Nordica Unleashed 98 W Review: A Powerful Twin Tip That Can Do Everything

Introduction

The women’s Nordica Unleashed 98 W is new to the line, and it fills a gap that has been widening for a while: freeride and park skiers who want a true twin tip, but one with the power and grip of a proper all-mountain charger. Most twin tips are lighter and softer. This one carries metal, carbon, and a performance wood core, and the result is a ski that carves hard yet still lets you flick it around and ski it switch.

The graphic shown for this first season carries over into the following year with only a cosmetic update, so performance impressions remain relevant. On top of that, the women’s version arguably gets the better looking graphics of the two, with bold, eye-catching artwork that turns heads on the chairlift.

Construction and Shape

Nordica built the Unleashed 98 W around a performance wood core with carbon and fiberglass stringers running lengthwise down the ski. The interesting part is the metal application, borrowed from the Santa Ana line: full-width metal in the tips and tails that tapers to a thinner strip through those same zones, then widens again underfoot. That gives you a solid platform to stand on where you need it, without excess swing weight at the ends. The heavy tip also resists deflection when you hit something unexpected, while the tapered sections keep the ski from feeling weighted down.

Profile-wise, this ski replaces the Soul Rider, which was Nordica’s dedicated all-mountain park twin. The Unleashed 98 W is still one hundred percent a twin tip, though it skis slightly more directional than its predecessor. Camber dominates the profile, with a modest, abrupt rocker splay at the tip and tail. There is little early taper, in keeping with the Enforcer and Santa Ana shaping, which delivers very consistent edge contact across the running surface.

Who This Product Is For

This is a ski for advanced to expert skiers, full stop. If you like to ski switch, spend time in the park, and then transition straight onto groomers without changing skis, it is a rare match. Freeride park skiers have been asking for exactly this combination, a twin tip that is powerful, strong, and carves really well, and demand for metal twin tips keeps growing.

It also suits the “park skier in their 30s” profile: someone who grew up in the terrain park and now wants a single daily driver that can still flick, spin, and slide, but with the stability to charge big turns. Lighter or beginner to intermediate skiers should look elsewhere; there is a lot of ski here.

On-Snow Impressions

The headline is the balance. The Unleashed 98 W feels stable, powerful, and strong on firm snow, yet remains playful and maneuverable rather than fatiguing or demanding. That balance comes from the construction: metal brings the strength, but carbon keeps the ski energetic so you never feel like you are lugging around two slabs of metal and wood.

Despite the power, the twin tip tail makes releasing the ski easy. You can let the skis run, throw them sideways, and skid or smear without fighting a flat tail. On steep terrain, they take some skill to pivot and control, but they are more forgiving than their construction might suggest. In bumps, they proved surprisingly quick and agile, transitioning from strong fast turns into a mogul line without drama.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The 98 mm waist is wider than many people would choose for a daily driver, especially on the East Coast where firm groomers dominate. Eastern skiers should make sure their style matches this ski’s playful freeride bent. Out West, the width reads as an ideal all-mountain width and a natural daily driver.

There has not been much testing in deep fresh snow yet, though early experience in softer snow was positive. Compared to the Santa Ana 104 Free or Enforcer 104 Free, this ski is less surfy and smeary, because its splay is shorter and higher. It does not feel catchy, but it rides slightly more bouncy than surfy in soft snow. The predictable taper shape borrowed from the Enforcer and Santa Ana family should help it stay manageable when it gets deeper.

Buying Advice

If you want a fun, easy-release twin tip for bumps, trees, switch riding, and park laps, and you also want real edge grip and power for carving groomers, this ski covers all of it in one package. It is not the lightest ski on the hill and it is not a soft flex, so match it with your ability level rather than your aspirations.

Conclusion

The Nordica Unleashed 98 W hits a genuinely hard-to-find blend of stability, edge grip, and power on one side, and playfulness, maneuverability, and twin tip freedom on the other. For advanced freeride and park skiers who want one strong ski for the whole mountain, it is one of the few options in its own little realm.