Individual Review Nordica Fire Arrow 84 EDT

[Gerry Rhoades]

The Indian:
Age: 68-71
Height: 5'7”
Weight: 147
Years skiing: 50+
Days skiing per year: 30-40
Home mountain(s): Red Lodge Mountain, Bridger Bowl
Preferred terrain: off-piste
Skiing style: Finesse
Reference/personal skis: Nordica Fire Arrow 84EDT, 168cm
Nordica Steadfast, 170cm
Boots used: Dalbello Krypton Cross ID and Full Tilt Classic

The Terrain:
Location: Blue and green groomed runs at Snowbasin and Red Lodge Mountain. Blue groomed runs, bumps and trees at Bridger Bowl
Conditions: Hardpack, groomed, ice on two runs

The Arrow:
Length tested: 168 and 176
Sidecut: 168cm(127-84-111, 17m), 176cm(128-85-112.5, 18m)
Camber/early rise profile: Frontside Camrock with Rapid Race Profile(Nordica's words, not mine)
Binding/mount point: system bindings mounted according to BSL

The Review:

I first skied the FA84EDT at Snowbasin in 2013 during SIA demos. I fell in love with this ski as a hard snow carving ski. I later skied the 176cm version for two days at Bridger Bowl during the 2013 Epic Gathering, on groomed runs, bumps and even in the trees, which generated a fairly large pucker factor. Last March I finally bought a pair when Nordica made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I bought the 168cm which I had demoed at Snowbasin and preferred to the 176cm.

The FA84EDT is essentially a fat race ski. Nordica has put a large amount of their race ski technology into it and it shows. The turn radius on the 168 is 17m, larger than a SL ski but much smaller than a GS ski. I find that radius perfect for ripping empty blue groomers at 40-50mph. The ski will make short quick turns as well as long GS like turns.

There are some downsides to this ski. The first is the price, MSRP is $1,499.00 and MAP is only a couple hundred less. The ski demands good technique and will punish a backseat skier. It is really too stiff for bumps, at least at my weight, and unpacked snow over 5-6 inches. I have skied them in the trees at Bridger Bowl, but it isn't something I recommend or plan to do again, I have better options for tree skiing. Provided your technique is decent, the Fire Arrow 84EDT will reward you with a fun and exhilarating ride.

Who it is for: Upper intermediate to expert skiers with good technique or someone who wants to push their technique up a couple of notches or more

Who it might not be for: Beginners or anyone with can only skid turns and has no interest in being able to carve turns.

 

[markojp]

Man, I can't imagine an upper intermediate not getting their rear end handed to them by these skis.

 

[Gerry Rhoades]

When I first demoed these I only considered myself to be an upper/advanced intermediate, but maybe I under-estimated myself?

 

[markojp]

I think you might have.

 

[markojp]

This ski is a powerhouse of fun for those who can manage the ride! A spectacular ski and an '11' in a world of many excellent '10's.

 

[Philpug]

This ski is a powerhouse of fun for those who can manage the ride! A spectacular ski and an '11' in a world of many excellent '10's.

 

[Muleski]

Great skis. I have two pairs in my family that were bought in the wrong size……my son's recommendation for his sister, and his girlfriend. Son is an intense coach. Sister is a former NCAA/Nor Am racer. GF was faster than his sister, one of the fastest junior racers in the country, and then into college. She coaches with my son.

Look for two pairs of 176cm FA 84 EDT's to be posted here soon.

One pair has been skied one day…..10 runs. The ski was set up in an exceptional shop and done right. Beatiful structure, Trione tune. Loaded with wax. So…..they're actually better than new.

Second pair has been skied about 20 days….and show a bit of use, like the typical top sheet scratches and binding wear scratches. Bases, edge, and the stuff that matters are perfect.

Both ladies thought they were pretty one dimensional, in a good sense, in that they would carve rail to rail like no tomorrow with amazing edge hold. They both really know how to ski. But at about 130 lbs., at that length, it's a lot of work, and hard to bend into another turn shape. To put in into perspective, my daughter's daily go-to is a 180cm Bonafide. My son's GF is now skiing a new pair of 185cm Enforcers as her everyday ski. Both will be looking for a slightly narrower ski to replace the FA's.

I will post as soon as I have pics. Skis are in Eagle/Summit County CO. They will be very, very fairly priced. My son needs to confirm the actual prices with both owners.

Just had to throw the teaser out there!

 

[Gerry Rhoades]

This ski is a powerhouse of fun for those who can manage the ride! A spectacular ski and an '11' in a world of many excellent '10's.

I'm hoping my Head Strong Instinct Ti turns out to be a 10, but I'll settle for a nine.

