Norse The Freeride
Level: Advanced
Brand: Norse
Model year: 2025
Measure (Tip/Waist/Tail): 133/110/123 mm Turning radius: 24.00 m Weight: 2000 gram (184 cm)
Lengths: 176,184,192 cm
Recommended price: 850 $
Manufacturers description
Updated for the season. Thicker layers of Titanal. Ready to charge! New color option.
The Freeride is a versatile ski made for bigger mountains and deeper snow. It behaves on piste but it’s not what it’s made for. Despite “only” 110mm under foot it floats like cork due to its unique shape and pronounced rocker. It’s a fantastic combination that allows you to change direction on a dime at the same time as it’s super stable at speed.
The sturdy yet lightweight construction means that you can take this ski everywhere. The right pop and lightness comes from our own developed ash, poplar and balsa wood core. Torsional stiffness with traditional feel comes from double layers of aluminium sheets and triaxial glass fibres combined with the right amount of rubber for vibration dampening.
In contact with the snow we use a high quality sintered base that we permanent impregnate with the original Nanowaxxx treatment. It gives you a waxless base that never needs waxing during the skis lifespan. Further it also hardens the base protecting it better from rock impacts.
Talking about rocks we also utilise a wider 2.0x1.8mm steel edge for increased lifespan and service.
The Freeride is a versatile ski made for bigger mountains and deeper snow. It behaves on piste but it’s not what it’s made for. Despite “only” 110mm under foot it floats like cork due to its unique shape and pronounced rocker. It’s a fantastic combination that allows you to change direction on a dime at the same time as it’s super stable at speed.
The sturdy yet lightweight construction means that you can take this ski everywhere. The right pop and lightness comes from our own developed ash, poplar and balsa wood core. Torsional stiffness with traditional feel comes from double layers of aluminium sheets and triaxial glass fibres combined with the right amount of rubber for vibration dampening.
In contact with the snow we use a high quality sintered base that we permanent impregnate with the original Nanowaxxx treatment. It gives you a waxless base that never needs waxing during the skis lifespan. Further it also hardens the base protecting it better from rock impacts.
Talking about rocks we also utilise a wider 2.0x1.8mm steel edge for increased lifespan and service.
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Strengths:
Where to start? I’ve skied The Freeride 192cm for 10 days in Val d’Isere in pretty much all conditions.
Powder performance is fantastic, the long smooth rocker makes it float great and the tailrocker makes it easy to pivot and slash out fast direction changes. It feels very similar to my former favorite powderski Salomon Rocker 2 but with more stability.
I found myself more often than not ski faster than I usually do and never once did I feel the ski show any sign of instability, I just enjoyed the ride.
On windblown, crud and hardpack the ski was stable, calm and solid. Just like you want a ski to be in those conditions.
One thing that worried me before I tried the ski the first time was a 192cm ski with a mounting point TC -7,5cm. But it feels just perfect.
In some weird way the ski doesn’t feel as long when you ski it in a tight forest when it at the the same time gives you full performance of the length when charging open faces.
Don’t know how that’s possible but the end result is just awesome!
It’s also light enough for touring even though I wouldn’t call it a touring ski.
And it’s pretty fun on groomers when you happen to end up there in between offpist runs.
Weaknesses:
Nothing I've noticed.
Summary:
The Freeride is just what it claims to be, an awesome freeride ski. It handles every type of snow that you can come across outside the slopes.
Norse The Freeride 192 is one of the best skis I’ve ever skied.
Model year: 2020
Riding style: Offpist
Length on the ski: 192 cm
Riders weight: 100 kg
Riders length: 180 cm
Where to start? I’ve skied The Freeride 192cm for 10 days in Val d’Isere in pretty much all conditions.
Powder performance is fantastic, the long smooth rocker makes it float great and the tailrocker makes it easy to pivot and slash out fast direction changes. It feels very similar to my former favorite powderski Salomon Rocker 2 but with more stability.
I found myself more often than not ski faster than I usually do and never once did I feel the ski show any sign of instability, I just enjoyed the ride.
On windblown, crud and hardpack the ski was stable, calm and solid. Just like you want a ski to be in those conditions.
One thing that worried me before I tried the ski the first time was a 192cm ski with a mounting point TC -7,5cm. But it feels just perfect.
In some weird way the ski doesn’t feel as long when you ski it in a tight forest when it at the the same time gives you full performance of the length when charging open faces.
Don’t know how that’s possible but the end result is just awesome!
It’s also light enough for touring even though I wouldn’t call it a touring ski.
And it’s pretty fun on groomers when you happen to end up there in between offpist runs.
Weaknesses:
Nothing I've noticed.
Summary:
The Freeride is just what it claims to be, an awesome freeride ski. It handles every type of snow that you can come across outside the slopes.
Norse The Freeride 192 is one of the best skis I’ve ever skied.
Model year: 2020
Riding style: Offpist
Length on the ski: 192 cm
Riders weight: 100 kg
Riders length: 180 cm
Strengths:
Partially agrees with previous reviews, speed stable ski that can handle basically everything you throw at it. Have skied everything from knee-deep powder in a sunny St Anton, tight forest skiing in Norway to rock-hard slopes in a frozen Åre and the ski always works, a real omnivore.
Whether the ski is playful or not I would say it is relatively neutral, I have definitely ridden more latjo skis. Due to its speed-stable properties, the ski is relatively stiff.
As I said, it's a real omnivore, which is very nice if you're on the move or just like the simplicity of a pair of skis. However, this always comes with compromises, they are neither the best in powder or for lying down and slapping the piste, but they do the job.
Weaknesses:
The major weakness that I experienced after two seasons with relatively much riding on harder, icy surfaces (read the Swedish mountains) and a lot of jumping with hard landings. Is that the skis don't last, my first pair lasted a week, the second barely two seasons.
