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Overall
I wanted to give it a 10 I really did. But it isn't quite perfect. As a powder jib ski it is unquestionably a 10. Its perfect, and for surfy deep pow fun the same is true. But it doesn't charge that hard and if you can only afford one 'deep' ski like me, you might want it a bit stiffer. I think if you own this ski then another 'charger' ski would still be needed in a perfect world. My next ski will have to be something of that nature.That one small gripe aside the ski is amazingly versatile, perfect in pow, good in the park and on groomers. I would certainly recommend it to anyone of my size, who enjoys playing in the pow. For that it is unbeatable.
Performance
This is an amazing ski. Groomers: I'll talk about powder performance at length in a minute, but can I just say that I don't even understand how this ski works. It is seriously fun on groomers. It chatters a bit when straightlining fast, but never feels unstable. When you get it on edge it loves to turn, the chatter stops and it is shockingly good compared with my (admittedly low) expectations. When my dad's skis got lost on the plane when he visited me in switzerland, he rode my groomer skis for days leaving me on these on groomers.. honestly I think I prefer them to my Reno Jibs on piste. Yes you can't push them that hard or they get a bit squirrely and no they won't win you a GS or a race and if the snow gets really hard or icy then they are way too wide and don't hold a great edge, but those things aside, they will handle groomers well and be unbelievable fun while they do. Bumps: Again, surprising. They sort of mould to the bump and pop you out. Really fun. Not for ziplining or mogul comps but you knew that..Park: I took these on rails once as a test, but basically I want to preserve my edges so I avoid that for the most part. They are so stable its basically cheating, and presses are so easy and fun. They are a bit much to spin, but it can be done. They are soft on jumps but manageable, decent for slow spins and great for butters. They could be used as a park ski for a certain type of skier I guess.Pow: Its hard to really explain how good these skis are in powder, if you are jibbing around in more that 6 inches of fresh I honestly believe there is no better ski out there. Having never skied switch in pow before, I was making switch turns down an open bowl like it was nothing. Landing switch they really do pop you out of the pow and keep you floating. Kill pillows, kill little (under maybe 20ft) drops. Perfect is the only word. This ski has ruined powder on any other ski for me.'Big' Mountain: I have skied some more serious lines with these skis. Some narrow, fairly steep couloirs, and they aren't that bad. Bear in mind that I am a skinny bastard, but I could push them pretty hard and they held up ok. I guess it depends on the snow though, the swiss pow I was skiing is pretty soft and fluffy so the soft flex doesn't matter so much even when charging (up to a point), they have limits though. Cruddy snow and thick heavy slush pow crap is not so fun, the skis are too soft for that, and get deflected really easily.
Design
I always love Pollards graphics, so on that front I love them. The shape is incredible, I would go so far as to say perfect. The flex I am not quite sure about. They feel so amazing in the soft stuff with their current flex, they feel good in bumps because of that too. But in less than great conditions they can struggle a lot and because of that i'd stiffen them up a bit (I think).
Value
Line Skis are always great value in my opinion. I got these reduced and they the best value ski I ever bought I think.
Fit
One size fits all.. 185.. My guess is it doesn't fit all though.. I'm 175cm (5'9?) and the ski didnt feel big even for a second. With its forward mounting point and soft flex, I don't think I would love it as much if I were significantly bigger.Recommended mounting point is -2cm from true centre, mine are mounted at -1 cm from true. They ski perfect there in my opinion
Characteristics
Soft. Probably the softest ski out there. But the amazing thing about these skis is, it doesn't seem to matter except in death crud or on ice, don't land too backseat though..
Durability
So far so good! Few chips but purely aesthetic damage. No base damage despite some rocks, really seems a tough ski.
Overall
These skis really blew me away. They are just too much fucking fun. Most playful ski ive ever ridden. If youre liable to get into the backseat when charging the soft flex will really sit you in there, but if you ski them right theyll be sure to show you a good time. Not reccomended for 3 day old chopped up shit snow. Oh and fun fact, in the moguls theyre actually pretty good, its weird the skis like bend into all of the gullies and pop you out... its hard to describe but its fun hehe.
Performance
In the powder you will find this ski incredibly fun. It will charge and stomp when you want it to, but it can be like a toy at other times. Its just way too much fun.
