The Nordica Astral 88 is a super stylish ski designed for intermediate-to-advanced skiers looking for a do-it-all ski for all-mountain fun.
Design-wise it's spot on, balancing bright colours with classy graphics to appeal to aspirational all-mountain females.
Whilst the Astral 88 is undeniably a light ski, it felt noticeably heavier than many others we reviewed in this category, making it an ideal choice for a slightly more powerful skier who prioritises edge hold and a stable ski.
This sense of power underfoot comes from Nordica's Torsional Hex Bridge Construction that uses a single layer of titanium with hexagon shaped cut outs to improve the stability of the ski. It also increases energy transmission and torsional power throughout the Astral.
The overall sensation is of a fast ski that we could drive hard on groomed runs yet, still light enough to enable quick feet in shorter steeper sections and bumpy terrain.
At 88 underfoot, the Astral is wide enough to give a decent amount of float in powder so it's a good option if you're starting to make regular forays off the side of the piste.
With a 14m turning radius, a balsa wood core construction and a blunt nose tip shape, the Astral offers a lively yet powerful ride with easy turn initiation and float when required. It's at the more powerful end of the All-Mountain skis we tested in Galtur and at £490 without bindings, it's also one of the most expensive.
If you're looking for an all-mountain ski with freeride aspirations that will help take your skiing to the next level, then the Astral is well worth a look.
