Why we chose the Line Blade: Unique, powerful, snappy
Lengths (cm): 169, 176 & 181
Sidecut (mm): 154 / 95 / 124 (176 cm)
Radius: Tight
Rocker Profile: Rocker-Camber-Rocker
Weight (per ski): 2,050g
Price: £640 / €715 / $750
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The Line Blade is unlike many skis we’ve tested before. Its 154 millimetre shovel, super tight turn radius and powerful metal laminate make it a hallmark ski for cutting clean lines across the mountain. Line’s aim when designing this ski was to put fun and playfulness back into resort skiing, and we can confirm that they’ve hit the nail slap bang on the head.
Line Blade Shaping
The distinctive shape of the Line Blade is obviously going to be the first thing we talk about. Take one quick look at these skis and you’ll notice the hilariously wide shovels. These 154 mm shovels would be something you’re more used to seeing on a 120 mm waisted powder ski, let alone a 95 mm ‘carver’.
Looking down from the shovels, Line has created the Blend with a very traditional tail and midsection. The tail is considerably narrower than the tips (that’s not hard, really). This narrow tail means the rear of the skis will sink in soft snow, letting you lean into – and turn off – the wide shovels.
“Take one quick look at these skis and you’ll notice the hilariously wide shovels”
This extremely progressive shaping profile results in a sidecut that loves to be tipped onto an edge to create extremely short, snappy turns. Line hasn’t actually published the turn radius of the Blade, but we’ll just say it’s super tight – kind of like a pair of slalom-specific skis. Although exact radii aren’t published, Line makes it clear that the Blades are packing their ‘5-Cut’ which is essentially an elliptical sidecut that varies in length from underfoot to the tips and tails. This results in extremely easy turn initiation at slow speeds, and stability at high speeds.