Design
Well the topsheet is pretty, drawing the shit for his own skis pretty much makes Eric Pollard the man. The sidecut is a little different than traditional, the fattest part closer to the middle. Seems to hold up decently (for a powder only ski) on the groomer even though its obviously focused on floatation.
Value
It was expensive as always, but well worth it.
Fit
There was only one size, 185 and it worked out perfectly for me.
Characteristics
Extremely Soft
Durability
It really only touched powder during the PNW Sextastic La Nina 07-08 ski year, but at the end of the year in may i took them out in the slush and beat the crap out of them and they held up nicely minus some topsheet chipping. Oh and I hit a rock on the top of a cliff that I thought was for sure a core-shot, but it didnt get down very deep at all.
Overall
Basically this ski made for some of the best days ever on snow. These skis are unreal in the powder and can handle their own everywhere. trees, groomers, park, rails, these fucking kill it. The ski is quite soft so be prepared to be skiing really on your toes the whole time for all you lazy park rats.
I rounded the edges on the rockered tips and tails to make butters a little easier. definately suggest this as the edges are kind of useless for anything else.
Mount where the line is on the ski (think is says middle of foot). This is where the skis is meant to be mounted from Pollard himself. Make sure your shop doesn't fuck it up these skis are fat.
Ride before you buy if you can but if not, just get em and enjoy them for as long as you can they are the sickest ski ever.
Performance
I absolutely love the ski. coming from Ontario, I havent skied much powder but knew that it is tiring as shit on park skis. These skis make powder almost effortless. They literally float on snow, a feeling I can only relate to skimboarding as you kind of lose control but then gain it back as you butter off speed easily.
CRUD: In the gnarly, death cookie type shitty skiing these skis really did not perform. But why would you ski crud when you can ski park so just take that shit when it hits you.
PARK: In the park they fucking rock. On rails they feel like a snowboard would probably feel they just lock on. You have so much ski on the rail it feels like you just grip on the rail. Presses are mad easy but go too far and your done because of the softness. Jumps they are a little scary as I like a more poppy ski and these are most mellow, flex mongrels. they buck you back seat the first few times but then you find the sweet spot.
TREES: Mad fun in trees. turn on a dime and real easy to butter off speed. once they get tight then your kind of in the shits cause the ski is real fat.
STEEPS: skiing off the peak of whistler and blackcomb these things are bomb. people gawk at you like your on some crazy experiment gone wrong and the "i only ski the peak, love ice, and wear northface" kind of crew think your a stupid park kid lost with his rental skis. Take the stares and bomb past them as they get stuck in knee deep powder. these things can butter off speed so easily, so large amounts of speed are easily lostin the matter of a turn. Off cliffs you just need to remember they are soft so be real forward and your all good.
Design
Aesthetically the ski is pretty dope the graphic looks cool, west coast, I dig it.
Fit
the length, at 185, seems really short because of the early rise. and really light surprisingly.
Characteristics
SOFT!!! This ski is really soft. It has two flex points that are pretty far up from the front binding (as you can see in the pictures) and then the tip and tail kind of round out the flex. The nose and tail early rise is really unnoticable in most conditions except at speed on ice. The tips and tails begin to bounce and feel like they are steering you off track but they dont do much. Underfoot is pretty stiff so skiing on the groomers is sick you can just rip.
Durability
These skis took everyhthing I through at it and they are still holding tough. Halfway through the year the binding started to rise out of the ski but I just screwed it back in and it was all good. rode a few rails on them and the edges aren't even phased.
If you ski powder more than 5 days a year, then they are worth it. Nothing compares to skiing waist deep snow on EP Pros, as it just makes it feel like your floating on clouds. All you have to do is relax and let the ski do the work, charge, drop, launch, land. It's that simple. If cruising switch is your thing, then so be it, they are perfect for that too.
As I'm sure you already know, these are extremly soft and flexible skis. They have early rise in the tip and tail, and are probably the softest skis on the market. This makes them amazing in powder, and super fun to butter on.
Only downside is when charging crud or death cookies, since the skis are super soft, they tend to chatter a lot and make it extremely difficult (and dangerous) to charge if it's chunky or icy.
Overall
Sweet ski, the most fun you'll ever have on a powder day. Don't be afraid to get them!
