Line’s heritage as a ski brand lies in the freeride, freestyle category mixing playfulness and fun with serious technology. The Blade Optic 96 seems to epitomise this narrative, offering riders an all mountain ski that is accessible and easy to turn, but performs at a high level across all kinds of terrain.
The Aspen veneer core is light and strong, and with a titanal layer running through the ski in a kind of v shape formation, so you get the power but without the demands that a full metal plate might normally ask. This layer produces some stability at higher speeds, although they do chatter a little if pushed too hard.
Pronounced tip and tail rockers are there to help floatation in powder, but they also make turn initiation super smooth. These are directional skis designed to perform on groomed slopes – let’s face it, most skis over the 90mm width can handle powder, it’s how they steer on piste that concerns us more.
The Blade Optic 96 does this incredibly well for a ski that’s marketed more in the freeride category. Edge hold is solid and they are quick and responsive in shorter turns.
In that kind of off-piste zone just away from the marked runs, they want to play in the bumps, the jumps and the lumps like the best of them. Zippy and light, they seem to float over everything and it’s where you feel the Line skis DNA coming through.
For any skier looking for that answer to their one ski does it all question – maybe a seasonaire and definitely someone that enjoys playing across the mountain and doesn’t necessarily possess the highest technical skill set out there, then the Blade Optic 96 would be worth a shot.
