Anybody get on the Line Blade Optic skis yet?

[CHAIR_97]

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[Bandit Man]

First thing I do with all skis is aggressively de-tune them then wax. I don't think you understand the terrain I'm skiing in which this ski doesn't work. The consensus on the 114 even from the engineers who designed it and ski at my mountain is its not the best choice for the sidecountry we love to ski . In bounds its fine and excels there but in the super tight incredibly steep with variable snow and funky transitions this ski will fuck u up at least in 192. 186 may be a lot more manageable but is too short for me. Anyway I'm stoked that it's working for you. When I go on trips to areas with more open terrain the 114 definitely comes with


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I do believe that you are right about the 186 vs 192. We’ve all seen the grunt cam footage and we’ve met in person, so I’m fairly certain you’d fold the 186 in half. It’s is a silly fun ski that still has some backbone for me, but we have a tad more room and slightly less technical terrain (for the most part) up on Hwy 2.


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[SnowMachine]

First thing I do with all skis is aggressively de-tune them then wax. I don't think you understand the terrain I'm skiing in which this ski doesn't work. The consensus on the 114 even from the engineers who designed it and ski at my mountain is its not the best choice for the sidecountry we love to ski . In bounds its fine and excels there but in the super tight incredibly steep with variable snow and funky transitions this ski will fuck u up at least in 192. 186 may be a lot more manageable but is too short for me. Anyway I'm stoked that it's working for you. When I go on trips to areas with more open terrain the 114 definitely comes with


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Ahh, 192.... Yeah, I'm on the 186.

Dude, trust me... I ski some effed up stuff, too. One of the first days out on the BO114 I skied across a downed tree, then dropped 20' of raw granite into a patrol slide. Then 1k of refreeze mank over rock, finishing with a field of manzanita hardly covered in snow.
But yeah, they aren't quite as easy in some places as my Rens (easier in others).

[AintEZbeingSteezy]

Conditions at Whistler are hard pack and variable.

We skied pretty hard and fast for the last 4 days for our Family Day weekend. Big group and no one was slow. Lots of Peak laps into Red Chair. Visibility was great. No line ups which was surprising. It was Edge Card blackout days so they must have sold a shit ton of those.

I skied the 178cm Optic 104 for 2 of the 4 days. I was on 170cm Head SuperShape e-Titans (83mm) one day and 180cm Season Aeros (96mm) the other day…flying through scared tourists on ice on the e-Titans is a fun sport.

Can’t say enough about how fricking good the Optic 104 is for (Whistler) variable conditions. They hold/grip on ice, rip hard and soft groomers, truck through variable (shit) snow, love chalk, maneuvre through icy bumps, and fly through slush. Easy peasy to ski fast everywhere on the mountain as they can be pushed, because they have just enough dampness/burliness. Recommended mount is perfect. Went into Spanky’s one day. Conditions were very “variable”. We had to do a sketch mandatory drop onto a sheet of blue ice. No prob. Then negotiate a long narrow icy chute. Easy on the Optic 104.

During the winter I usually keep 5-6 pairs of skis at home and about 3-4 pairs up at Whistler, depending on the conditions. It seems that the Optic 104 and Optic 114 are always holding 2 of the key ski spots in the Whistler locker.

Re the Optic durability comments a few posts above. I’ve bashed the crap out of mine. Still in great shape.

PS even Whistler Brewing is commenting on our conditions this year….
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I'm looking to replace the Sego Big Horn 106 in 187cm as my Whistler daily (it broke). I have the the Wildcat 108 in 184cm, but find it too light, stiff and harsh in variabe conditions, and not as good on edge/ ice as the BH. The Big Horn had notably more suspension. It is a softer ski than the wildcat which I think helps it absorb hits and bumps better, while also being 150g or so heavier per ski.

How "loose' vs "locked in" do you find the Optic? One thing I liked about the BH was how easy it was to slip around and pivot in Whis trees, often with carved out icey sections.

[SnowMachine]

Aaaaand my metal top sheet is starting to peel up. We'll see how these hold up. There's very little protection in the sidewall for that thin metal that runs along the edge. China?

I maintain that my small batch skis are far more durable (J, Moment and 4Frnt).

[CHAIR_97]

Aaaaand my metal top sheet is starting to peel up. We'll see how these hold up. There's very little protection in the sidewall for that thin metal that runs along the edge. China?

I maintain that my small batch skis are far more durable (J, Moment and 4Frnt).

Trim it or clamp and epoxy.

Most of you paid 300 bucks for these skis.
It is what it is. I don't cry when my skis that cost less than my bindings start showing some fatigue. They just become rock skis .
Most the time they ski the same as when they are new.

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[SnowMachine]

Trim it or clamp and epoxy.

