icelantic

Icelantic Skis made important updates to the Nomad and women's-specific Maiden freeride skis. We mount up the Nomad 94 and break down the details on both product lines.

To add to the building excitement for the 2024/2025 ski season, Icelantic Skis announced the biggest update to their best-selling Nomad and Maiden freeride series in nearly a decade. I had already been thinking about picking up a narrower ski to add to my freeride collection (OK, maybe I was searching for an excuse to try these updated skis), so I hopped online and ordered a pair of the Icelantic Nomad 94 in the 176 cm length. In this article we'll provide all the details on both the updated Nomad series and the women's-specific freeride ski series, the Icelantic Maiden.

Bottom Line: Icelantic Skis Nomad and Maiden

I bought these skis and mounted the bindings myself. I'm now up to almost 20 days on them in everything from icy crud to fresh pow. I've ridden the lifts and hiked the backcountry with them. So I can confidently say that I can really feel the updated construction; these skis are very playful. They jump turn to turn, almost springing off the snow.

The biggest surprise, however, has been how well they hold an edge. It's impressive how well they ski hardpack being a true twin-tip ski with rocker at the tip and tail. I think the 94mm is for a fairly narrow set of skiers and that the 100mm is going to be right for anyone looking for a ski that can do anything. Personally, I'm looking forward to trying the 106mm next and seeing whether the fatter version maintains the quickness of the 94mm.

Will the Nomads and Maidens drive as hard down a groomed black diamond as a directional full-camber ski? No, but they ski exceptionally well for a go-anywhere freeride ski. If you want something that provides unlimited fun on a powder day but can also handle less-than-ideal conditions, the Icelantic Skis Nomad and Maiden series are solid options for your quiver.

What is a freeride ski? 

The Nomad is Icelantic Skis' top-selling model. As a freeride ski, it's intended to be used anywhere on the mountain. Compared to an all-mountain ski, a freeride ski aims to be more playful by having increased pop and options for a wider waist. Oftentimes you may see a bigger rocker or wider tip/tail on freeride skis for backcountry use. Freeride skis should have a lively feel without being as noodly as a park ski. 

Looking at the 2024/2025 updates

The updates to the Nomad and Maiden skis significantly improve how they perform. While some of the specs differ between the Maiden and Nomad (see the Maiden section for details), both series get the updated construction and materials. 

More pop

Icelantic Skis made two changes to the Nomad to increase pop. When I talk about pop, I'm talking about how a ski rebounds (or springs back) when you flex them. When you flex the ski in a turn, you want the ski to spring back as you transition to the next turn. Same thing when you are loading your skis for a jump; the more the ski pops, the more boost for your air. Nomad's have always been rated high for pop and playfulness, and somehow Icelantic figured out how to take a good thing and make it better without screwing it up (kind of like how "Godfather Part II" is the rare sequel that surpasses the original). 

Increased camber - For winter 2024 the camber on the Icelantic Nomad has been doubled from 2mm to 4mm. Camber has a big effect on how a ski carves, and the increased camber keeps your turning edge in contact with the snow. Flexing the camber is also going to load the ski with energy for rebound. Combine this increased camber with the rocker on the tip and tail and you get a very playful ski that doesn't sacrifice edge confidence on icy hardpack.

Out of all changes to the Nomad, I notice the increased camber the most when I'm riding them. It is massively apparent when transitioning turns. The moment I begin shifting my weight, the ski springs up. I am skiing the most narrow 94mm option and they are ridiculously fast edge to edge. 

Carbon stringers - Another major addition that changes the way the Nomad feels are carbon stringers placed above and below the poplar wood core. A carbon stringer is a narrow strip of carbon fiber that runs the length of the ski. In these skis there are four stringers above the core and four more below the core. The stringers add torsional stiffness (to prevent chattering) and help the ski pop back from flex. This construction is used because it can stiffen the ski without adding a bunch of weight, as would a full sheet of fiberglass.

Reduced weight

Flycap construction - Another way Icelantic Skis reduced the weight on both the Nomad and Maiden is by moving to a flycap construction. With this construction method they reduce the amount of plastic used at the tip and tail by wrapping the top sheet around the core. This keeps the required strength at the ends of the ski while reducing weight. Reducing weight at the extremities (i.e. the swing weight) of the ski makes a big difference in how they turn and rotate. The result here is a livelier and more playful ski without sacrificing durability.

Shape update and correcting a complaint

Icelantic has "modernized" the shape of these skis by making them even more symmetrical than the previous iteration. I've looked at my Nomad's on snow along with a few older versions and this difference is hard to detect. That said, it's perfectly in line with making these skis more playful and accenting the freestyle nature of freeride skis. For huckers out there landing switch, you'll appreciate this tweak. 