 

[Philpug]

I'm hoping my Head Strong Instinct Ti turns out to be a 10, but I'll settle for a nine.

The Instinct will do everything the FA84 EDT will do of 90% of the skiers, but it is the elite 10% that will appreciate the difference.

 

[Gerry Rhoades]

Actually I think there are some things the Instinct will do better, like bumps.

 

[Philpug]

Actually I think there are some things the Instinct will do better, like bumps.

No question about that, there are things the Instinct will do line bumps and varied turn shapes better.

 

[Couchmaster]

..... I later skied the 176cm version for two days at Bridger Bowl during the 2013 Epic Gathering, on groomed runs, bumps and even in the trees, which generated a fairly large pucker factor.....It is really too stiff for bumps, at least at my weight, and unpacked snow over 5-6 inches. I have skied them in the trees at Bridger Bowl, but it isn't something I recommend or plan to do again, I have better options for tree skiing. ....

Gerry, what skis do you prefer for bumps and trees?


Thanks for the report by the way.

 

[Gerry Rhoades]

First off let me just say that I am not a great bump skier. I have been skiing a 170cm Nordica Steadfast as my daily driver for the past four(?) seasons. It's a bit on the stiff side but it does ok in bumps. I think my new favorite tree ski, 177cm Nordica Soul Rider will be better in the bumps because it isn't as stiff. But I don't have a bump specific ski. I just ski them with whatever is on my feet. My Head Strong Instinct Ti might even be better but I have yet to discover what all it can do.

 

[Couchmaster]

Thanks! I saw REI had the Fire Arrows on special, and many folks seem to love them. which of course doesn't mean that I would. LOL!

 

[Gerry Rhoades]

Exactly. This is a ski that really needs to be demoed. It isn't for everyone. It will beat you up if you don't ski it correctly, but when you do, oh man what a ride. And it also depends on what you would want it for. It is absolutely not an all-mountain ski. It is strictly a carving machine.

 

[markojp]

Thanks! I saw REI had the Fire Arrows on special, and many folks seem to love them. which of course doesn't mean that I would. LOL!

Just be aware that the Firearrow and Firearrow EDT are very different skis. The former is a nice 9.5-10. The latter is the 11.

(Tricia, can we get a normal smiley face? This one looks like an emoticon on happy drugs.

 

[Downtown]

I owned this ski for about three weeks. The ski flat our rips, and I'm not sure it has a speed limit, which I love some of the time. However, this ski demands your full attention and to me, wants more speed before initiating the turn. If I needed a 4th ski, I probably would have kept it, but to me, it was to much of a specialist. I liked it of course on the groomers, thought it was fine in the bumps and it was a ton of fun on those 1-4" days of fresh pow that was covering the hard pack. But other than that, it wasn't versatile enough, and I prefer my Dynastar Speed Course TI...although not a totally fair comparison.

I will say the first 10 turns I made on the EDT were some of the biggest smiles I'm had from a front side ripper...it really loads well through the turn before blasting you out like a cannon. Crazy fun...but to me, more of a specialized race car for top speed.

I ran it in a 176, and curious how the smaller sizes may have been for me, maybe better.

Just noticed they have a "Evo" version of the 84, 80 and 76 models... I wouldn't mind test driving them

 

[Muleski]

Perfect, used once FA's posted in Phil's Garage. FYI.

 

[Muleski]

I'm blown away by the lack of interest in the pair that I have listed for sale in Phil's Garage, {and on Epic.} I have a second pair to list, skied about 20-25 days, and I'm hesitant to do that. These are great skis, but it seems like at least on Pugski, {and Epic}, there's not much of a following. I'm just so surprised that I may have to resort to EBay or CL to sell a ski that so many really knowledgeable folks rave about.

In the case of these two pairs, nothing more than a sizing mistaken the part of my son. The two young ladies who own aren't loving a 176cm, at about 130-135 lbs. Understandable. My son has a pair of 184cm's, and thinks they are probably the best production hard snow cruiser that he's ever skied. He's skied on…..a lot…of skis. Has done a lot of testing for WC athletes, for example. He knows skis.

So, when people were actually buying these a year ago at the full $1300 MAP, and gushing about them, has the interest waned than much? Makes ZERO sense to me. These things are not just for the uber-strong, etc. Great flex pattern, great build quality.

Had to vent, as this makes no sense at all to me!! HaHa. Some Pug needs these. I hate EBay, and hate CL worse.

At least help make me feel that they really are exceptional skis.

 

[bbinder]

These interest me for sure, but I just bought a pair of frontside skis that I here yet to have used!