Ski Canada Test 2019 On-Slope Reviews
FROM CHARGING TO CRUISING
The five-ski Nordica Sentra line varies from a trench-laying missile SL7 to the beginner-friendly SL2. They share a preference for packed snow and come with bindings. Otherwise they vary in sidecut and construction. Balsa wood is prominent in the higher-performance skis. Fast-growing, and thus quickly renewable, balsa is one of the most ecologically friendly woods in skiing. It’s also extremely lightweight and good at absorbing vibration. Sidecuts range from 69 in the SL7 to 76 in the intermediate S4, and the rest fall in between. (from $400; nordica.com)
NORDICA SENTRA SL7
$1,000 * BEST FOR: Expert carving weapon.
LENGTHS: 150, 155, 160, 165 * RADIUS: 12.5@160 * SIDECUT: 119/69/103
The nimblest and stiffest ski in the redesigned Sentra family, the SL7 is designed for destroying groomers. A slalom ski at heart, this thing ripped turns in hard snow, putting a smile on testers’ faces—if they could keep up. “The tail of the ski is stiff, so it was hard to finish a turn in control,” said Yoshi Watanabe. Yet for its high-performance feel, it’s not that heavy, a nice point for marching it to and from the snow. The wood core is balsa, one of the lightest and most sustainable woods used in skiing. Testers found little in the way of all-mountain ability here—it really just wants to carve. And it demands a powerful skier, preferably a heavier expert. The SL7 is best reserved for ex-racers, instructors and high-speed thrillsters.
