time. They hold an edge with the best of them and are stylish choice for those advanced skiers who enjoy their skiing on the pistes.
