I would be very curious to see how the 114 Optic compares to the Revolt 114..
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I would be very curious to see how the 114 Optic compares to the Revolt 114..
Anyone get on the 96?
Similar rocker profile to the 104 but narrower?
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the 96 are my daily driver.
184cm they're around 2000g the 185cm 104's are about 2300g??
96 is a lighter and easier ski but still has plenty of strength in it. Each size from 96 to 114 is just "more and more ski". My other skis are the Rossi blackops 118 so I take the blade optics out for regular days and the blackops 118 when it's a send it day.
Just bought a pair of 192 Optic 114s. Hoping they will fill the elusive playful pow charger category currently unfilled in my quiver.
Anyone played around with the mount point? Thinking of bumping back a couple of cm from the line given my preference for more traditional skis.
Yeah, for next year Line is dropping the "Blade" and just calling it the Optic. They also need to get rid of the monster energy vibe graphic and uneven topsheet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bandit Man
That sounds like a terrible idea...Quote:
Originally Posted by JackSkier
Not a ski to go back or fwd multiple cms .
Maybe .5+/- but not multiple cms
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Well, I mounted at -1.5 cm before reading your message.
First impression is very good. Skis are more manoeuvrable than conventional chargers and don't give up a huge amount in stability. I don't find them demanding (although I have potentially been brutalised by my other skis)
EnjoyQuote:
Originally Posted by JackSkier
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Here’s some rocker pics of Optic 104 (left) and Optic 114 (right). Ski strap tightened on the rec mount.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shorty_J
Green painter’s tape shows where the tip and tail rocker end. There is more (deeper) tip and tail rocker on the 114. And also more tip and tail splay. Which makes more sense as the 114 is for deeper snow. Not sure what Shorty read/saw on Blister.
And last pic….the 178 114 measures like a true 180. And the 178 104 measures 1cm shorter like a 179.
Rocker pics:
Attachment 481607
Attachment 481608
Attachment 481609
Attachment 481610
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^^^ oh yeah that's WAY different than what I saw on blister... thanks for that KC.
Edit: maybe it's that they are being decambered? Who knows.
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The rocker on each model “looks” like it matches the use and conditions of each appropriately. Hope to get my 114’s out this coming week after we get 4+ feet of snow. 🤩Quote:
Originally Posted by Shorty_J
Here's the blister review... looks like a lot less splay than KC's pic.
I like the look of his pics a lot better and they do look more appropriate for the width.
https://blisterreview.com/gear-revie...lade-optic-114
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To me, weight on skis is good when those skis don’t have massively wide tips. Taper and reasonable proportions go a long way. Give me heavy as shit all day. I’m not a bunny hopper.
+42cm in the last 12 hours at Whistler. Finally.
I decided to take out my 178cm (~180cm) Line Optic 114s (instead of my Renegades, Whitewalker 121s and 116s and Hojis)….cause I knew with the massive stupid Vail crowds it would become deep, cut-up pow by 9:30 am.
Couple of more quick Optic 114 observations….
1) These skis work awesome in deep, untracked pow. We got on Harmony just as it cracked. You can ski the Optic 114 very fast in blower, deep deep stuff as they float, slash carve. I’m used to more center mounted pow skis but these were effortless to ski fast in really deep pow.
2) Easily one of the best skis I’ve ever been on for deep, soft, cut-up chunder and soft pow mounds/bumps after the 42 cm got tracked out. This is where these skis shine. The Optic 114 allows you to ski fast by either going through piles of pow, or motoring (airing) over the piles of pow and they’re quick enough to manoeuvre around them.
3) During the day I hit a submerged stump hidden under the pow, then bashed some rocks and even fell in a creek. No damage to the edges or bases. Like none.
These are the skis for busy inbounds pow days at Whistler.
