■ LINE's first PV video that does not float in the air
For over 20 years, LINE has been making skis that defy conventional wisdom. The brand has just released another quirky ski. That is "BLADE".
Let's start with the video.
The first video is the PR video for "BLADE". The remaining two shots show Mikiya Tanno, who got into this board during the season.
This "BLADE" is a ski that brings out the fun of turns by increasing speed, such as deep carving turns, rolling snow clouds, and edge-to-edge switching.
■ What kind of board is a blade?
"Sakana" with a highly versatile waist width of 105mm announced in 2018 from "LINE".
With its characteristic swallowtail shape, it is popular because it can draw a turn arc regardless of whether it is long or short, and it floats even in powder. Based on the design of the "Fish", the "Blade" was created with more consideration for all-mountain performance and versatility. Two models, 95 and 92, are available with different waist widths.
In a nutshell, this ski is "able to make stable turns at high speed".
The shape of the "blade" is 154-95-124 from the top, which is quite narrow. Although the waist width is 10mm narrower than the "Fish", the top is 4mm wider. The tail is 14mm narrower assuming smooth turns. The top rocker is low and the effective edge is long for grip and stability.
100% aspen (❷) is used for the core material, bringing lightness and stable sliding.
Two independent titanium metal parts (❸) are built into the tips of the nose and tail to transmit power to the ski without loss when entering or exiting turns.
A distinctive feature is the hollow titanium metal “GAS PEDAL METAL,” shaped like a fish bone that covers the entire ski (❶). This enhances edge grip and torsion stability while taking advantage of the characteristics of the core material.
Click here for the latest review article of the 21-22 season
・Q&A impressions and reviews from Mikiya Tanno, who has ridden this ski the most in Japan.
--Let's ask LINE's support rider Mikiya Tanno about his impressions of this ski.
He is active in the slopestyle and halfpipe competition scenes in Japan and overseas, and currently runs the ski shop "TRANKBASE" in Yamagata Prefecture, and is engaged in various activities in the backcountry and ski resorts.
Editorial department (hereafter, ed.): What was your first impression?
Mikiya Tanno (hereafter, Tan): At first, I had a preconceived notion that the skis were hard because they had metal in them, and that they were mainly hard packs.
The image is to speed up and push the ski into the fall line while holding down the bounce of the ski with force. But when I rode it, it wasn't as hard as I thought. Personally, it was a ski that was not too hard and flexed well for metal.
Hen: Even though it has metal in it, does it flex well and turn well at speed?
Dan: Yes.
It bends a lot. When I first looked at the catalog, the radius display was "Tight", wasn't it? I thought, "What is this?" and actually measured the arc of the turn.
I wondered how much it would be if I got on the edge and drew a semicircle (editor's note: the above video is a reference turn). It's not exact, but it was about 13m. So, the skis I've ridden so far have been mogul skis, twin-tip skis, and fat skis, so I have the impression that they're skis that turn a lot.
Edit: How did you play with this ski?
Tan: I haven't had the chance to ride these types of skis myself, so it was a new experience for me.
There was little snow last season, so I think it was just right for skiing the course. The bindings weren't installed near the tail, so I thought that the switch would work, so I enjoyed carving with the switch. I also entered the park. In the kicker, you can fly through carvings and slide over obstacles like waves.
When I got on it, I thought it was a ski that cuts well, but it's thick.
The nose shape exceeds 150mm. You may feel that the bite of the edge is loose compared to skis with a narrower shape. However, it is more stable than that, and you can easily put powder at the ski resort.
I thought that I could propose new ways to play for people like us who have been doing freeskiing and moguls.
I often see skis that are thin and have a small radius, but they are thick and paddle-like skis, with bindings closer to the middle, and you can ski with switches or carving. I think it's very "LINE".
Edit: There are "PESCADO" and "Sakana" that are similar in shape to "BLADE", but is this ski an extension of that?
Tan: Each ski has different characteristics, but I feel that “blade” and “fish” are connected.
“Sakana” has a waist width (105mm), nose rocker, and swallow tail. You can enjoy powder even with "Braid", but the width of the waist is narrow, and above all, "Fish" has the advantage of slipping out of the turn. Maybe the swallow tail is working.
However, Flatburn has something in common with "fish". "Sakana" bends well, but "Blade" is better in terms of sharpness.
Edit: How about skiing according to the terrain? Hitting the wall, banking, etc.
Tan: You can play bank. However, to be honest, it's not very easy to do a move like a slash or a one-shot. I can do it, but it's more interesting to ride and line to keep the speed and connect the turns rather than sliding.
Anyway, the edge bites well, so it is hard to slip off.
Once the edge is decided, it feels like running on the rail. However, it does not mean that you will do your best to run it yourself. Keep your position in the middle so that your body doesn't fall behind the skis, and step on the skis to accelerate. That's the image.
Edit: It's a completely new cornerstone for "LINE".
Dan: Yes. If you want to make quick turns, I think skis with a narrower shape are more responsive.
The "blade" has a very slight time lag until the edge bites.
You say you have something to play? There is a moment when it is flat when changing turns, and then it goes into turns. At that time, instead of suddenly biting deeply with the edge, start with a shallow bite and gradually bite deeper. If you keep riding on the edge in a big turn, the skis won't face the fall line, and the turn will drag sideways and eventually you'll climb the slope.
Edit: It seems that you can play with various turn arcs according to the slope conditions. Lastly, what kind of skier is it suitable for?
Tan: If you can control the turns and ski on a medium slope, most people will enjoy it.
Also, since it's a twin tip, you can play in the park, but I guess it depends on your level.
They are heavier than park skis, so they are not for beginners. If you are used to skating, you will be able to see the items lined up from a different perspective and discover new movements and lines. Also, if you mainly ski on the slopes and ski in the backcountry several times a year, if you have both "Blade" and "Sakana", you can choose skis according to the situation throughout the season, and the course of the ski resort is quite interesting. I think you can slide.
Edit: Thank you very much.
Please refer to the following website for the full lineup of
LINE https://lineskis.com/en-jp