Ski: Icelantic Nomad 100 24/25

Reviewer height/weight: 6’0, 215lbs

Ski weights: 1813g per ski

Length skied: 182

Actual length (with straight tape): 179

Dimensions: 135-100-127

Radius: 19m

Mount Point: True Center

Bindings: Look Pivot 15

Locations: Sunshine Village

Conditions skied: Fresh groomed, jumps, rails, bumps

Days Skied: 4

Photo Creds: Carter Edwards

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After many (many) years, Icelantic has updated the extremely popular Nomad line up. I’ll be honest, I never did have the chance to ride the old Nomads, but the moment I had a peak at the new 100 knew I HAD to have a pair. As a guy who loved the Rossi Slat, I felt at home on the ski while enjoying the more lively personality the Nomad has. It bucks like the Bronco it displays on the topsheet, but is soft and playful enough to control.

Disclaimer; I messed up on sizing, they ride short. I religiously ride 185 or the closest to it. So when faced with the choice of 182 or 188, I took the safe route with 182. I enjoyed how easy it was, and I felt comfy pushing the ski, but the 188 would have matched my skiing more and would have improved my experience. So first note, if you’re between sizes, GO UP, they measure slightly shorter than advertised.

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Shape/Flex/Construction:

Right out of the box these things are poppy, but with a clear and easy to find flex point where it becomes playful. Right off the first chair I could nollie and hop right into a tail press.They have the slightest bit of camber to balance out the aggressive rocker profile. I did have to get comfortable as the nose, tail and underfoot showed different characteristics with a clear point when you applied your weight on the different sections.

The big update from the tried and true 95 is the poplar wood core supported by carbon stringers. It brings the ski to life, and makes it reactive. It also gives you the needed stability to properly ski outside of the park.edges are the same 2.2mm but the base has been upgraded, but neither of those made it stand out to other skis.

The new line up is very similar in terms of shape and construction, at least the 94,100, and 106. 4mm of camber, 36cm of rocker in the nose. All have 4 strings of Carbon, and have the same base material. I have to ask Twig how they differ in flex.

As mentioned, the flex points are clear, underfoot is stiff enough to be comfortable on, while the nose and tail are refreshingly playful, but can easily get away from you if your not squared up.

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On Snow:

The Nomad is so easy to turn and have a blast ripping around on. The flex pattern show’s it strength when you rail a turn, and it responds when you need it to to transfer into the next. I was lucky to have soft spring conditions, because I detuned the shit out of them before I put bindings on and they still felt fun on some slushy skied out cord.

Just skiing around the mountain, messing around and not charging, is where I had the most fun. The aggressive rocker gave forgiveness to check up and not be on it. I could hop out of a turn and nollie a roller, lean back on the tails for the hell of it, and the skis didnt kick my ass or wear me down while doing it. This was at very controlled speeds, When you really want to point them, you do have to stay on top of them and let the stringers and stable underfoot do the work.

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For a lighter and less aggressive skier, they might come across as a hooky ski, but I found them easy to control and enjoyed the slight aggression that the ski showed. I wish it had a bit more kick to it, but that's just my preference. But at the same time the forgiveness and playfulness just makes it a really fun ski. You don’t get bit when hitting the odd patch of slush or softer snow, the ski responds quick but controlled to not send you on your face.

In the trees, you can shove them where they need to be, and even at 100mm they will float on the ‘fresh 10cm’ days that get skied out before an afternoon in the park. On the 182cm I did lack stability for bigger sends and higher speeds, but I do think the 188 would have given me a bit more confidence for some sendier mountain skiing.

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Park/Jibbing:

I ended up testing these during a 3 day rail jam, so the smaller size wasn't much a concern. But I will say I had to be proper on landings. The flex point in the tail was close to my heel, even at center mount. So if I was backseat, the ski didn't save me and I would get squirrely.

The light swing weight (and short ski) was way too much fun though. Switch ups were a blast, I could control the ski for setting spins out or pretzels. I think the biggest testament to them is that I pulled them out of the box and went straight to a park I had not rode and felt comfortable and confident. It did take a few runs to learn the way they rode properly, but I think by the third run I wasn’t worried about how the ski would react. They do what you tell them to.

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They do ride very similar to a K2 Reckoner 102, but I would say more forgiveness, more poppy, but less stable. The balance of rocker/flex makes them really comfortable for buttering. Because the flex points are closer to the center, it's easy to find your balance and hold them where you want. The poppy nature of the ski gets you out of it and back to your feet.

I didn’t hit a proper jump on them, the closest I got to jumping was an alright sized disaster onto a flat down box. They are great on the take-off, and great in the air. The rocker profile gives some forgiveness on a panicked early set, and they feel so light when you get a good pop. Grabbing is a breeze as they’re light and you can guide them to your hand with lower effort than even some park specific skis. But again, you have to be solid on the landing, if you're not on the center of the ski, you’re either on your ass or doing a slow nose press to your face.

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Counting this as a jump

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Durability:

I skied for 3 days at a rail jam/ event. I did detune underfoot, but I put them through hell on sticky spring rails.The ski’s are perfectly intact underfoot still, time will tell but I am confident they would last a season of abuse, more if your not only skiing park on them. I know there was a complaint about the old 95 top sheet not holding up. The 100 survived an event weekend. I couldn't tell you how many times they were stepped on or walked over. But no alarming durability issues to report right now.

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Comparisons:

Armada ARV 100:

The biggest difference between these skis would be the pop and the rebound. Both of them have similar profiles, similar weight, and are close in stiffness. The Icelantic has some snap to it, where I found the Armada to be damp and slow to respond. Both skis can butter, press and shuffle, but the Nomad snaps back quicker, and for me feels more stable.

Chronic 101:

This probably isn't a fair comparison, I feel the Nomad and the Line Blend would be a closer ranked pair to match up. While the Chronic is in the same category and meant to be as versatile, it is in a different category when it comes to flex and weight. If you like to butter and fuck around doing weird shit, get the Nomad. Chronic is harder to find the flex points, but I feel like I can go bigger without blowing up on it..

K2 Reckoner 102

The Nomad and Reckoner 102 are very close in character, and if you're stuck deciding between the two, good luck. But you won't be bummed with either choice. The Nomad has a more aggressive rocker in the nose, and also (I think) is bit wider with a more aggressive taper throughout the ski. The Reckoner in a 184 skis as a 184, while the Nomad in a 182 skis like a 178. Both are pretty soft and playful in the tails, The Nomad again is a bit quicker in the snap back from an ollie, where the Reckoner skis slightly more patient.

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Conclusion:

All in all I’m a big fan of the ski. They are so easy to ride that anyone can ski them. II will say to size up though, I think the 188 would have been perfect for me. It was about time that Icelantic updated the Nomad, and they did a good job.If you like to butter and press and really lean into a ski, I think you’ll really enjoy them. If you like going straight and jumping to gucci, it’s probably not for you. And if your somewhere in between that it is definitely a ski to consider. Topsheet alone make’s me a fan of this ski.

I think they are great as park specific ski, if I mounted further back from true center for an all-mountain stance, it would be loose out there. Keep in mind I’m not small either, someone closer to average would have more forgiveness on the soft tail.

Giddy up, Yee Haw and Saddle up for the all-new Nomad 100.