Most of you paid 300 bucks for these skis.
It is what it is. I don't cry when my skis that cost less than my bindings start showing some fatigue. They just become rock skis .
Most the time they ski the same as when they are new.

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I haven't decided yet, and you're correct. At $350 IDGAF. I''ll probably epoxy and clamp. More of a concern is that I was considering adding other sizes to the quiver, but I hate skis that fall apart. My J's are closing in on 100 days and rock solid.

Right now we have 0 new snow in the forecast so the BO's are just sitting in the rack. I'll think about what to do with them when/if the forecast changes.

[Perlhammered]

Have a pair of 104s inbound and stoked to have something burly/chargy-ish as a DD to complement my Revolt 121s

[east or bust]

Sir Vic what's your take on the BO vs Mindbender? Are they trying to fill a similar niche or are they really targeted at different usages.

The build on the BO seems weird to me. I don't geek on weight too much but it's difficult to ignore the figures on website. Line markets as a freeride ski but the 104 weighs 1890g vs the K2 MB108ti at 2265g, which seems more along the lines of what I'd expect from a freeride charger ski. Seriously 1890g is like touring light, WTF.

[slowroastin]

BO 104 weighs 2080 in a 178cm

MB 108 weighs 2220 in a 184 cm

So they are pretty similar. 104 is probably a bit more pivoty. Id buy based on mount point preference.

[stuntmanbo]

Just weighted my unmounted BO 104 185, it's 2265g.
And my BO 114 186 is 2360g.

Yes bought both a few weeks ago, I'm now part of the family

I mounted the 114 at -0.5 so -8. I'm used to traditional mounted skis like the BMX 115 which is mounted at like -13 or something like that, I wanted something just a touch more pivoty and more foregiving tail.

I have a few days on them, sometimes I struggle just a little bit with my balance being a bit too forward, I think, or maybe it's a placebo, but it's minime, so far so good I'd say. They don't feel too different from the BMX 115 actually, I will see with more time on them.

I guess I'll mount the 104 soon.

[east or bust]

That's hilarious, so Line must have posted the weight for the 171cm 104 BO.

Thanks for clearing that up. Makes a lot more sense.

[CHAIR_97]

Sir Vic what's your take on the BO vs Mindbender? Are they trying to fill a similar niche or are they really targeted at different usages.

The build on the BO seems weird to me. I don't geek on weight too much but it's difficult to ignore the figures on website. Line markets as a freeride ski but the 104 weighs 1890g vs the K2 MB108ti at 2265g, which seems more along the lines of what I'd expect from a freeride charger ski. Seriously 1890g is like touring light, WTF.

So I haven't skied the newest mindbender 108 but spent around 100 days on the old 108 and in comparison to the BO 114 I'd say they're quite similar with the versatility award going Slightly to the mindbender. I have also yet to see a pair of mindbenders with construction defects like the BO seem to be plauged with. So for durability and Versatility I'd choose the MBs over the BOs but they both feel almost identical at speed maybe the MB is a little less pingy in chop. I haven't skied them back to back since I have been on more center mounted skis lately so my memory might not be perfect. Either ski might be great for you at Jackson and I'd encourage you to find a demo pair . The MB 108s should be easy to demo if you don't get along with that ski I'd say you probably wouldn't get along with the Lines but altacoup loves one and hates the other. The 114 I feel is too stiff to be a truly great powder ski meaning it has decent enough float but the flex is a little too abrupt towards the ends and the tail isn't as easy to release as I would like but at Jackson either ski would be great for most days that have any kind of new snow. Both skis are a hoot on groomers the k2s will be better in the south facing moguls than the lines.

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[altacoup]

While the mindbender 108ti and blade optic 104 might seem similar they are massively different. I do prefer the new mindbender to the original. But the mindbender has a very traditional feel, and wants to be skied with traditional style. It’s also very torsional stiff right behind the heel. The blade optic is a new school charger and wants a more neutral stance. It is capable of more turn shapes and is much better in tight areas. I would buy based on ski style preference. I can go back and forth between the 2 but first turn in tight trees on the mindbender is always a reminder to get way forward.

[Duffman]

While the mindbender 108ti and blade optic 104 might seem similar they are massively different. I do prefer the new mindbender to the original. But the mindbender has a very traditional feel, and wants to be skied with traditional style. It’s also very torsional stiff right behind the heel. The blade optic is a new school charger and wants a more neutral stance. It is capable of more turn shapes and is much better in tight areas. I would buy based on ski style preference. I can go back and forth between the 2 but first turn in tight trees on the mindbender is always a reminder to get way forward.

How deep a day have you skiied the 104 BO in so far? Curious how it holds up as the snow gets deeper.

