During work today I started to think about the good ole days of our sport (1998-2004). And in the array of countless thoughts and great memories, the Line ski team of the yonder years popped up. Do many of you guys remember the old Line ski team? I sure do and everyone knew they were a force to be reckoned with...Skogen Sprang, Eric Pollard, Mike Nick, Dash Longe, Mike Wilson, Pete Mitheofer, Kris Ostness and Jason Levinthal. This was a team that inspired many of us skiers and between them hold many distinguished awards and respect. For example, Skogen was the first skier to have a rail cover (Freeze 2000? or 99?), Mike Nick and Levintahl were first ones to win X Games medals in skiboarding, and much more. However, those days are gone and the new Line ski team consist of Eric Pollard, Ashley Battersby and couple of amatuer skiers. Clearly, in my opinion, a far less superior team compared to the one of the old.
Which brings me to the point of this topic. With really only one "experienced" skier (Pollard) on the team the development and the "ride" of Line skis is significantly reduced. No longer are there an array of experienced skiers who are developing the skis it is merely the brain child of one or two people that being Pollard and either Levinthal or Francis. For example, atleast one forth of the Line selection for next yr was developed by Pollard, that being the Prophet, Bacons and the Elizabeths. Although many of you readers may see nothing wrong with this, I find this to be a problem. With one person developing a ski the ski does not have a mutlitude of input placed into it. For example, the flex pattern is suited for that person's riding only but with an array of opinion from other "experienced" members of the team the flex will be altered to tailor what the team wants, what they think will work best for the consumer and is best suited for specific/different terrain. And this example can be used for more than just the flex it can be used for the edges, base, construction, core material, width, etc etc. Now the rebuttle may be that Line does have a team and they test the skis extensivly. True, however, in my opinion, they lack the riding experience nescesarry for the different aspects of freestyle/freeride skiing. As talented as they me be in the park, can they ski a really tecnical line in the backcountry? Can they ski crud? corns? cornices? Etc Etc. And so finally this is the fallacy behind Line's ski team...the lack of depth which results in skis devloped by one person (a narrowed minded ski if you will) and has no opinions incorporated in to the ski.
It is for these reasons that I was disappointed when Line Team was restructured. As brilliant as Jason is, I believe that getting rid of his team was a mistake. And for you readers who may bash me, I have ridden this years skis from Line and I was not impressed at all, however, I do love last yr's skis 04/05 they were fucking amazing. Also, I'm not a Line Ski hater, my first pair of skis were Line 5-0's and 99/00 WHITE 1260's and I have supported the company ever since.
I hope you enjoyed this editorial and by all means please share your opinion...just don't talk shit fully explain your opinion in coherent sentences and paragraphs! And Jason if you are reading this, by no means is this "hating" on your company just merely a thought...nothing but respect for a godfather in our sport.
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