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.

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. I truly 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.

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

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.

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.