2012-2013 Nordica Helldorado
Nordica Helldorado
Skis:
• 2012-2013 Nordica Helldorado, sizes 185cm and 193cm
• 2012-2013: Nordica Patrón, sizes 185cm and 193cm
Dimensions (mm): 143-113-132, for all of the skis listed
Sidecut Radius:
• 185cm Patrón & Helldorado—18.5m
• 193cm Patrón & Helldorado—21.0m
Actual Tip-to-Tail Length (Straight Tape Pull): 183.5cm and 192.3cm, respectively
Weight Per Ski:
• 193 Helldorado—2,707 grams / 5.97 lbs.
• 193 Patron—2,476 grams / 5.46 lbs.
Boots / Binding: Tecnica Bodacious / Marker Jester (DIN at 10)
Mount Location: 185 = on the line; 193 = -1
Test Location: Alta Ski Area
Days Skied: 8 on the 193cm Patrón and Helldorado; 1 on the 185cm Patrón; 4 on the 185cm Helldorado
On a bluebird day at Alta about a year ago, Will Brown and I each spent some time on the 185cm Nordica Patrón. Alta had picked up 20″ in the previous 24 hours, and the conditions were ridiculously good.
But because neither of us was able to get more than a handful of runs on the ski, we didn’t post a review. (We’ll say it again: A couple of runs on a ski or bike or board isn’t enough time to assess what the product really can or can’t do.) But we were both left with the impression that the Patrón was a very interesting ski that performed well on that 20-inch day and was outstanding on the groomers back to the lift.
At the time, both Will and I had been skiing the 184cm Moment Bibby Pro quite a bit, and we felt that the Patrón compared very favorably: The Patrón seemed like a more damp Bibby that was at least as good (if not better) on hardpack. So coming into the 11/12 season, the Patrón was high on our list of skis we wanted to get more time on.
Then, for 12/13, Nordica created the “Helldorado,” using the same mold of the Patrón and adding two sheets of titanal. (Nordica also used that Patrón mold to create a women’s version of the Patrón that is 25% lighter—and BLISTER reviewer Julia Van Raalte was totally impressed with the La Niña.) Jason Hutchins and I have been putting time in on the Patrón and the Helldorado, and because so many people have asked about these two skis, we’re glad to be able to finally weigh in.
My first day on the 185cm Helldorado happened to coincide with Alta receiving a fresh 35″. Nothing about this day sucked.
Jonathan Ellsworth, Keyhole, Alta Ski Area.
Normally, I would opt for a bigger ski on such a deep day (the following day, I skied the 120mm underfoot Rossignol Squad 7, and the day after that, I skied the DPS Lotus 138, at 138mm underfoot) but at no point in the day did I feel like I was missing out on the fun of an even fatter ski. The Helldorado obviously wasn’t as surfy as a 132mm Praxis Protest or the DPS Lotus 138, but it wasn’t struggling.
The snow wasn’t super light blower that day, but it was light, and I wasn’t experiencing any significant tip dive. It was one of the best kind of days on skis, where the skis just sort of disappear, do everything you want them to, and allow you to enjoy one of the best days of the season.
In hindsight, the fact that a 113mm, 185cm ski with a good amount of metal worked this well on such a deep day should have clued me in to a potential issue, but we’ll get to that a bit later.
Comments:
Questions? Comments? Tell us what you think.
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May 7, 2012 at 9:11 am
Fantastic review. I was hoping the Helldorado was going to be a DPS W112 with Katana-like construction/flex profile. Those are my two favorite skis, and I’d love for them to procreate.
May 7, 2012 at 10:30 am
Thanks, Andy. And yeah, 112 + Katana would make an interesting love child.
May 7, 2012 at 10:23 am
You mentioned the SFBs… WIll you be reviewing those anytime soon?
May 7, 2012 at 10:34 am
Yep. Jason Hutchins has the most time on the SFB, and he is working on the review now.
May 10, 2012 at 5:28 pm
hmm, interesting. I had no issues with these skis in variable, PNW snow. If I was staying in OR/WA next year I’d probably pick up a pair.
May 17, 2012 at 10:42 am
Do you think the skiers weight might be an issue ?
(BTW height And testers weight would be good general Info)
May 17, 2012 at 10:48 am
Possibly, Dave. Though Jason Hutchins and I had pretty identical experiences on the Patrons and Helldorados, and I’m 5’10, 185 lbs., and Jason is 6’0″, 160 lbs.
BTW, If you click on the author’s name at the top of each review, you’ll be taken to the author’s bio page that provides each reviewer’s height, weight, background, and more.
May 24, 2012 at 3:54 am
did you guys already have some time on the K2 Pettitor ? I’m not a big K2 lover but this could potentially be a good ski.
May 24, 2012 at 2:41 pm
We haven’t been on it yet, but we may take it down to Las Leñas this summer.
September 17, 2012 at 9:08 pm
How would you compare the patron vs the atomic automatic in a 186? Both look super awesome and from what I hear people seem to like both. I live in CO and ski all over the Rockies and have skied brands from Icelantic( shaman) to the atomic access so looking for a recomindation between the two skies listed above.
September 20, 2012 at 12:30 am
Long and short, Nick: the issues I had with the tips and tails of the Patron & Helldorado, I didn’t experience at all with the Automatic. I do think that the Patron is (even) better on groomers and consistent hardpack than the Automatics, that’s where I thought the Patron really shined.
September 25, 2012 at 8:13 am
I’m a 5’8 Male 145lbs, like to ski steeps, tight trees, and rail groomers. I mostly ski out West (Tahoe, UT, CO). I’ve been looking at the Patrons, Helldorados, and Unleashed Hells. Would you have any recommendations of which ski would be better? Also, I was thinking of going 177 length, a little unsure about going longer. Any help would be appreciated.
February 27, 2013 at 1:10 pm
Have you guys tried the Nordica Radict? Demoed them yesterday –a charging powder ski for sure. Made the bibby pro I took out in the afternoon seem like a noodle! Holds an edge and surfs the powder. Only downside is they are heavy.
February 28, 2013 at 1:21 pm
Have you guys tried the Nordica Radict? I demoed them this week and they seem like a great charging powder ski.
March 5, 2013 at 6:31 pm
the guy in the green need the inside of his boots raised up. His q angle is way off, and probably causing some of the issues in variable snow on a very turny ski.
Julia is aligned and I think that why she like this ski better.