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By: John Kutcher,Store Supervisor| August 22, 2022
- The Lowdown
- Technical Details
- Ride Impressions
- The Bottom Line
The Lowdown
As ski technology has evolved, the one ski quiver has become more of a reality than ever before. Who wouldn’t want something that was equally comfortable with a casual groomer day, beat up refrozen chunder, or even the perfect pow day. For the most part, you give up one side of the spectrum for better performance on the other. With the new Blade Optic 104, Line has gotten about as close to the perfect one ski quiver as anything I have skied. Were you expecting a few inches of fresh snow, but showed up to an iced over version of what was skied the previous day? Not to worry, the Blade Optic 104 turns it from a struggle fest to an opportunity. This is a fun take on the metal laminate ski, more geared towards skiers seeking to turn the mountain into a playground over strictly high speed edge hold in the iciest of conditions. Once you’re on these skis all you have to worry about is if you’ll still have the energy for the apres party after skiing bell to bell.
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Technical Details
The Blade Optic 104 is the child of two other newer skis from Line, the Vision and the Blade. The Vision has been out for about 3 years now. It impressed many with its lightweight construction, modern shape, and ease to ski. The other ski providing some DNA, the Blade, has been around for 2 years now. Aside from having a turn radius so tight it had slalom skiers turning their heads, it also brought some brand new technology from Line, which they deemed Gas Pedal Metal. Combine the directional freeride shape of the Vision with the added stability and power of the titanal backed Blade and you have the Blade Optic.
The ski has a ~19m radius and is what I would call a directional partial twin tip. This all adds up to a ski that is easy to figure out for almost any ability level. By refining the way they construct the titanal layer in this ski, Line Skis has managed to add confident edge hold while not completely forgetting their roots as a brand that produces some of the more playful skis on the market. However, the added support of titanal has come with some weight gains as well. I would not classify this as a light ski by any means, but this also helps the ski remain stable and damp in less than ideal conditions.
Sizes(cm) | 171, 178, [185], 190 |
Dimensions (Tip, Waist, Tail - mm) | 132 - 104 - 123 |
Turning Radius (m) | 19 |
Weight (per ski - g) | 1890 |
Camber Profile | Rocker / Camber / Rocker |
Ride Impressions
I first got to test these skis on a trip up to Mt. Baker. If you’re not familiar, Baker is a steep and unforgiving mountain with incredible terrain directly under the chair. This was the perfect place to test out the Blade Optic 104. Unfortunately the conditions weren’t what you would hope for, but that did make for a better test of the skis. The snow had been all skied out a few days earlier and now it was sunny and cold in the mornings. This led to some bulletproof snow. Itruly believe any other ski in Line’s lineup would have been undergunned. The titanal back bone made sure to keep the skis planted and the edge in the snow over some chattery sections. I skied back to back with some much softer skis and had a very different experience. While the rest of my group was sticking to the few groomers, I was gifted the confidence to adventure off into the firm and challenging off-piste conditions.
What stood out to me about this ski vs other titanal laminate skis was its ability to maintain a level of forgiveness if you found yourself getting bucked into the back seat. The tails were easy to break free which allowed me to smear my turns if I wanted to. While I appreciate the locked-in feeling you get from a flatter tail, I love the playfulness you gain with the amount of rocker added to this ski. You are still able to rail a turn if you want, but the skis are more versatile than that.
The recommended mount point is a little more forward than a lot of directional skis out there, but still farther back than Line’s more freestyle oriented skis. I come from a park skiing background and usually mount my skis -2.5cm from the dead center of the ski. On these I went right on the recommended line, which is -7cm. This made for an intuitive feel and a very easy ski to figure out. Day one I was skiing groomers, icy chunder, and slushy moguls. The Blade Optics held their own through all of it.
If I were going on a ski trip tomorrow and didn’t know where I was going or what kind of conditions to expect, I would not hesitate for one second to grab this ski. It is comfortable anywhere from groomers to deep pow days, and anywhere in between.
Pros
- New Titanal layer makes for a confident ride in any conditions.
- Directional twin shape hits a nice balance for a more traditional feel or more freestyle feel if mounted further forward.
- Almost the perfect one ski quiver for a slightly more aggressive skier.
Cons
- Weight. They do come in slightly heavier than similar skis.
- Softer through tail than other metal laminate skis. I actually liked this but if you are looking for the feel on a Mantra/Enforcer this isn’t quite it.
Who Are They For?
If you are looking for a ski that can excel in just about any conditions, and is on the stiffer side for pushing your limits but not unforgiving, this is it. This ski is going to be amazing for anyone wanting to jump to the next level but without going to something as aggressive as a ski like the Volkl Mantra.
The Bottom Line
I feel like a broken record but I will say it again. If you are looking for a one ski quiver that is just as happy railing turns on groomed runs, boosting your confidence through choppy and cruddy conditions with its stability and dampness, and still floating through all but the absolute deepest of pow days, THIS IS YOUR SKI. The Gas Pedal Metal adds a new level of stability I have not felt in any other Line skis previously, but without completely sacrificing its playful roots. Line may have just created a unicorn of a ski.
Shop the Line Blade Optic 104
From the Brand
The most versatile ski in the Blade Optic Collection, the LINE Blade Optic 104 is right at home charging big mountain laps to cruising smooth burns on early morning corduroy and everything in between. Equipped with our Gas Pedal Metal Overdive™ tech, you'll harness the power of an innovative layup of titanal to feel enhanced edge grip, stability, and control under your feet. Get ready to kick it into the top gear and ski with confidence on the award-winning Blade Optic 104.
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About the Reviewer
Name:John Kutcher
Age:33
Height: 6’ 1”
Weight: 200lbs
Size Reviewed:185cm
Location(s): PNW, Frozen crud and dust on crust.
Mount point:Factory Recommended
Bindings:Salomon STH 13
Boots:Full Tilt First Chair 10
Riding Style:Aggressive playful. I like going fast but also jumping off anything and everything. Expert skier.
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