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GayWolf420
June, 2025

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What is the difference between the Line Step Ups and the Line Afterbangs?

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Hoshino
Posts: 49 - Karma: 10
I never saw a difference between the two skis besides the grapgics and was wondering why are the Step Ups more expensive.
14 years ago
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.Max.
Posts: 2930 - Karma: 701
Think of this years step ups as an afterbang with a chronic flex pattern (much stiffer).

Next year the step ups will have a sidewall construction with a maple macroblock core until about 10 inches from the tip/tail where they incorporated the skate deck construction. Pretty cool ski.
14 years ago
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Wilsooon
Posts: 321 - Karma: 62
and the step up is wider/more stable on jumps or at high speeds.
14 years ago
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Juice.Doctor
Posts: 2791 - Karma: 293
step ups are a bit more stable. they are stiffer and are a better ski for people who hit jumps bigger than 20 feet.
14 years ago
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Obie.
Posts: 1741 - Karma: 3,646
and the step up is available in a larger size (184) where the afterbang is not (largest size being 177)

14 years ago
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.Max.
Posts: 2930 - Karma: 701
Stability comes with the stiffness. They're the same width though. 115/88/115
14 years ago
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Mordecai
Posts: 620 - Karma: 401
I have 177 stepups, and am actually looking to trade them off for 177 afterbangs because the stepups are a really stiff, solid ride but are heavier and not as forgiving on jibs. They work insanely well on jumps though. No washout, they stomp everything great. Which ski to get all depends on your style of skiing, the stepups aren't more expensive because they're better, just because they literally cost more to manufacture. Extra ollieband and all
14 years ago
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NWilkins
Posts: 246 - Karma: 81
I'd say the step-up is kinda stiff, but they 'break in' and get a bit softer after a few days of riding. This years step-up/abang are essentially the same ski with different flex patterns. Next years step-up is much different. Max described them well, just regular sidewall until tip/tail skatedeck. I got to check a pair out, I'd call them more of a symmetric chronic with a bit of skatedeck for tips and tails (and they still got that dank wood top sheet). I will definitely be riding step-ups again next year.
14 years ago
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Twig
Posts: 6474 - Karma: 62,829
how does that even work? does it mean they have the bottom two layers of skatedeck and then on top of that a normal core/sidewall? because surely the skate deck layers must run the length of the ski?

Oh and next years will also have a sintered base not extruded I believe?
14 years ago
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Shenanigans
Posts: 868 - Karma: 455
Race base
14 years ago
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Lemuel
Posts: 14544 - Karma: 11,158
I hand flexed both and they felt exactly the same to me, stepups felt lighter. Seems like there is no difference besides the step up coming in a 184. Kinda dumb that they are the same dimensions.
14 years ago
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crunkiest
Posts: 369 - Karma: 21
stepups are LJ tested, LJ approved haha
14 years ago
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
Step-ups aren't quite as terrible as a-bangs.
14 years ago
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NWilkins
Posts: 246 - Karma: 81
It is a regular sidewall ski.......with skatedeck tip and tail. It's hard to explain without seeing them......most sidewall skis have tips/tails that are not part of the core (like last years armadas for example).....in the step-up it works the same way (and yes I think a few layers run the length of the ski). The reason Line did this (as it was explained to me) was because the skatedeck tip/tails help up better and didn't de-lam as easily, but skatedeck doesn't do as well in a stiffer ski (the extra carbon ollie bands are literally pulling the layers of wood apart that sandwich it in the ski); so they are taking the best of both worlds and giving it a shot.
And very true about next years base! Way nicer than this years.
Overall the ski is greatly improved.

14 years ago
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zues
Posts: 6434 - Karma: -5,330
i'm really interested in the step ups. how are they on jibs?
14 years ago
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Caleb.E
Posts: 3556 - Karma: 1,015
the step ups are a stiffer version(almsot liek the chronic flex pattern) so there more of a jump ski, there still a great ski though for every were in the park!
14 years ago
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Thick.Black.Gurl
Posts: 492 - Karma: 28
I'm pretty sure there making a size 186 for the Afterbangs this year, check evo, you may be suprised :D
14 years ago
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