Ski: 2019-2020 Line Outline, 186 cm
Available Lengths: 178, 186 cm
Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length: 184.1 cm
Stated Weight per Ski: 2030 grams
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 2024 & 2031 grams
Stated Dimensions: 150-117-142 mm
Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 152.5-117.5-141 mm
Stated Sidecut Radius (186 cm): 18.5 meters
Measured Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 68 mm / 74 mm
Measured Traditional Camber Underfoot: ~5 mm
Core: Paulownia/Maple + Fiberglass Laminate
Base: “Fatty” 1.7 mm Sintered
Factory Recommended Mount Point: -4.2 cm from center; 87.9 cm from tail
Intro
When it comes to playful powder skis, Eric Pollard is arguably one of the most influential and important figures in the industry. With his help, Line was able to create iconic skis like the Elizabeth, Sir Francis Bacon, EP Pro, Mr. Pollard’s Opus, Pescado, and many other skis designed to let skiers slash, spin, flip, and butter their way through deep snow.
The newest ski that Eric’s been working on is the Outline, which will be Line’s widest freestyle ski for 19/20.
The Outline effectively replaces the current Line Magnum Opus and Mordecai, and, like the 19/20 Sir Francis Bacon, the Outline features convex tips and tails. We’ve already talked a bit about the Outline and Sir Francis Bacon on our GEAR:30 podcast, but here we’ll go over the Outline’s design and how it compares to the skis it replaces, and others on the market.
What Line says about the Outline
“Equipped with Convex Base Technology to open up new possibilities in turn shape, the LINE Outline Skis are the ultimate development of freestyle powder ski design. Slarve, drift, and plane in any snow condition. Building on years of twin-tip ski design, the LINE Outline is the ultimate collaboration between Eric Pollard and LINE Skis.”
First, saying that the Outline is the “ultimate collaboration between Eric Pollard and LINE Skis” is a very bold statement. Eric and Line have made a lot of very good skis, so the Outline has a lot to live up to.
But the Outline’s Convex Base Tech does set its design apart from previous Line skis. And after our initial time on the Outline and Sir Francis Bacon, we do think that Line has a reason to be hyping up these ski’s ability to slarve, drift, and plane (you can listen to our GEAR:30 podcast for more on that).
Shape / Rocker Profile
Apart from its convex tips and tails, the Outline looks very similar to many of Eric Pollard’s recent pow skis like the Mordecai and Magnum Opus. The Outline has fat tips and tails, with a bit of early taper. But unlike many current playful pow skis like the Prior CBC, Salomon QST 118, J Skis Friend, and Armada ARV 116 JJ, the Outline’s tips and tails don’t start tapering very early, and they also don’t taper to much of a point.
Compared to the new Sir Francis Bacon, the Outline actually has slightly less tip and tail taper, presumably to increase float in deep snow.
The Outline’s longitudinal rocker profile is also very reminiscent of the Magnum Opus and Mordecai. The Outline has pretty deep tip and tail rocker lines, but they’re not crazy deep by today’s standards. The Outline’s rocker lines also rise pretty gradually until you get to the ends of the ski, where the tips and tails splay out significantly.
Flex Pattern
Here’s how we’d characterize the flex pattern of the Outline:
Tips: 6-6.5
Shovels: 7-7.5
In Front of Toe Piece: 8-9.5
Underfoot: 9.5
Behind the Heel Piece: 9.5-8.5
Tails: 8-6
Unlike the Mordecai (especially the 193 cm version), the Outline is not a very stiff ski. Its tips and tails are pretty soft, and they slowly ramp up in stiffness as you get to the center of the ski. Overall, the Outline has a nearly symmetrical flex pattern with smooth transitions and no noticeable hinge points.
Compared to the 19/20 Sir Francis Bacon, the Outline is similarly soft at the ends, but ramps up quicker and is noticeably stiffer around the bindings.
Compared to the J Skis Friend, the Outline’s extremities are a bit softer, but the Outline’s flex pattern ramps up quicker. Compared to the 4FRNT Inthayne and Moment Wildcat / Blister Pro, the Outline is similarly soft at the very ends of the ski, but both the Wildcat and Inthayne stiffen up quicker and, apart from the ends, are significantly stiffer throughout.
Weight
Like the new Sir Francis Bacon, current SFB, Mordecai, and Magnum Opus, the Outline is a pretty light ski. At just over 2000 grams per ski for the 186 cm version, the Outline is one of the lightest pow skis we’ve reviewed.
For reference, here are a number of our measured weights (per ski, in grams) for some notable skis. As always, note the length differences to keep things apples to apples.
