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Nordica is reinventing its Enforcer collection once again. Even with the flagship Enforcer 100, very little has carried over other than the name. In a segment where someone is always poised to take the crown from the incumbent, Nordica is not going to give up the title "Best in Class" without a fight. By rebuilding this perennial darling, Nordica has said, “If you want to beat us, you better have good aim, because now you have a new target.”


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From Nordica's press release: The versatile workhorse of Nordica’s all-mountain ski collection, the Nordica Enforcer 100 has been named “Best in Test” or earned “Editor’s Choice” awards every year for the last five years. Nordica attributes this to finding the right balance of rocker, camber, sidecut, and construction. Building off the proven Enforcer platform, add five years of testing coupled with know-how and new technologies, for 2020 the Enforcer 100 gets Nordica’s True Tip Technology, successfully introduced on the Enforcer 88 and 104 Free this year. Trimming the amount of heavy ABS plastic in the tip allows extension of the new carbon-reinforced wood core further into the tip reducing swing weight, making the 100 even more playful and versatile while maintaining its award-winning power and stability. Refining the 100 even further, it’s offered in five new sizes, allowing for consistent shape and rocker profiles throughout the size range. The new Enforcer 100 is at home laying down turns on groomers, blasting through crud, or exploring the entire resort.
  • Sizes (cm): 165, 172, 179, 186, 191
  • Sidecut: 165 (131-100-118); 172 (132-100-120); 179 (132.5-100-120.5); 186 (133-100-121); 191 (133.5-100-121.5)
  • Radius (m): 165 (15.6); 172 (16.3); 179 (17.3); 186 (18.4); 191 (19.4)
  • MSRP: $850
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The words “all new“ get thrown around a lot. It is certainly the case here, but please note what is all new: besides the name and the width, everything is all new. Nordica has given the Enforcer 100 new lengths and shapes that are scaled so that each skier, whether small medium or large (or even extra large -- there's a 191), will have the same experience on snow. Where many skis in this class use a 178-180 length as a reference, Nordica had stuck with its tried-and-true 177cm offering; quite frankly, the Hammerhead tip design made it literally fall short in the sizing. Many skiers, myself included, felt that the 177 was just a tad short but the next size up, at 185, was a bit cumbersome. Nordica was not oblivious to this concern, and instead of making excuses like, “We have always offered a 177, ever since the original Enforcer,” it upped the ante and adjusted the reference size to a 179. The True Tip Technology, which scales the tip length to make the tip rise more proportional to the length of the ski, makes it feel like you aren’t falling between sizes anymore.

As soon as we received the new Enforcer 100 and women’s Santa Ana 93 and 102, I put them all on the bench to see how “new and improved” they really are. Yes, the 179 is indeed longer than the 177, but it is not just those 2 cm that tell the difference in the ski. Nordica touts its True Tip design, and it does come into play with both models. The tip on the 179 is slightly shorter than the 177, but the wheelbase is actually 3 cm longer, resulting in a significantly more stable ski.

43F13DC6-8106-4C96-9AAB-1F0439213CD9_1_201_a.jpeg Obviously, the best way to feel the differences between the two generations is to ski them both. We must rotate out Pugski.com's test fleet to make room for new skis, but there are a few skis we have kept around -- and the original Enforcer Proto is one of them. I wiped some dust off, gave her a good waxing, and she was good to go. I must admit, it had been a few years since she had been on snow -- and more than a year since I had been on any Enforcer 100 -- but it was like slipping into an old pair of jeans. The ease and playful feel returned immediately, and I remembered why the Enforcer had become the reference ski in the 98-100 category as soon as it was introduced five years ago. Like a Pixar flashback, I was taken to another time, a simpler time, when there were not as many good skis (and even fewer true contenders). Even though the Enforcer 100 has received our “Tester’s Choice” awards, it is now one of the reference skis as opposed to the reference ski in this highly contested segment.








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Checking out the base and side bevels
Yes, the new Enforcer 100 is “all new” or “new and improved,” however you want to say it. As soon as I clicked in, I immediately noticed the decreased swing weight; that is a good thing, because it adds a level of nimbleness that even the shorter 177 Enforcer didn’t have. The True Tip Technology allows the 179 to ski truer to length without the tiny bit of stability loss its predecessor suffered. The combination of an extra 2 cm and a longer wheelbase (contact length) takes away any worry about needing to go up to the next size.

In this reviewer’s opinion, where other brands have been overly conservative in redesigning their flagship models, Nordica doubled down and realized that what got it here, wasn’t going to get it there. I expect there will be a glut of used Enforcer 100s hitting the market very soon.

Well played, Nordica; well played.
About author
Philpug
I started skiing in the mid-70s in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania; from then on, I found myself entrenched in the industry. I have worked in various ski shops from suburban to ski town to resort, giving me a well-rounded perspective on what skiers want from their gear. That experience was parlayed into my time as a Gear Review Editor and also consulting with manufacturers as a product tester. Along with being a Masterfit-trained bootfitter I am a fully certified self proclaimed Gear Guru. Not only do I keep up with the cutting edge of ski gear technology, but I am an avid gear collector and have an extensive array of bindings as well as many vintage skis.

