Unleashed 98 CA review

Overview

The Unleashed 98 CA is Nordica's 98 mm women-specific carbon-alloy build in the Unleashed line, replacing metal with a Full Wood Core + Carbon + Sidewall recipe to trim weight without losing torsional stiffness. Verified sidecut is 129-98-118 mm across all six lengths (156, 162, 168, 174, 180, 186 cm), per-length radius 15.3 / 16.0 / 16.7 / 17.4 / 18.1 / 18.8 m, weight 3080 g per pair (≈1540 g per single ski) at 174 cm. Rocker is Nordica's Powder Rocker.

On-snow performance

At 98 mm with a mid-teens radius, the Unleashed 98 CA is aimed at strong intermediates through advanced women who want an accessible all-mountain / freeride shape rather than a heavy titanal charger. The Carbon-Alloy build cuts weight to around 1540 g per ski at 174 cm — well below most 98 mm women's rivals that pair titanal sheets with plastic tips. Off piste, the True Tip wood taper and Powder Rocker profile float the ski cleanly through soft snow and drift smoothly through chop. On piste, the moderate radius keeps carving accessible, though it lacks the edge grip of a titanal-plate rival.

Construction & specs explained

Core: Lite Performance Wood (paulownia dominant) with carbon stringers replacing the metal sheet of the standard Unleashed 106 — the "CA" designation stands for Carbon Alloy. ABS sidewalls, factory 0.9° base / 87.5° side edges. True Tip technology extends the wood core through the tip taper rather than using ABS filler, saving swing weight. Sidecut is 129-98-118 mm across all six lengths with per-length radius progression from 15.3 m (156 cm) to 18.8 m (186 cm). Rocker profile is Nordica's Powder Rocker — a longer, higher tip and shorter tail rise.

Who it's for & comparisons

Compared to the Nordica Santa ana 98 it is meaningfully lighter (no titanal sheet) with a softer, more forgiving flex. Against the Head Kore 99 Ti W it is similarly light but with more of a freeride shape and less piste-focused edge grip. Compared to the Blizzard Sheeva 10 it is narrower and lighter — the Sheeva 10 is a softer freeride 100 with a different shape.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• Verified light weight (~1540 g at 174 cm) reduces fatigue on long days.
• Full six-length range (156–186 cm) covers most adult women.
• Per-length radius progression tailors the ski to the chosen length.
• Softer carbon-alloy flex is accessible for progressing intermediates.

Cons

• Less edge grip than titanal-plate women's rivals on hardpack.
• Not built for touring — resort-oriented despite the light build.
• Powder Rocker limits short-turn responsiveness on groomers.
• 98 mm is a soft-snow bias — narrower alternatives suit piste-heavy skiers.

Verdict: A light, forgiving carbon-alloy 98 mm women's freeride-leaning all-mountain ski. Best for intermediate-to-advanced women who prioritise easy handling and float over hardpack grip.