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Gear Review | Norse Skis - The Enduro

The definition of balance

by Volker Lehmann 03/03/2022
After we were able to test the "The Freeride" of the small ski manufacturer NORSE in 192cm last year and presented the construction of the ski in more detail, we were excited to see the second ski in the still small product line. "The Enduro": a ski that bears its area of use in its name and has been recognised as a true all-rounder in various ski magazines.

The ski with its 100mm waist is described as a versatile ski that can be used for touring, powder skiing, off-piste and on piste.

Time for PowderGuide to strap the ski under its boots for an intensive test!

First impression

Compared to the Freeride, the Enduro has more flex across the entire ski. The ski has a pronounced tip rocker and, in contrast, a slightly less pronounced but still present tail rocker. The nose and tail become softer towards the end. In terms of quality, the ski has a high-quality finish and the clear design is appealing. As with the Freeride, the base consists of a sintered base that has been treated with nanowax. It is promised that the ski will not need to be waxed for its entire service life.

On my non-certified kitchen scale, the ski weighed just over 1900g and was therefore slightly heavier than the stated 1825g.

Testers and test conditions

The ski was tested on more than 15 days in a wide variety of snow conditions. A Look Pivot with Cast System was fitted as a binding so that all the all-mountain characteristics could be tested. The setup is certainly too heavy for pure touring with a lot of vertical metres. However, I am happy to have a solid binding under my feet, especially in difficult conditions. The ski was mounted on the recommended mounting point.

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The last few years I've always skied skis over 185cm. On the recommendation of Patrik Sannes from Norse, I wanted to try out the 180cm version this time. The ski was put through its paces on 1300 metre tours, powder skiing in Engelberg and in various lift-assisted mixed terrain. I'm 176cm tall, weigh a good 75kg and like a wide variety of ski concepts, which tend to be a little more firm. When powder skiing, nothing beats the Praxis Powderboard, I can always rely on my Fischer Ranger 107ti and on piste days, I prefer my Völkl Deacon 84. The boots used during the test were the Dalbello Krypton Pro and the Dalbello Lupo 130C.

Practical test

For the first few days, I couldn't really get to grips with the skis. It wasn't until my snowboarding colleagues left me standing on the trails that I realised it was the surface that was slowing me down. After consulting with Norse, I hot waxed the ski and brushed it out well. According to Patrik, the base apparently does need care and wax, just like any other ski. Since then, the ski has skied much better. The following assessments refer to the waxed ski.

Piste performance
The first time I used the ski on the piste, it brought back memories of freeriding. Put it on and the ski does what it's told. The pilot is in control at all times. Movements are directly translated into directional changes without the feeling of not being centred over the ski or of being thrown off.

The radius of 21 metres does not make the ski the sportiest all-mountain weapon. Due to the pronounced tip rocker and the narrow shovel, it is difficult to get pressure on the shovel. As a result, you get the feeling that the ski is not travelling over the entire edge, but over the rear 2/3 of the ski length. Nevertheless, the ski is easy to steer through the turns thanks to its harmonious flex. The edge grip is remarkably good, which I explain by the torsionally stable construction. Thanks to its present but not too long or choppy tail, the ski inspires confidence at all times - regardless of the snow conditions.

Performance in off-piste terrain
The ski feels most at home in "vegetables". Whether in choppy terrain, in moguls, on dust on crust or a completely rutted piste. I can rely on the ski in all types of terrain and snow. Turn initiation is effortless in steep and technically difficult terrain without the feeling of losing control of the ski. As with freeride, the long rocker profile, the softer ski ends and the relatively short sidecut have a positive effect on the ski's manoeuvrability. And when the ski is brought into the fall line and picks up speed, it absorbs the bumps incredibly well - amazing for a ski in this weight class. Another thing that impresses me about this ski is that if you like to take off on off-piste edges, the ski automatically returns to the correct position when you land.

Powder performance & touring suitability
On my first outing, I took the skis on a longer tour with approx. 1300 metres. Together with the CAST system, the weight is quite considerable and not recommended for pure touring. The first descent through broken harsh snow, slab powder and set powder went without any problems and gave me a positive first impression.

(Note: With a pin binding, I can imagine the ski, especially in poorer conditions, very well. In technical terrain, an easy turn release is important and this ski can do that perfectly!

On an unexpectedly good powder day in Engelberg, the ski had to excel in big mountain terrain. It was unusual to find yourself with a 100mm and 180cm short ski at the start in 30cm of fresh snow in Steinberg. Surprising how well the ski performed here. Yes, it's not a powder ski, but it takes the upper, wind-pressed part without dipping or getting stuck. In the wind-calmed part, it starts to float up well at speed, giving a good surfing feeling for this centre width. In playful terrain, the ski pops enough and short and long turns with small drops can be skilfully strung together.

Conclusion

The Enduro convinces me above all in mixed terrain. Jumping from the piste into rugged terrain, when it gets fast, bumpy and rough, or when one or two edges tempt you to pull away - that's when the ski reveals its potential. It conveys safety, speed stability and turns without hooking, especially in poorer snow conditions. A true all-mountain ski that can appeal to many skiers, from beginners to experts. The only criticism is that it is relatively short due to the pronounced tip rocker. Good on the piste, fast enough to plough through chopped-up snow, light enough for touring and for surfing through powder. An easy to ski and energy-saving ski that offers no surprises and with which I feel slower than I actually am. Perhaps this is my biggest criticism of this ski! The ski is well-balanced and recommended for anyone who only wants to get by with one ski.

Advantages & disadvantages

+ easy to turn
+ stable at speed
+ balanced
+ energy-saving
+ conveys safety in all types of snow
+ weight
+ very good processing quality
- despite information to the contrary, the base needs normal waxing and care before the first use
- runs short

Information on

RRP €800,-

Sidecut: 126 - 100 - 114 mm

 Länge Radius Gewicht
164 cm 15 m 1.580 g
172 cm 18 m 1.700 g
180 cm 21 m 1.825 g
188 cm 24 m 1.875 g

Here is the Norse website with further information.

The ski was provided to PowderGuide by the manufacturer free of charge for testing. Find out how we tested it in our test statement.

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