Replies

Some conflicting info out there on whether the new Enforcer 100 has a lighter swing weight. Reports that the new ski may be heavier overall than the old as well.
They lightened up the extemities but also the skis are slightly longer. Remember too, this is not a backcountry ski so light weight was not a priority in design.
 
For someone who loves the old E100 what do you think of the E88? I too love the 100 and trying to decide on a narrower ski.

OK just got back from 4 days at Alta - it had snowed a lot prior to us arriving so fantastic base - but no fresh snow really. Skied Th-Su. Brought the OG 100's and the 88's. I never took the 100's out. The 88s are as advertised - versatile, plenty wide for almost everything we encountered, easier on the legs, easier to turn, pivot and schmear over bumps. Also fine charger on the groomers - though on harder stuff I did induce some chatter a few times. Not enough to dampen my satisfaction with this ski.

Since I had my 10 yo son and youngest brother (mid to high intermediate) I didn't go too nuts. We did spend some time in lower Castle area after it opened - would have liked the 100's in there but still fine for me since we stayed pretty low angle. Saturday late the boy called it early - he face planted hard on the 1st run of the day cutting off trail - stiff legged some ruts - was epic! He rallied, was proud of him. Anyway - we got him settled then hit Wildcat for some Punchbowl runs - the 88's at 179 ideal for soft, steep bumps and trees.

Biggest take away? Never broke out the 100's. Didn't need to. Didn't want to! If you love the Enforcer feel and think a narrower one would be great - you are probably correct. I'm definitely going 104 free to replace the 100s (unless another 100+ ski fancies me during end of season sales, TBD).
 
Some conflicting info out there on whether the new Enforcer 100 has a lighter swing weight. Reports that the new ski may be heavier overall than the old as well.

The new Enforcer skis will definitely have lighter swing weight even with changes to overall weight because of their new tip construction changes.

I posted the measured weights from Blistergear in the 2021 Enforcer 100/94 Introduction thread but repeating here in case others are interested too.

Blistergear just released the measured weights on the new 100 and 94 with both being up in overall weight by 125-175 grams per ski, along with a slightly stiffer tail(the 100 at least. Not sure on the 94 yet). And yet every review so far makes them they seem lighter and more playful on the snow. That’s progress! The 186cm Enforcer 94 is actually slightly heavier then the 186cm Enforcer 104 Free now which should make rough afternoon groomers a dream on the 94 and 100!

The weight increase makes me even more excited to try the new Enforcers out along with the new Bonifide/Brahma that are also supposed to be heavier yet more approachable with their new softer tip/tail flex and now have better sizing options. A lot of great options around this width now!
 
Hi, I'm Decreed_it, and I'm an Enforcaholic.

I just got the 104's - talked my local shop down to internet pricing match out of their stock - getting them mounted up this week to replace my 3 yo 100's. They had a great deal on some 110s but I just couldn't talk myself into it - really too much ski for an eastern skier taking 3-4 trips west each year.

But, if you're in NC - they have these on the shelf at Ski Country at Sugar (ignore the description, obviously wrong ski):
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Thanks Phil! 2 years ago I spent 4 days on the Enforcer 100 in the 169cm length. I loved the skis but felt like I could use something a little longer (I'm 5'8" 180 lb advanced skier. I primarily ski at Taos). This spring I spent 1 day on the Enforcer 104 in the 179cm length. I liked this ski, but at first blush maybe not quite as much as the 100. (I would have liked more time on the 104, particularly with some fresh powder, but the COVID crisis cut my trip short.) So here's my question. With the 2020 E100's being on sale right now at great prices, should I go ahead and jump on those? I think the 177 would probably do fine for me. Or will I regret not demoing the 21 next year before I pull the trigger? Will the 2 cm + construction tweaks make that big of difference to me? Thoughts?
 
Thanks Phil! 2 years ago I spent 4 days on the Enforcer 100 in the 169cm length. I loved the skis but felt like I could use something a little longer (I'm 5'8" 180 lb advanced skier. I primarily ski at Taos). This spring I spent 1 day on the Enforcer 104 in the 179cm length. I liked this ski, but at first blush maybe not quite as much as the 100. (I would have liked more time on the 104, particularly with some fresh powder, but the COVID crisis cut my trip short.) So here's my question. With the 2020 E100's being on sale right now at great prices, should I go ahead and jump on those? I think the 177 would probably do fine for me. Or will I regret not demoing the 21 next year before I pull the trigger? Will the 2 cm + construction tweaks make that big of difference to me? Thoughts?

Blister reviewed the '21s and the consensus seems to be that the previous gen is the better ski. It seems like when a ski is very highly regarded, tweaking it doesn't mean it's going to be better (Line Supernatural 108, Moment Bibby, etc). If you can get a deal on the previous gen, it's most likely the way to go. If they are the same price, it may still be the way to go.
 
Thanks, is that from a flash review? I don't have the full membership, just the deep dive.

