Nordica

Helldorado Ski

The all-black Nordica Helldorado Ski may look like it's dressed up for dinner, but it doesn't intend to dine on anything but fat helpings of blower pow, high-speed runouts, and big-time lines. It's a charger's ski, with two sheets of Titanal and prepreg laminates sandwiched around a lively and strong ash and poplar core, along with extra reinforcement under the foot to ensure bomber binding mounts. The ABS sidewalls give the ski a stiff, powerful feel when it's up on edge, and won't crumple if you ding a rock or two when you're opening things up down some big, committing lines.

The Helldorado doesn't just like to go fast. It likes things nice and deep, too, because that's where it's 113mm waist and Powder CamRock profile feel most at home. Powder CamRock blends traditional camber underfoot with generous rocker in the tip and tail for a burly combination of edging powder and floatation, along with the ability to break your tail out of turns if you get to wiggle your way down through some trees. The tougher things get, though, the more the Helldorado will shine, so you'd better be willing to push it.