Line Sakana - Opinions? (Searched already!)

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Looking for some new fun inbound sticks this year that can still handle the pow. Currently using the Solly Stance 96 in a 182 which are fun to fast on but a bit one dimensional and heavy. My buddy has Line blades and I have had a blast on them but they seem a bit one dimensional as a fun groomer ski.

Anyone on the Sakana's? Love the look and and have always wanted a swallow tail ski.

I am 165lbs 5'10" ex racer who loves to go as fast possible while carving as hard as possible. They seem like a fit. Leaning towards the 181cm but everything I read says go with the 174cm.

Thanks!

I have the sakanas and BO 104s. I like the optics better in just about everything but trees and tiiiight spaces. You find the speed limit on the sakanas on harder snow pretty fast. I'm 6'2" and would kill for a 188/190 sakana. If your chasing a bit more stability, I'd go with the 180s.

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Super fun ski, but going as fast as possible, if that’s your thing, is not their thing. They’re also not really pow ski and as it gets cut up and choppy, they’re too soft to rage on. That said, they’re a blast and a super fun mix of slash, surf, and carve, especially if you’re willing to slow down, ski a bit differently, and fuck around. Lots of fun in spring slush. IMO, great quiver ski, but wouldn’t be my DD.

Caveat: I’m 6’ 180 and have the 174s. Might be that the 181’s are a bit more stable/stout.


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I just listened to this on my drive to work this morning... Sakana is the first ski they discuss in their review. You might find it useful.

look into armada stranger

100mm underfoot, tight turn radius.. around 15m
at 2100g in the 180 (more like a true 178/179) its pretty stable even at speed for the most part
quite versatile too.. 140mm tips with the rocker does pretty well in powder that's less than 12-18"
rec mount is -10 from center but I'm at -4 from center (+6 from rec) and they still ride super well... its kinda like armadas take on the sakana

but the swallow tail is dope and if you can find a pair with an EP graphic they'd be beautiful

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Originally Posted by el hefe

Search is only coming up with for sale postings....

Looking for some new fun inbound sticks this year that can still handle the pow. Currently using the Solly Stance 96 in a 182 which are fun to fast on but a bit one dimensional and heavy. My buddy has Line blades and I have had a blast on them but they seem a bit one dimensional as a fun groomer ski.

Anyone on the Sakana's? Love the look and and have always wanted a swallow tail ski.

I am 165lbs 5'10" ex racer who loves to go as fast possible while carving as hard as possible. They seem like a fit. Leaning towards the 181cm but everything I read says go with the 174cm.

Thanks!

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My wife demod it and liked it so much she bought it. She is a very good skiier (x pro patrol etc.) and wanted something different as she was getting bored with the usual all mountain choices. They are so much fun they put a big smile on her face everytime she is on them. HOWEVER they are not the ski for you
as they are not designed for what you want ie fast/carve as hard as possible.
Lots of other skis will do that for you - perhaps start by looking at the Nordica Enforcers but many, many other choices that would work.

I’ve had a pair of 181cm for the last couple of seasons and I generally use mine for Spring skiing on slushy groomers. Super fun quiver ski to carve and fuck around on, but not what I’d want to rage on all the time. They do make smaller, boring terrain much more interesting.

They are like the original 1960’s Mini Cooper S of skis… a total hoot, until you want to get on the Autobahn. If you’re gonna do it, definitely get the 181cm.

I have a friend that skis them occasionally. I've seen him rip hard pack and slush on them and have a ton of fun. He specifically says that they are NOT a pow ski. I'd like to ski them sometime. I did ski the soft/light SFB's (2019?). They were a ton of fun in the right conditions, but not super versatile. I think the tip shape is very similar.

Thanks everyone. I think it's worth a shot, maybe not a daily driver but like I said I really had a blast on the blades. Think I will go with the 181 and keep my stances for firm fast days.

The blade is more versatile than what you think (and has a higher top end than the sakana).