Hit this hidden gem at full speed during a pow turn:
Attachment 481934
Fell in here (it was fully covered):
Attachment 481935
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Looks like they definitely are dropping the Blade branding and monster energy graphics for next year. I'm guessing these skis are going to get a lot more love next year. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...a7b2db430f.jpg
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Decent, a drastic cosmetic improvement from the current iterations
I don't have a problem with the Monster Energy graphic, but like the 2025 topsheet and moving to the "Optic" name.
I dunno, the stupid name and ugly as sin graphic is probably why I got a pair for 300 shipped from Canada
I actually prefer the current graphic to the picture posted above. Those remind me of the current kastle zx graphics which are horrible.
Was that from Corbetts back in the summer?Quote:
Originally Posted by Duffman
It's currently not much more.Quote:
Originally Posted by TripleT
On a side note, do I need both BO114 and Pescado? I guess 114 would see much more action and be more versatile than Pescado, but how much of that floating magic would I loose? I'm currently on 104 and love it as a DD for west.
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Yep.Quote:
Originally Posted by TripleT
Depends somewhat on the length you take, I think.Quote:
Originally Posted by Robik
The 192 is not a super surfy and easy tree ski, but works OK. The Pescado would be more fun on a forest day.
So surfy. So smeary. So fun! 🤩
Attachment 482527Attachment 482528
^^^ ok... I was kind of in agreement with others about not liking the monster energy drink vibe... but those look pretty sick with rasta pivots!
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Hey bandit,Quote:
Originally Posted by Bandit Man
The 114 is a pretty good inbounds pow ski eh?
I’m loving mine in the last week at Whistler with all the new snow. The Rasta pivots do look sweet.
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I'm glad I'm rubbing off on you with the Pivot selection [emoji28]
100%!! Conditions were amazing today and nobody was there, so that helps. I can't get over how "special" this ski is. It's like someone took the DNA of a Blizzard Rustler 11, ON3P Billy Goat, and Dynastar MFree 108 and spliced them together. Solid underfoot but somehow so playful and smeary. These may be the best powder day tree in my quite bloated quiver...and that's saying something. The pivot-ability of these things is unreal. My buddy asked me "How are you skiing so fast in the trees?" and "How are you able to make those things turn and pivot so quickly?" Totally blown away with how good these things are. More to follow when I can gather my thoughts and stop gushing. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by kc_7777
Initial Impressions - Blade Optic 114 - Bandit Man's 1 day review
Ski “tested” - 2023 Line Blade Optic 114 - 186-cm, mounted with Pivot 15 on the recommended line
Boots - 2020 Tecnica Cochise 130 Dyn
Skier Info - 5’ 8’”, 205-lbs, 45-years skiing in Sierra Nevada, Wasatch, and Cascades
Ski preferences - Damp chargers (Volkl Katana and Mantra lines), Playful chargers (OG Cochise, MFree 108), Stout but smeary powder skis (Shiro, Billy Goat) somewhere in the 185 to 190-cm length
Location and Snow Conditions - Stevens Pass, WA; 12-24’ of low to medium density powder with some occasional crust and variable due to wind scour. Typical “deep” PNW powder day conditions. Groomers with 2-3” of fresh.
Initial Impressions
Right out of the gate, I was quite surprised that these didn’t feel heavy and planky given that they are over 2,300-grams per ski and mounted with P15’s. In fact, given the depth of snow that I was about to ski, I was a little worried about not having enough ski to float. First run was a bit medium to low angle to figure out the conditions and the ski and I felt like I was having a hard time settling into the ski. I had to fight the urge to ride the tails/my heels to get the shovel to float. I could tell the ski was stout under foot, but I was a bit unsure about the tips and tails and was worried about finding a hinge point because of the taper in the metal layer. My buddy was riding his 193 Volkl Shiros and appeared to be having a better time than me. I fought the urge to go back to the car and get my trusted BG116’s, even though the snow conditions were perfect for them.