[altacoup]

I haven’t really skied it much in pow as I have too many powder skis. I’ve skied it on the shoulder and backside at Alta, so terrain that typically opens the day after a pow day, and it worked great. The mindbender has more float as it’s mount point is way further back.

[kc_7777]

I own the 2023 BO 104’s, MB 108Ti’s and BO 114’s.

In terms of float…BO 104, then MB 108 and then BO 114. The 114 is a good pow ski.

I’ll compare/contrast the BO 104 and MB 108Ti shortly.

Spoiler alert. The BO 104 wins.


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[CHAIR_97]

I own the 2023 BO 104’s, MB 108Ti’s and BO 114’s.

In terms of float…BO 104,
then MB 108 and then BO 114. The 114 is a good pow ski.

I’ll compare/contrast the BO 104 and MB 108Ti shortly.

Spoiler alert. The BO 104 wins.


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Lol u spend 1 to 2 days on a ski before moving on. I take your opinion with a grain of salt

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[east or bust]

Appreciate all of the responses. Really need to spend more time on skis that like to be skied with a neutral stance. So much of what I own has more traditional mounts and I get in my head thinking that’s the only style I like to ski. Based on what altacoup describes I think I’d much rather be on the MB, but would be sweet to A/B the two skis.


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[Flippo]

I own the 2023 BO 104’s, MB 108Ti’s and BO 114’s.

In terms of float…BO 104,
then MB 108 and then BO 114. The 114 is a good pow ski.

I’ll compare/contrast the BO 104 and MB 108Ti shortly.

Spoiler alert. The BO 104 wins.


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Do you also have the BO 96?


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[SnowMachine]

Appreciate all of the responses. Really need to spend more time on skis that like to be skied with a neutral stance. So much of what I own has more traditional mounts and I get in my head thinking that’s the only style I like to ski. Based on what altacoup describes I think I’d much rather be on the MB, but would be sweet to A/B the two skis.


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I wouldn't get too hung up on mount point. I'm going the other way and daily driving Momment Commander 102's right now. Such a fun ski to charge on and mounted -10, 2300g. I rode that yesterday, but I'm probably going out on 4FRNT Switch's today for some park laps mounted -4, 1750g. Just ride what works. I don't have any trouble switching things around. I just know that when I lean hard into the front of the Switch that it'll drift, but it's light, poppy and fun, so..... Keep a lot of tools in the tool box.

I'd still like to ride the B0104 and I understand what SirVic says about being $350 skis, but I probably won't buy another set until they improve durability (maybe the '24/5 ski is better). I hate to click with a ski only to have it fall apart. My BO114's probably won't get a ton of days on an average year. Hopefully they last a few years.

[kc_7777]

Lol u spend 1 to 2 days on a ski before moving on. I take your opinion with a grain of salt

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Fair point. I do try a lot of skis.

But I could also say that you’re such a K2 fanboy that everything you say should be taken with a grain of salt too. Eg. Increase your brand sample size. Haha.

Just skied the Line Optic 104 in ice to slush at sunny Whistler the last two days. They were darn good.


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[CHAIR_97]

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I'm happy where I'm at

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[kc_7777]

Here are some side-by-side comparison pics of the 2023 179 MB108Ti and 2023 178 Line Blade Optic.

179 MB 108 straight pull is 178.25cm, mounted at +1cm (-8cm),136-108-125, 22m radius

178 Optic 104 straight pull is 177.80cm, mounted on rec (-6.7cm), 132-104-123, ~4,200 gm per pair, 19 m radius.

Both have nice deep tip rocker. Float is slightly better on the MB probably due to the mount point and slightly wider dimensions.

Mach speeds on groomers I may prefer the Optic. Its tail is less locked than the MB, but it’s dampness makes it feel solid/composed on groomed snow.

The Optic is softer in the tip/tail, and I find it much easier to ski hard all day in bumpy terrain. MB is better if deeper snow and if in more open terrain.

Maneuverability goes to the Optic 104. You can ski it from a neutral stance versus the MB that likes amore traditional stance. Main difference is slightly more forward mount o the Optic and the tail shape…there is more tail splay on the Optic that just makes it easier to slarve/release if you’re feeling lazy. Or are in a tight spot. The MB requires you to turn it and get over and drive the tips.

Though the MB has the flatter tail, you can see that its tail rocker still goes pretty deep and long = you can slide the MB tail, just not as easily/quickly as the Optic.

Definitely think the K2 wins on durability.

Strap at rec mount. Tape on the ski shows where the rocker ends:







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[Flippo]

Super helpful kc. Did you get the chance to try the BO 96. I want a ski to use as do it all. I will ski the regular blade on low angle groomers and my Deathwish in 3D snow.