1710 & 1744 Atomic Bent Chetler 120, 184 cm (18/19–19/20)
1910 & 1941 Scott Scrapper 115, 189 cm (17/18–18/19)
2013 & 2099 Moment Wildcat / Blister Pro, 184 cm (18/19–19/20)
2024 & 2031 Line Outline, 186 cm (19/20)
2034 & 2052 Blizzard Rustler 11, 188 cm (17/18–19/20)
2043 & 2046 4FRNT Inthayne, 188 cm (18/19-19/20)
2042 & 2105 Line Mordecai, 186 cm (16/17–18/19)
2083 & 2097 Line Magnum Opus, 188 cm (15/16–18/19)
2102 & 2137 Line Sick Day 114, 190 cm (17/18–19/20)
2126 & 2173 Rossignol Super 7 RD, 190 cm (17/18–19/20)
2130 & 2130 Moment Wildcat / Blister Pro, 190 cm (18/19–19/20)
2133 & 2133 Salomon QST 118, 192 cm (17/18–18/19)
2183 & 2190 Black Crows Anima, 188.4 cm (17/18–19/20)
2196 & 2199 Icelantic Nomad 115, 191 cm (17/18–18/19)
2220 & 2252 Faction Prodigy 4.0, 186 cm (17/18–19/20)
2212 & 2215 Armada ARV 116 JJ, 185 cm (17/18–19/20)
2222 & 2278 Prior CBC, 184 cm (17/18–19/20)
2228 & 2231 Blizzard Spur, 192 cm (17/18–19/20)
2230 & 2250 Black Diamond Boundary Pro 115, 185 cm (17/18–19/20)
2246 & 2265 Fischer Ranger 115 FR, 188 cm (17/18–18/19)
2267 & 2270 Whitedot Ragnarok 118, 190 cm (16/17–18/19)
2296 & 2309 Liberty Origin Pro, 192 cm (17/18–19/20)
2297 & 2317 K2 Catamaran, 184 cm (17/18–19/20)
2341 & 2357 Dynastar PR-OTO Factory, 189 cm (18/19–19/20)
2343 & 2360 J Skis Friend, 189 cm (18/19)
2346 & 2351 Nordica Enforcer Pro, 191 cm (17/18–19/20)
2382 & 2395 ON3P Billy Goat, 184 cm (17/18–18/19)
2408 & 2421 ON3P Kartel 116, 186 cm (17/18–18/19)
2429 & 2437 Kingswood SMB, 188 cm (16/17–18/19)
2438 & 2492 Rossignol Black Ops 118, 186 cm (16/17–19/20)
2490 & 2529 K2 Catamaran, 191 cm (17/18–19/20)
Bottom Line (For Now)
The Line Outline follows a long line of prolific and iconic playful pow skis. The Outline’s design doesn’t stray too far from its ancestors’, but we’re already pretty psyched about the result. Blister Members can read our initial on-snow impressions in our Flash Review linked below, and then stay tuned for our full review.
Flash Review
Blister Members can now check out our Flash Review of the Outline for our initial impressions. Become a Blister member now to check out this and all of our Flash Reviews, plus get exclusive deals and discounts on skis, and personalized gear recommendations from us.
Rocker Pics:
“the LINE Outline Skis are the ultimate development of freestyle powder ski design…the LINE Outline is the penultimate collaboration between Eric Pollard and LINE Skis.”
So, these are the best freestyle powder skis ever, but EP + Line are going to make one ski after them?
Just talked to Line and they confirmed that it was a typo — they meant to say “ultimate,” not “penultimate.”
Hey guys – I’m probably a bit behind the curve in terms of ski news, but if Line are describing this ski as “the penultimate” collaboration with Eric it seems to indicate that there’s only one more EP / Line collaboration left. Does this mean that Line and EP are going to be parting ways? Or do you think they meant something else?
Just noticed that toddball had the same question!
Hey James, we just confirmed with Line that it was a mistake. They meant to simply write “ultimate”
Yeaa.. when we try to use fancy words we use the wrong ones and stuff :) .. – jm
The best powder freestyle ski Line and Pollard have made was the EP Pro, the rest of his skis have just been chasing the lasted trends, the EP Pro was unique
First, saying that the Outline is the “penultimate collaboration between Eric Pollard and LINE Skis” is a very bold statement.
I think “penultimate” means second to last….
Hey Taylor, we just confirmed with Line that it was a mistake. They meant to simply write “ultimate”
Nicely done! That word is misused a lot