The backside had now opened, so I figured I’d give them a gun on some steeper slopes before heading back to the car and swapping out for a more appropriate ski. On the steeper slopes, something started to click. I found the sweet spot and got comfortable pushing the ski from a more centered stance, trusting that the shovel would plane and not fold. The 24-m radius started to show up and the tails started to feel magically loose, yet reliable and predictable. I was starting to see the merits of the Optic, but was still jonesing for my Billy Goats and we decided to take a run down Wild Katz (steep tree run which is nicely gladed) so I could get back to the car. In those steep trees, I unlocked the magic of the Optic 114. My 186 2014 Billy Goats are my favorite tree ski, followed closely by my 192 Mfree108’s. After one run down Wild Katz, I realized that I found a ski that rivaled those two in terms of the stability and ability to be pushed hard blended with playful agility and that magic “pivot and smear” factor those of skis exhibit in soft snow. Fair to say, I decided to not swap out my skis and spent the rest of the day playing in the trees and open bowls surfing and smearing on the Optic 114.
Trees and Tight Spaces
Is it the “Gas Pedal Metal”? Is it the 24-m turn radius? Is is the just sturdy enough tail that still breaks loose so easily? It is probably all of those things working together and they make for one heck of a playful, loose and smeary ski, especially in tight spaces. I just turned the big 5-0 a few months ago and the Optic 114 made me feel like I was skiing in my 20’s again. My buddy was amazed at how quick I could turn them. I was smearing and slashing with ease and popping off of wind lips and moguls. These things just crave being tossed sideways or to have the tails slid out to change direction. So much fun!
Open Bowls
The wind had scoured most of the wide open bowls, but we found a wind protected area outside the boundary lines that had been loaded up with 18-24” of just about perfect low-density snow. Now that I had figured out the sweet spot, I was able to let the ski run. It floated fine and was confidence inspiring at speed. I could drive the ski from the center and get some powerful pow turns out of it. Now, these are a Bodacious but any means and I think the more firm and variable conditions get the more I would have to throttle back a bit, but they mixed float, stability, and looseness in a way that allowed for either a full attack mode or active playful style, which was a unique trait. I kept thinking that the Optic 114 would be a good alternative for people who want a ski like the Bent Chetler 120 but need something a bit more stout. The surfiness despite being 114 underfoot was impressive.
Groomers
I was only skiing groomers back to the lift and those groomers had a few inches of snow on them from the active storm, so I could feel that they were decent on groomers, but didn’t get to do any high speed runs or deep arcs to truly put them to the test. I did get enough of a feel to believe that they would be fine as a resort based powder ski for my little mountain or a place like Whistler-Blackcomb were guys like KC seem to dig them.
Ice/Firm Snow
The few icy/wind scoured traverses I skied them on helped me gain an appreciation for the edge to edge metal layer under foot. No problem finding and holding an edge on firm, icy stuff. I wouldn’t choose them on a firm/variable day where something narrower and more stout would get the nod.
Size/Length
The 186 length felt perfect most of the day for the conditions and terrain. Despite being 2,300 grams per ski, they never felt heavy and the mass of the skis felt like an asset more than anything, blasting through denser piles and holding their own when the occasional icy chicken head or death cookie would be found under the deep layers of goodness. That being said, on a bigger mountain or someone or larger size/stature, I could see sizing up to the 192. I suspect they would feel like a good bit more than the 186, giving up some quickness and agility and gaining stability, especially at the top end.
Final Thoughts
I said it in an earlier post, I felt like someone took the best parts of the OG Rustler 11, MFree108, and Billy Goat and combined them to make this 50% freeride, 50% freestyle ski that blends playfulness, stability, and power in a very balance and unique way. Looking for many more days on these. I hope my Billy Goats don’t get jealous. ;)
Great review Bandit.
Attachment 483328
The new graphics are less polarizing. The monster varicose metal is a mountain dew extreme statement. The new Optics look a bit more toned down with the neutral earth tone and shade Faction Mana Prodigy look that mutes the varicose metal under the cap wall topper.
