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It isn’t every day that students get to design a pair of custom skis with a big-name brand. But every year since 2022, SOS Outreach — a 501(c)3 nonprofit that helps youth and teens get on snow through outdoor mentorship — has collaborated with Nordica and Christy Sports so program alumni can learn the end-to-end commercial process of building a limited-edition Nordica ski and bringing it to market.
Then, all sales of those skis go directly back into the program, benefiting students and getting more of them outside on snow.
“All profits from these skis will serve as program scholarships for the young people who need it most across 15 communities,” Caroline Craffey, marketing director of SOS Outreach, told GearJunkie. “We know that high costs are a major barrier to more people accessing the sport. This project is raising funds to eliminate that for SOS participants. Together, we are able to change young lives through the power of the mountains.”
This year, students designed a special pair of SOS Outreach Nordica Enforcer 94s — one of the brand’s top-selling all-mountain models — embossed with special SOS Outreach graphics. Selling all 70 of these limited-edition skis would allow SOS Outreach to support 20 participants through its multiyear program.
“I am a first-generation Latina skier, whose parents never got on the mountain,” Fernanda Landeros, an SOS alumna who helped design this year’s collaboration skis said. “By offering a chance to SOS kids like me, who are the first in their families to hit the slopes, these skis are making a significant impact on their lives.”
This year, five alumni helped design the SOS Outreach Nordica Enforcer 94. Fernanda Landeros, Jaime Rosales, Vicente Flores, Aaron Chaussignand, and Amelia Atencia were selected because of their dedication to getting more kids and teenagers on snow — especially first-generation skiers.
“Being the only one like me on the mountain was intimidating,” Rosales said. “But thanks to SOS Outreach and this incredible ski, I’ve found the courage to push past my fears and embrace challenges. These skis aren’t just equipment — they’re helping me break barriers both on and off the mountain.”
Last year, SOS Outreach designed a version of the Nordica Unleashed all-mountain ski. This year, they chose the Enforcer 94, a flagship Nordica ski with a new waist width for 2024/25.
The Enforcer has an all-mountain rocker, camber underfoot, and Energy 2 Ti Pulse Core. To compare the Enforcers with other similar skis, check out GearJunkie’s guide to the Best All-Mountain Skis.
GearJunkie’s own Sean McCoy tested the Enforcer 99. He commented, “This ski likes to run fast but can still slow down and play pretty well.”
Matthew Miller, the social and environmental impact lead with Tecnica Group, explained that the cohort helped design this limited-edition ski by selecting the model, choosing the top sheet, and adding a few other graphic elements. They were also part of the planning and marketing process to bring this new ski to market.
“It is our hope that we provide the cohort a unique experiential opportunity that could lead to a career in winter sports or translate to another professional field,” Miller said.
The SOS Outreach Nordica Enforcer is available in four sizes: 167, 173, 179, and 185 cm. It’s available only through Christy Sports and on the Nordica website and retails for $750.
Over the years, more than 80,000 kids and teens have gone through the program. Its goal is to promote leadership through outdoor engagement, and skiing is a big component of SOS Outreach’s work.
This collaboration with Nordica and Christy Sports is a significant fundraiser that helps SOS Outreach continue working with underserved youth.
“We know that high costs are a major barrier to more people accessing the sport. This project is raising funds to eliminate that for SOS participants,” Craffey said. “Together, we are able to change young lives through the power of the mountains.”
For young people like Rosales, Landeros, Flores, Chaussignand, and Atencia, SOS Outreach has been a life-changing program.
“My family was never a winter sports family,” Flores said. “But I’m making sure it slowly turns into one.”
The Nordica Unleashed 114 Skis chew up any kind of soft snow and aren’t a bad tool for the frontside.
Will is a writer, journalist, and professional misfit based out of the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado. Will grew up on the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains, reenacting “Survivorman” episodes and studying books like “Hatchet,” “The Monkey Wrench Gang,” and “Into the Wild.” He’s written on topics ranging from cannabis to local news, the environment and, of course, outdoor gear and adventure. If he’s not banging stories out on his computer, you’ll probably find Will skiing or mountain biking (depending on the season) — or drinking beer at some remote craft brewery.
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