I’ve had a pair of 181cm Sakana’s for 2 seasons. I am 5’ 10”, 160lbs & mostly ski them in powder cuz I have better skis for other conditions. I was attracted to them because of their radical sidecut & flat tail on a wide ski. I wanted something that would be fun to rip some turns on the groomer returning to the lift & not just flop & skid around like other powder skis. For the most part they fit the bill.
They are actually pretty fun in most soft snow conditions as long as you want to make a lot of turns & don’t ask for too much energy out of the ski.
They are light, soft flexing & deflect easily in choppy crud & their lack of beefiness could be a detriment for a heavier skier.
The tip rise is gradual & subtle which works well for me in deeper snow. The split tail does nothing for me & have had to use epoxy to repair them where they have separated/delaminated. I think I would prefer the same ski with a twin tip type tail but YMMV.
For me they’ve been a fun playful ski, have gotten a bunch of use & glad I have them!

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This guy's Insta is a pretty damn good ad for Sakanas

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxurSCCiQYo/

Carvy, soft, playful, jibby, fun… powder is never a word that really enters the Sakana lexicon.

That swallowtail is about being loose, not about float.

Don’t be mistaken.


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Originally Posted by gaijin

Carvy, soft, playful, jibby, fun… powder is never a word that really enters the Sakana lexicon.

That swallowtail is about being loose, not about float.


Don’t be mistaken.


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I posted earlier about my wife on her Sakana 174s. Last season the most powder was only about 6" so not a real test. Theoretically the Sakan and Pescado narrowish split tail make to tails sink in powder while the tips float up. We have a couple of cat trips coming up so we shall see. At 120 lbs it won't matter that much for her however we will bring the 'real' powder skis in case the Sakanas suck.

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Originally Posted by UTaho'

I’ve had a pair of 181cm Sakana’s for 2 seasons. I am 5’ 10”, 160lbs & mostly ski them in powder cuz I have better skis for other conditions. I was attracted to them because of their radical sidecut & flat tail on a wide ski. I wanted something that would be fun to rip some turns on the groomer returning to the lift & not just flop & skid around like other powder skis. For the most part they fit the bill.
They are actually pretty fun in most soft snow conditions as long as you want to make a lot of turns & don’t ask for too much energy out of the ski.
They are light, soft flexing & deflect easily in choppy crud & their lack of beefiness could be a detriment for a heavier skier.
The tip rise is gradual & subtle which works well for me in deeper snow. The split tail does nothing for me & have had to use epoxy to repair them where they have separated/delaminated. I think I would prefer the same ski with a twin tip type tail but YMMV.
For me they’ve been a fun playful ski, have gotten a bunch of use & glad I have them!

Attachment 498971

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Sounds kinda like you're describing the SFB that I had as the ski you want......

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Originally Posted by SnowMachine

Sounds kinda like you're describing the SFB that I had as the ski you want......

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Could be? The SFB came to my attention last season as a possible future replacement. I’m old school & don’t ski switch or Park. I’m a little concerned about too much tail rise & how they would ski from a traditional mount point?
I was raised with race technique but prefer off piste, all conditions, not afraid of wider skis & ski full-time in the winter & spring.

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Sakanas were interesting to me.
They're a ski that wants to have fun - not a "serious" ski at all. So, if you're looking to play around all mountain then they're pretty good. That Insta post above, is pretty accurate.

You can find their speed limit pretty quickly. They carve very well on somewhat soft groomers, at medium speed, making a fairly tight turn. Pick up the speed, or harden up the snow, and they lack backbone.
I found them a fairly fun ski with my kids. Let them get a bit ahead, crank some medium speed carves on greens and blues like you're the best skier on the mountain.
I didn't particular like them skiing slowly in the trees (which my kids loved growing up). The tails were too hooky because they're so wide. I could have detuned them, but I was afraid of losing the already limited hard-snow grip.

After a season or two I moved on from them, but we had fun while they were around.

man I hate to say it again but after reading more of these responses I do think some of those interested in the sakana should look at the armada strangers. has a speed limit in a sense due to it being a 15m radius vs lets say a 25m radius.. but I find the armadas to be quite versatile/stable/damp.. which I assume comes from the weight (2100g)
thought they did well in powder and wouldn't hesitate to take them out in 1' of fresh snow even at +6cm from recommended

I want to demo the sakanas this winter to see how they really compare

also the new armada kimbo skis are a skinnier/more forward mounted stranger

MAKE SKIING FUN AGAIN! Man these are a blast. Been ripping groomers early season and yes, they do have a speed limit on choppy hard snow but a nice groomer they are incredible for such a wide ski. Had my first deep day (35cm) yesterday and they are a blast as well, great in the trees and I love the low swing weight.

Very glad I picked them up.