The dew the dew look has the green bases - a plus. I am all about the price and utility, so I will live with the rad caffeine vibe.
Picked up some new 104s a few weeks back, and they delaminated near the heal piece after only a few hours of skiing. Totally lame. Most disappointing was having to eat the cost of the mount and shipping back to Line skis. They refused to reimburse the cost of shipping.
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That's weird to hear. My 104 are among the most durable skis I've been on. Considering a pretty shallow start of the season and the fact that I don't baby them since they were among the cheapest new skis that I got. Got some pictures?Quote:
Originally Posted by Kya
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I blew up my pair of 190s at the bird yesterday. I did hit something but doubt it would’ve completely blow out other skis. Pulled the sidewall off the core. Sidewall and edge didn’t break so I’m pretty sure I can epoxy it back in and put a base weld in. I really like how they ski, but not sold on durability.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kya
Bummer four you and Altacoup. Hope Line takes care of you and the epoxy and clamps do the job.
Hope my China skis dont fall apart. Sounds like a ride til it dies rockski especially if they get the reputation for being poorly built. You won't be able to give them away. Line overestimated demand on these heavy playful chargers? Maybe next year there won't be the massive leftover inventory.
The edges are burlier on these than the blanks. My blanks edges are a joke. Must be the thinnest I have ever owned. Like tinsel. Looks less than 1.5mm thick.
I would have expected maybe a topsheet cap issue in the tips if anything. The seem solid, but time and hits will tell.
Tuned and waxed the 104 optics. Factory tune was not awesome. Base edges were ok, sides were not a uniform 2. Lotsa lime green.
Not sure the tune matters so much on the 114s. Different days and purpose.
I may sound like a broken record but check out j skis hotshot 189. Think it’s the closest thing to the optic 104 and is bomber.
The original line before k2China. Supacool graphics. Hard to hit those giveaway overstock prices on the Optics with the USA small batch skis.Quote:
Originally Posted by MD12
Are the Leventhals cap/wall like the Optics or full sidewall?
hear that. They’re full sidewall.Quote:
Originally Posted by altabrig
It sounds like you've skied both? That's good to know as I'm optic curious and also have a pair of 186 metals that I picked up last year that I've been digging.Quote:
Originally Posted by MD12
Has anyone been on Optic 114 and Vision 118 and can compare? I'm pretty happy with BO104 190 this year when things get tracked out at the resort and it's pretty much my daily driver unless it's a dry spell or dumping like a crazy. Was thinking of getting 114 for deeper days but could also use Vision 118 with something like Duke PT as 70/30 setup and switch back to 104 if it gets knocked around too much. Both can be had fairly cheap from one well known online store.
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took one run on my buddys blade optic 104 which confirmed what others have told me but wasn’t enough time to make an independent assessment, just wasn’t enough for a test and skid it mostly in firm conditions on the east coast. it was a better size for me than the 183 hotshot (which is actually 180). now that i have the 189 hotshot (which is 186.5 actual length) i have zero interest in the blade optic 104. to me the 189 hotshot has significantly better suspension, is more forgiving of sloppy technique (particularly if thrown a tiny bit backseat), swingweight feels about the same, i can lean into the shovels a bit more on the hotshot and feel its more supportive while also being more forgiving. just as easy to ski centered but the hotshot lets you ski a little more forward too. I also like the mount point being a cm back on the hotshot. optic 104 reminded me more of a looser 187 masterblaster than the 189 hotshot, but that might have been mostly because of mountpoint (also didn’t like it as much as the masterblaster). only downside to me (if there is one) is that the blade optic feels a tiny tiny bit looser than the 189 hotshot. most notable thing to me was the suspension underfoot - you just don’t feel harsh bumps on the hotshot like you do on even the optic. I can ski the 189 hotshot faster and be more comfortable than the optic.Quote:
Originally Posted by snowaddict91