Problems with delamination in the ski tips so the skis start gaping (see picture), the nail in the coffin was when I rolled over and pulled the binding screws out of the holes. By this time the other pair had also begun to delaminate. I have never succeeded in doing this before on other skis.
Would be interesting to know if I am alone with these problems or if others have experienced the same thing.
However, exceptional customer service with a pair of new skis on the first occasion and money back on the second.
Summary:
Speed stability: 9/10
Playfulness: 6/10
Powder: 8/10
Piste: 6/10
Durability: 2/10
Model year: 2022
Riding style: Powder, park, top ride and some piste
Length on the ski: 192 cm
Riders weight: 75 kg
Riders length: 187 cm
Partially agrees with previous reviews, speed stable ski that can handle basically everything you throw at it. Have skied everything from knee-deep powder in a sunny St Anton, tight forest skiing in Norway to rock-hard slopes in a frozen Åre and the ski always works, a real omnivore.
Whether the ski is playful or not I would say it is relatively neutral, I have definitely ridden more latjo skis. Due to its speed-stable properties, the ski is relatively stiff.
As I said, it's a real omnivore, which is very nice if you're on the move or just like the simplicity of a pair of skis. However, this always comes with compromises, they are neither the best in powder or for lying down and slapping the piste, but they do the job.
Weaknesses:
The major weakness that I experienced after two seasons with relatively much riding on harder, icy surfaces (read the Swedish mountains) and a lot of jumping with hard landings. Is that the skis don't last, my first pair lasted a week, the second barely two seasons.
Problems with delamination in the ski tips so the skis start gaping (see picture), the nail in the coffin was when I rolled over and pulled the binding screws out of the holes. By this time the other pair had also begun to delaminate. I have never succeeded in doing this before on other skis.
Would be interesting to know if I am alone with these problems or if others have experienced the same thing.
However, exceptional customer service with a pair of new skis on the first occasion and money back on the second.
Summary:
Speed stability: 9/10
Playfulness: 6/10
Powder: 8/10
Piste: 6/10
Durability: 2/10
Model year: 2022
Riding style: Powder, park, top ride and some piste
Length on the ski: 192 cm
Riders weight: 75 kg
Riders length: 187 cm
Translated by Google ・ Show original
Strengths:
Playful and fast-paced ski that floats like a cork
Weaknesses:
Nothing that can not be expected from a wide ski made for larger rides
Summary:
When Norse released The Freeride for a shorter length, I could not hold on. Although The Enduro, which was my faithful companion on all adventures last year, is a really good and versatile ski, I lacked a bit of breadth, stability and cushioning during those days that are about speed, jumping, play and deep snow. So I struck. And damn how happy I am!
I've been skiing for about a month. There has been a lot of piste whipping in the Åre area, but also a few days with fluff powder and shorter trips, both in the forest and in the high mountains. The Freeride gives me exactly what I was looking for - a slightly beefier complement to The Enduro which means that I do not have to limit my riding.
What I like most about the ski is that it manages to be both playful and stable at the same time. If you lie a little more centered on the edge, it goes like on rails, at the same time as a slight pressure forward makes it surfy and turns on a five-ring. Here I experience a fairly clear difference from skis like Atomic Backland and BC Atris, where the ride becomes more track-bound.
That the ski floats like a cork when there is deep snow hardly needs to be mentioned considering the width and rocker profile.
Of course, there are better skis if you like hard slopes. But at the same time, it has a surprisingly good bite. Increasing the speed on the piste and making slightly larger giant slalom turns is terribly fun.
So summa summarum - cruel (and pig-looking) ski for those who like to ride powerfully on slightly wider planks. That Patrik, who is behind Norse, is a nice guy who strives for sustainability is a nice bonus.
Model year: 2022
Riding style: Long summit trips, lift-close loose snow hunting and speed hunting on the piste
Length on the ski: 176 cm
Riders weight: 62 kg
Riders length: 167 cm
Playful and fast-paced ski that floats like a cork
Weaknesses:
Nothing that can not be expected from a wide ski made for larger rides
Summary:
When Norse released The Freeride for a shorter length, I could not hold on. Although The Enduro, which was my faithful companion on all adventures last year, is a really good and versatile ski, I lacked a bit of breadth, stability and cushioning during those days that are about speed, jumping, play and deep snow. So I struck. And damn how happy I am!
I've been skiing for about a month. There has been a lot of piste whipping in the Åre area, but also a few days with fluff powder and shorter trips, both in the forest and in the high mountains. The Freeride gives me exactly what I was looking for - a slightly beefier complement to The Enduro which means that I do not have to limit my riding.
What I like most about the ski is that it manages to be both playful and stable at the same time. If you lie a little more centered on the edge, it goes like on rails, at the same time as a slight pressure forward makes it surfy and turns on a five-ring. Here I experience a fairly clear difference from skis like Atomic Backland and BC Atris, where the ride becomes more track-bound.
That the ski floats like a cork when there is deep snow hardly needs to be mentioned considering the width and rocker profile.
Of course, there are better skis if you like hard slopes. But at the same time, it has a surprisingly good bite. Increasing the speed on the piste and making slightly larger giant slalom turns is terribly fun.
So summa summarum - cruel (and pig-looking) ski for those who like to ride powerfully on slightly wider planks. That Patrik, who is behind Norse, is a nice guy who strives for sustainability is a nice bonus.
Model year: 2022
Riding style: Long summit trips, lift-close loose snow hunting and speed hunting on the piste
Length on the ski: 176 cm
Riders weight: 62 kg
Riders length: 167 cm
Translated by Google ・ Show original