Performance
The performance exceeded my expectations. They turn so quick and easy in the powder. I have skied 2 powder days on these of 1-2 feet of fresh new snow, tracked out snow, groomers, trees, and 5-10 foot drops and have never felt uncomfortable on the ski. If you already have an all mountain ski and are looking for a fun powder ski I would get it for sure. You never get any edge hooking forward or switch. They are really smooth going switch, smoothest I have ever skied. They also ski switch in powder extremely well. The only thing I wouldn't use them for is crazy back country/super clifffy terrain. You would probably need something stiffer.
Design
Sweet graphic, all the technology that line claims is definitely noticeable (elyptical sidecut, early taper, and of course the early rise). They ski way better than a conventional ski design in the powder. Really the only time you notice how soft they are is when you popping your turns in the pow while everyone else is stuck or falling.
Value
If you can afford to have an all mountain ski and a powder ski like the EP pro then it is definitely worth it.
Fit
182 is the only size i believe. Mid sole mark is 2cm back from center, works great for me.
Characteristics
They are obviously soft, but i would say don't let it scare you away from the ski. The soft flex in the powder effortlessly shoots you from turn to turn, it's the coolest feeling ever just popping from turn to turn. They do flap around when you are at high speeds on groomer/crud because of the rocker but they hold an edge very well and you can still carve hard. I think any ski with a rocker will flap a bit, hellbents do it too.
Durability
So far so good, two days of use and no chipping or edge damage. The bases and edges seem fairly tough.
Overall
First off I am 5'9" and 155lbs. Mounted on these is a pair of Salomon STH 12's
I rode these skis in Vail a few days when they got some good snow. I was really nervous the first day I took them out because knowing that I am not Pollard I thought they would be too much for me to handle. I knew I would love them in pow but thought I would hate them everywhere else. WRONG! As were all the skeptics who thought this ski was too limited and not versatile at all. I was able to comfortably hold an edge while riding any type of terrain. I never felt out of control or anything while bombing chopped pow runs, cruising groomers full of Texans, or even on bump runs.
Line puts so much R&D into each ski that they really do produce amazing products. And now that they are made in the K2 factory there are no durablilty issues that I have seen.
Go getcha' some!
Performance
It is just unfair how easy these sticks make skiing powder. They exceeded my expectations in every aspect. I knew they would be perfect for powder but not this perfect. And I thought skiing groomers, bumps, chop and everything else would be impossible but I was wrong. Even with my small size I was able to control these beasts anywhere. Of course it took some getting used to but after afew cruisers I was completely comfortable. I wouldn't want these to be my only ski but you could easily make it with just these.
I am trying to think of how to describe the sensation when bombing a pow line on these....I can't, just go buy a pair and try it. I think these are too soft for charging really big lines, but luckily I can't afford trips out to Alaska that often. These are great for your normal backcountry and resort type terrain.
The early rise and taper is the most innovative part of this ski. Skiing everything other than pow was weird with only about 100cm of effective edge but if you are a good skier it won't be a problem at all. The early rise, taper and flex all combined to make a pow monster.
Design
I think Pollards art is great and looks even better on the skis. And thats all I have to say about that, I don't really care about looks, what am I...Superficial? There could be a huge weiner on them and I would still sport them...I think.
Value
This setup was expensive but I feel it is worth it for what you get. A lot of research and development went into these skis.
Fit
These only come in 186's which seemed to be the right size for me. By the end of the day when I was tired they did seem heavy but that was just my weak legs. I wouldn't of liked them any shorter or longer.
Characteristics
Obviously this ski is very very soft. I was able to ski them in many different conditions and it was capable in every one. Obviously the flex pattern was designed for powder, where it really excels, but it really felt fine in chopped powder and cruddy groomers.
In powder this ski flexes perfectly. I launched cliffs and when I landed instead of getting bogged down and possibly bailing forward the skis would smoothly pop out of the powder. They make it so easy and effortless its unfair.
These skis did make me realize how bad my technique is sometimes. I admit when I get lazy I do lean back when I turn to scrub speed. On these if you lean back the tails will flex and almost shoot out from under you. So to eliminate that threat all you have to do is ski correctly with your weight balanced and not leaning back.
Durability
No problems so far, just some normal topsheet wear.
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