Expert Review: Line Blend Skis · 2022
This review is my honest opinion of the skis, which I purchased with my own money in January of 2021.
Spring Ski'in Top of Pano life at Winter Park. All photos courtesy of Eliot Koerner
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the skis, which I purchased with my own money in January of 2021.
My take
The Line Blend Pro skis are park-oriented skis that excel in presses and on rails. They are great for intermediate to advanced skiers.
About the gear
- Model: 2021 Line Blend Pro Model
- Size: 185cm
About me
- Height: 6’2”
- Weight: 160lbs
- Experience: 3 years skiing
Test conditions
- When I bought these: January 2021
- Days tested 70 days
- Mount position: Recommended at -2
- Boots: 2018 Full Tilt First Chair
- Boot Size: 26.5
- Bindings: 2021 Look Pivot 12
- Where I’ve used it: Winter Park, CO; Copper Mountain, CO; Arapahoe Basin, CO; Eldora, CO.
- Terrain: Park, Groomers, Trees, Moguls, Bowls, Chutes, All-Mountain
How it performs
What I was looking for
When I researched and bought the Line Blends, I needed a 1-ski quiver that emphasized the playful side of skiing.
Why I chose this gear
Besides being a huge fan of Line’s Traveling Circus and seeing them rip these skis, I chose the Line Blend skis because they’re forgiving. I can take them all over the mountain on the hunt for jibs and freshies, and I don’t have to ski them forward. I was interested in the 2021 Faction Prodigy 2.0 as well. However, I chose the Line Blends because they have a softer flex pattern which leans into my skiing style a bit more.
What I love about it
- Turns: With a 20m sidecut, the Line Blend allows for an average turn radius. And because the tips and tails are soft, they have an easy turn initiation.
- Groomers: Groomers are my favorite terrain on these skis, as they’re damp enough underfoot that I can feel stable. However, they are very playful because of the soft tip/tail, which allows for butters and spins at ease.
- Powder: They have a 133 width in the tips of the ski, which tapers to 100 underfoot. The wider tips and flex allow the skis to float well, but on the deepest days, the twin shape allows a nice surfy feel while turning or buttering in the powder.
- Trees: These skis do great in trees. The tapered sidewall and soft tips/tails allow me to maneuver quickly and easily in the trees, making side hits extremely fun.
- Moguls: These skis do quite well when doing slight nose presses to turn with the moguls. Otherwise, the tails can sometimes catch depending on my mount point.
- Park: These skis are made for the park. They do extremely well on rails, presses, and grabs. They remain stable to hit big airs and have a very low swing weight.
- Durability: Besides the top sheets getting scuffed up easily, they’ve remained durable.
- Weight: The Line Blend weighs 1,940g per ski, keeping them on the lighter side
- Switch riding: With a -2 mount point and twin tip shape, these skis ride switch extremely well. I would argue that I can ski them as easily switch as I do forward.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Speed: I can definitely go fast on these skis, but I endure a lot of chatter in the tips and tails, meaning I need to keep my weight centered.
- Edge hold: Factory detune for these skis brings the edge sharpness down. However, I’ve never had an issue if I get them on edge.
- Stability: These skis are not damp, so when I get in crud, they buck me around a bit. Also, if I get back seat in steep terrain, it’s hard to get forward because of how soft they are.
Favorite moment with this gear
Spring skiing on these skis is the absolute best, flowing down a groomer from switch to forward skiing with the sun on my face, friends around me, spraying spring slush, there’s nothing better.
Value for the money vs. other options
Line has a two-year warranty on the Blends, and they’re a good all-around ski. Although they’re the same price as the K2 Rechoner 102 and have a similar ski style, I would say they’re a pretty average price for their category.
Final verdict
Overall, the Blends are a stellar option for those with a playful skiing style who want something they can take out of the park and make the mountain their playground. However, I would not suggest these if they’re looking for a freeride-oriented ski.