Yes. They didn't hate it and being strong skiers were obviously able to enjoy it but it didn't seem to "wow" them. The previous model feels well balanced tip to tail whereas the tail seems to have definitely gotten beefed up on the new. "So far, I can’t say that I’ve found the 20/21 Enforcer to be significantly more stable than the previous iteration. The heavier weight + physics leads me to suspect that it probably is, but I have yet to A/B the new Enforcer vs. the current edition.

That said, the new ski most definitely is not weaker. Instead, the back half of the ski feels noticeably stronger.

Very strong and / or heavier skiers who felt that the current Enforcer 100 was a bit too soft / weak (especially through the tail) ought to check out the new 20/21 version.

And the other thing that I can say with confidence is that I would no longer recommend this ski for off-piste skiing to a heavier (say, 190+ lbs) beginner. Advanced and expert skiers may prefer this new tail, but the new tail does feel a bit stronger and more punishing of mistakes."
 
Any other comparisons old vs new E100? Last years model E100 was the last ski I skied on this spring shortly before the COVID closures. Absolutely loved the versatility. E104 too soft. E100 ripped all turn types, all speeds, on and off piste. Was panning on the new 191 E100 but perhaps stick with the prior year?
 
Any other comparisons old vs new E100? Last years model E100 was the last ski I skied on this spring shortly before the COVID closures. Absolutely loved the versatility. E104 too soft. E100 ripped all turn types, all speeds, on and off piste. Was panning on the new 191 E100 but perhaps stick with the prior year?
What are looking for that I didn't address?
 
Phil,

I am curious about the performance of the longer lengths where the ski has been shortened. In your experience your reference ski was lengthened.

As I indicated I loved the outgoing E100 in 186 that I demo'd at Sqauw this year but in this category of ski I typically prefer 190 size for enhanced float and stability at speed (6'4" 190). Having said that, I dont want to give up the turn radius versatility that I experienced with the outgoing E100 186. It seemed eager to participate in any size/shape/speed turn I desired on or off piste. Like it read my dam mind. It was locked in and confident. So fun!

For me the question is not only what size but what generation...would the new E100 191 with the longer contact length decrease the turn shape versatility compared to my reference of last years E100 in 186?
 
Phil,

I am curious about the performance of the longer lengths where the ski has been shortened. In your experience your reference ski was lengthened.

As I indicated I loved the outgoing E100 in 186 that I demo'd at Sqauw this year but in this category of ski I typically prefer 190 size for enhanced float and stability at speed (6'4" 190). Having said that, I dont want to give up the turn radius versatility that I experienced with the outgoing E100 186. It seemed eager to participate in any size/shape/speed turn I desired on or off piste. Like it read my dam mind. It was locked in and confident. So fun!

For me the question is not only what size but what generation...would the new E100 191 with the longer contact length decrease the turn shape versatility compared to my reference of last years E100 in 186?
This is a quandry for sure. Not everyone falls in between sizes, I did, you might not. You might find that you do now with the new generation.
 
I have a new flat pair of 104 Free’s in 172 I am looking to sell. I’ll try and post them in for sale area....

Every review of this ski is awesome though and the 2021 graphics, fit, finish are beautiful.

 

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yo pugster, nice explanation on the 100 and 94, interestingly I have been leaving questions at the Nordica website, but no one responds....... I have the 93's (193) the 104's (191) and the 110's (191). I have lots of days slaying groomers on the 93's, they hold an impressive edge on hard and icey slopes. the upgrade as explained with the 100 plus the downshift to 191 length sounds like a good move for the new E94. There are many great attributes to the 93's but I do think that less tip shorter length and greater surface contact and reduced swing weight will improve the ski. Skis can be heavier or lighter but the light swing weight feel comes from tip tail construction and mount point,,, so Nordica says lighter but reviewers say the weight is slightly heavier, guess we will see what comes in bulk production, but either way I am guessing lower swing weight and more friendly. so the new tip construction sounds like a good move, I really like how it worked out in the E104. Now the question, what changes did they apply to the 110? 115?
 
My shop had 2019 Enforcer 100 blems for $440 so I snagged a set. The old model is almost gone online, if you guys have a love for them it might be worth picking a set up while you still can. I will definitely try the 20-21 Enforcer when the time comes but I had to pull the trigger on the older ones since I love them so much.
 
I find it amusing how what was a great ski a couple of years is now relegated to Adirondack chair material.

Human nature is a beautiful thing; it keeps us ever moving forward.

Anyone interested in a pair of 2006 Enforcers?
 
I ended up getting last year's model on a killer deal this summer. Three reasons: 1) knew from demoing I love the older model 2) Based on reviews, not convinced the newer model would be better for me (change in sizing, heavier weight, stiffer/less forgiving tails) 3) killer deal, $416.
 
I find it amusing how what was a great ski a couple of years is now relegated to Adirondack chair material.

Human nature is a beautiful thing; it keeps us ever moving forward.

Anyone interested in a pair of 2006 Enforcers?
The original Bonafide came out 9 yesrs ago. Its amazing how a ski construction can evolve into other construction advances that make an evolutionary ski design a thing of the past. This is why the Bonafide is bein re-designed.
 
I think there is too much desire to out with a new ski.
Many brands would do better to keep the models they have, maybe expand the size range.
 

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