Line Blade

[Bronco]

How do these compare to a Blizzard Brahma? Looking to replace my frontside skis.

[PlayItLeo]

Line Blade

How are these on EC icy days? Daily driver in PA (and when I get up to NY/VT) is Rustler 9. Did pull out my OLD SL skis the other night and had a blast, even compared to the Rustler which already is pretty tight. Thinking the Blade may be ridiculously fun. Weirdly sometimes we get better conditions down in PA than VT as it's not as cold so get sunny days and then refrozen garbage. I know the sunny days are optimal for these, but curious about the alternative where I could just ski Rustlers for sunny and SL skis for refrozen ice rink. Seem to like more playful skis generally, so this is a compromise between the two. Would likely get 176, but might be even more fun in 169 for my very small bump.

I have a pair of 181s and have put about 30 days on them this season in both VT and CT. They are absurdly fun and absolutely rip both soft and firm groomers, but they aren’t great when it’s straight up ice. The blister review is pretty spot on for these.


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[HandsomeDan]

Line Blade

Wondering how the 181 blade compares with a 181 sakana in terms of length and ease of skiing?

I had a chance to demo the 176 blade, but won't be able to demo a 181 to compare. The 176s were a lot of fun, but at 6 foot 2 and 165 lbs I'm wondering if the 181s will be that much better, or too much of a good thing. I love how the 181 sakana skis.

[TexasGortex]

I have 2 inches and 10 or so pounds on you and don’t find the 181s overpowering. Very forgiving actually. They are the shortest skis I’ve been on in a looong time and don’t feel the need to go longer. I haven’t been on the 176s or Sakanas, sorry. I suspect either length would work great and I’d just base it off previous preferences. I think they recommend -5cm from your usual length which sounds about right.

As an FYI, take it easy for a couple runs or detune. I almost went high side OTB a couple times straight out of the wrapper. Granted, I was skiing like a jackass (straight line into hard carve after being on noodles) but they really relax as the tune wears in. In a good way. They become more silly, fun, and versatile without losing stability and grip.

[DGamms]

Just picked up a pair on Sideline Swap. Pretty good deal if anyone is in the market.

https://sidelineswap.com/gear/skiing/skis/4459065-line-2021-blade-181cm

[Flippo]

yeah... I bought the 21-22 model from Corbett's for $360 USD (no taxes or shipping fees) at the end of the season. They are still at that price in all sizes.

[VTskibum]

Just picked up the Purple 169s from Corbetts for $360 for myself and my son to share for my molehill local mountain, figure shorter length will be fun for getting even more turns in. We'll see how they overlap with my Rustler 9s, but these are replacing some ancient SL skis I killed last season in low-tide, but hopefully more fun.

[SnakeMagnet]

Well shit, I was always curious about these since Blister called them a "carving ski for people who typically think that traditional carving skis are boring," but never committed until i found a needle in the lumber yard clusterfuck that was the ski swap yesterday, and now possess nip 181's.

Thinking STH binders before they disappear, but Im also not 100% sold on if I'll like them and am thinking demo plates would make them easier to flip. What have you put on yours and/or would that stronger toe make much of a difference?

And to that notion do I need to mount them asap for some enjoyment on the wrod's next week..

[ddgdl]

This thread inspired me to pick up a local lightly used pair of 176s with attack 13 bindings for $380. Looking forward to trying them out and, as Blister noted, making racecar noises through every turn

[kc_7777]

Line Blade

They’re fun. And easy to ski. They rip.

My only issue, and why I sold mine, is I think you need other Blade skiers in your ski group, cause you (on the Blade) will want to ski different areas of the mountain now. We ski in a group of good, fast skiers and we kept lapping Peak chair, and I’m on Blades saying let’s terrorize people on Symphony (we never ski Symphony cause it’s too flat). Whereas the Blades made the mellow groomers on Symphony super fun.

I think a ski like a Rustler 9, a Season Aero is a more versatile tool in the ski quiver…..UNLESS your whole posse is on Blades. I considered getting my wife a pair….but in the end we always meet up with and ski with non-Blade skiers, so was easier to pass them on. Great ski and super cool though.

KC


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[SnakeMagnet]

Well getting stuck solo most of the time seems to have a silver lining then. Making flats fun eh? Sounds like a ski for Sunshine.

[PlayItLeo]

They’re insanely fun on piste. Flattish groomers are their natural habitat. Definitely mount them up for the WROD Jerry slalom.


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[CHAIR_97]

Try the blade optic

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[SnakeMagnet]

want to elaborate at all on why? Brand new; not likely anyone here's got much time on it; replacing the sick days; looks like a semi-noodly all-mountain on paper .. the blade's appeal is 90% the WTF-ness of its build and requested skiing style.

[VTskibum]

Bumping this back up now that I've had ~10 days on very low tide East Coast conditions at Sugarbush and my PA local.

As mentioned, these things are ridiculous and fun in a giggle inducing way. My home "mountain" is only about 500' with a few steep pitches and then flat run-outs back to the lift. The 169 is about perfect for this place, as mentioned they can slash a turn then carve the next two and make great small and medium size carved turns all the way back to the chair. They do have a pretty decent flex for some kick out of the tail if you load them up and airing a little side hit right into a carved turn is really fun.

I haven't had them on any true ice, but on soft groomers and slush they just rail and aren't too sketchy making longer turns. They ski bumps pretty well also, but much rounder carved turns, no zipperlines as the huge tip overlap is a bit unnerving, definitely prefer my Rustlers/more traditional ski for that purpose.

I've been getting heckled a bit by some buddies for their ridiculous width and park rats love asking me about them. When loading a 4 person chair have to offset my stance a bit so the tips don't overlap while going to the chair load line. Regardless while most likely quiver ski have been on them more days than anything else this season so far.