Commentary

Nordica Patron ($899)

Nordica's Patron is the ski of choice for athletes like TJ Schiller and Rory Bushfield

Updated: August 3, 2011, 3:56 PM ET
By Megan Michelson | ESPN Action Sports

Courtesy of NordicaThis ski isn't named after the top-shelf tequila.

There's this sweet spot when it comes to ski widths nowadays. It's somewhere between 110 and 115 millimeters underfoot. A ski that's skinnier than 110 might be too narrow to float in powder. A ski that's fatter than 115 might be too unwieldy to lay an edge on hardpack. But a ski that's right in the middle? That's a ski that can do everything well. Introducing the brand new Nordica Patron, which is a perfectly-sized 113 millimeters in the waist.

WHAT IT IS:
The Patron is Nordica's newest rockered ski -- it has a rockered tip and tail and traditional camber underfoot. Which means it's designed for powder, but thanks to the camber, you can carve a turn without feeling like you're wobbling downhill on a pair of two-by-four planks. A newly designed low-profile tip and tail are said to keep the rockered parts of the ski from chattering at high speeds. The Patron comes in three lengths: 177, 185 and 193 centimeters.

WHY IT RULES:
Unlike some of Nordica's stiffer skis (like the popular Enforcer and Girish), the Patron has a light wood core, a softer flex and a more fun, playful feel. "I've found it's the most playful ski -- I can use it all over the mountain," says TJ Schiller, who's sponsored by Nordica. "It's the most versatile ski in the entire lineup." Nordica athletes Rory Bushfield and Bene Mayr will also be riding on the Patron this year. And as for the name? It's actually not named after the top-shelf tequila. "We got the name from its English translation of 'Boss,'" says Andy Hare, Nordica's director of product and promotions. "We felt that this ski was such a money ski for so many skiers that it would qualify as the Boss."

WHERE TO FIND IT:
The Nordica Patron will be available nationwide this fall. Find a Nordica dealer near you.

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