The other update in the shape arena is more about marketing. Skiers of previous Nomads complained that the ski was wider than advertised. I rode the chairlift with someone riding an older pair of Nomad 106s and without any prompt from me, he complained how they actually measured 110mm at the waist. Wow, that makes a big difference. This year Icelantic is making sure people know that the skis measure true to their published widths. Hooray.

Icelantic Maiden women's-specific freeride skis

Icelantic expanded the Maiden lineup and gave it the same construction updates as the Nomad, so you get the same increased camber, shape, pop, and playfulness. 

What makes the Maiden a women's-specific ski?

The Maiden lineup is offered in a few a different widths than the Nomad, as well as some shorter lengths. With the shorter lengths you get a shallower sidecut (radius), which results in a shorter effective edge. What this means is that the shorter skis will carve tighter turns and be more maneuverable. The new updates like the flycap construction that reduces weight will also be appreciated by every skier by making the skis quicker edge to edge.

Sizes of the Icelantic Nomad and Maiden skis

Here are the sizes offered of each ski in both width and length:

• Nomad 94mm (162, 171, 176, 182 cm)
• Nomad 100mm (171, 176, 182, 188 cm)
• Nomad 106mm (171, 176, 182, 188 cm)
• Nomad 112mm (171, 176, 182, 188 cm)
• Maiden 94mm (155, 162, 169 cm)
• Maiden 102mm (155, 162, 169, 176 cm)
• Maiden 108mm (162, 169, 176 cm)

This table compares weights across the skis (176cm length for the Nomad and 169cm for the Maiden)

Setting up the Icelantic Skis Nomad 94

I purchased my planks and bindings separately. Because I ski telemark, I decided to go with the Bishop BFM/R binding that offers a touring mode for backcountry use. I mounted the bindings myself, cut my Pomoca touring skins, and prepped the skis (wax and a slight detune of the edges). Personally, I really like to prepare and maintain skis myself, but for most people I'd suggest you have your local ski shop handle these tasks. 

For telemark skiers out there - the Bishop binding is a great pairing for these skis. It's a stiff and rather burley NTN binding that still connects around the heel of your boot. These skis want to drive hard, and the Bishop is the right binding to help you keep on top of them. 

Skiing the Nomad and how to choose the right width

I chose the narrowest Nomad offering to aid in my quest for a quick-turning ski that will carve through tight trees. My daily freeride ski is a 105mm, and it felt like the 100mm Nomad wouldn't be different enough, so I went down to the 94mm. I'm 5' 9" and chose the 176cm length.

My first day on these skis was a small backcountry tour at high altitude searching for snow while waiting for the resorts to open. I was immediately impressed with their liveliness, but of course the narrowest option wasn't ideal for early season off-piste crud. I ended the day questioning my width choice. After almost 20 more days on them I'm happy to report that I've stopped questioning my decision and am having a ton of fun with the Nomad 94. They almost jump off the snow between turns. The biggest surprise for me has been just how well they hold an edge. Now, any ski you buy better carve well, but I wouldn't expect a twin tip with rocker freeride ski to perform as well as the Nomads have on hardpack. It's a relief to feel them really hold on bulletproof snow when getting on their edges. 

They're also really playful. My jibbing skills may be limited, but these have been fun to boost off cat tracks. The twin-tip design is also fun for buttering around and working on my switch tele turns.

This week I got the Nomads in powder for the first time, and while not snorkel depth, the 7 inches of fresh was a good test. The 36mm wide rocker tip handled nicely for a narrow ski. As the novelty wears off I'm sure I'll be reaching for my wider skis on powder days, but these did pretty darn well. No doubt the 100mm to 112mm options would slay pow days.

Which brings up the discussion of how to choose the right width for you. I recommend the 94mm width only to skiers who spend time in the park or are specifically looking to add a narrower ski to their quiver. For an average skier and anyone looking to improve their skills with an upgrade, I think the 100mm is going to be perfect. You get a good amount of ski underfoot that is still going to be very maneuverable and easy to find your edge.

For more advanced skiers and those who are chasing storms for powder days, the 106mm is a great choice. The wider the ski the more confident you want to be in your ability to quickly transition nice parallel turns. If you need to ask whether or not you should consider the 112mm, then the answer is no. This is kind of like asking how much the special is on the menu. If you need to ask, it's too expensive. The 4mm camber and carbon stringers will make the entire mountain your playground on the 112mm if you are a true pow slayer. You also probably have a few other pairs of skis in your arsenal.