This is my review of Line Blend. In my opinion, it is a freestyle ski that’s recommended for park rats who want the capability to explore all over the mountain. Flexy and playful on features in the terrain park, they are also wide enough to hold their own in deeper snow. That creates a fun ski that can meet all of your freestyle needs.
Keep reading to learn more about the pros and cons of this ski, who it is best for, and other similar alternatives to consider.
Contents
Quick Summary
- Where to buy: Amazon, The House
- Best for: Freestyle skiers who want a ski that can rip all day in the park and seamlessly float or carve in all-mountain settings as well.
- Pros: This is a versatile and playful ski that caters to the park but still has enough underfoot to handle conditions all over the mountain. Great for anyone who loves hitting big features in the park and who needs a ski that allows for versatile freedom and flexibility.
- Cons: This is a little too flexible to provide perfect response at high speeds. Not a great option for crud busting in slush or chopped up conditions either.
- Alternatives: Armada ARV 96, Line Chronic, Icelantic Nomad 95
Is the Line Blend a true park ski?
Yes and no. It can certainly be a park only ski, but it’s built to handle a variety of all-mountain conditions as well. For that reason, it’s better classified as a freestyle ski.
Is the flexibility of this ski really that noticeable?
Yes. If you’re a beginner, you might not notice their flexible nature, but if you have any experience on all-mountain skis that will surely stand out.
What’s different in the latest model of this ski?
Not a whole lot, but there doesn’t need to be. The Blend has been basically the same for the last decade, and there’s no reason to change a good thing.
Why Trust Me
I’ve skied all over the world and have decades of experience skiing on, testing, and reviewing different skis and skiing equipment. I’ve skied on several versions of the Blend over the last few years and the current model holds true to that design. Below, you will find my detailed review.
Detailed Review of Line Blend
Line was a pioneer in twin-tipped skis before they were the industry norm. That gives them the experience and innovation you would expect from a high-quality brand. The Blend is a ski that showcases the versatility and fun that can be had on true twinnies. They excel in the park, but also have a wider underfoot feel that can handle everything from powder to packed out runs.
Park Performance
First and foremost, these skis cater to park skiing. They hold up on big features extremely well. If that’s your bag, you’re going to be more than satisfied with how they perform. The twin tipped shape caters well to hitting and landing any feature (regular or switch). As such, the skis are simply a fun way to bomb through the park all day long.
One of my favorite features of the Blend, especially with park performance in mind, is their flexibility. They will bend and pop to your heart’s delight, which makes them one of my favorite skis to butter on. This flexibility allows for some crazy landings, but their bendy nature isn’t going to be preferred by everyone. However, if you love to jib or just want a ski that seems to custom mold around features in the park, these are for you.
The same flexibility that I love comes with some sacrifices, especially in the halfpipe. I’m not a high flying pipe monster, but I do like to huck a few spins and airs from time to time. The Blend is certainly capable in the pipe, but being a larger guy, I felt like they were bending instead of providing the power and control I needed to stay stable. In the air, they’re great, but on the approach, I want more stability.
All-Mountain Attributes
When you’ve had your fill of the park, the Blend will easily take you anywhere else on the mountain. I have to imagine that their name comes from that versatility. A freestyle focused ski with solid all-mountain attributes is a ton of fun to have underfoot. I took these skis in powder, on groomers, in the trees, and in the bumps. They held up well through it all.
The blend is a capable powder ski that will keep you afloat and provide a surfy nature. However, if things start to get really deep, you’re going to want something that’s wider and a little more firm. In six inches or less of fresh snow, they can hang with the best of them. Their fun and flexible nature stand out here as well. If you like to ski switch at all, the Blend excels in this regard as well. Their freestyle attributes can certainly be applied all over the mountain.
I don’t like these skis all that much on steep groomers or ice, which we’ll address in further detail shortly, but in the trees or in bumps they shine. Their lightweight can keep you bouncy in those conditions, and they almost remind me slightly of a mogul ski when put to the test. That adds a lot of freedom and flexibility to the ski and gives you all-mountain versatility with a focus on fun.
Speed Check
A downside to a playful and flexible freestyle ski is that they don’t tend to have a ton of power or stability at high speeds. That’s the case with the Blend and it’s one of my only major critical remarks. A rockered profile in the tip and tail makes them amazing in many situations, but when you really want to hit the throttle, chatter becomes almost inevitable. Compared to other all-mountain options, the chatter on these is pretty drastic and a definite downside.
Their flexibility also comes into play when you want to turn or carve at high speeds. They just don’t have the power to truly dig into a turn. Some larger skis will almost work with you when turning at speed, but these require a little extra effort on the skier’s end. You’ll definitely feel that in your legs when pushing your limits. They carve alright, but initiating turns is a definite downside.
Construction and Style
The Line Blend is constructed to excel in the park and be capable in all sorts of other on-snow situations. The ski has a rockered profile that gives you 4mm of lift in the tip and tail. That’s a great feature for skiing solid lines in the park, which gives you playfulness in powder. The ski also has a small amount of camber underfoot, but not quite enough to give the pop and response needed for high speed control.
The skis have a Maple Macroblock wood core that utilizes two ski-length maple stringers to provide a decent amount of strength for a ski that’s so flexible. They also have a sidecut pattern that’s somewhat unique in the fact that it features several circle patterns to increase feel and provide a fun flow.
Other construction elements here include a Capwall sidewall build that helps to keep everything lightweight and durable, as well as self-described Fatty Edges that are thicker than a lot of skis and help keep an edge after a lot of use. All in all, the skis are well designed and use some key construction elements to their advantage.
Price and Value
The Line Blend is a moderately priced freestyle ski perfect for riders who love to spend a lot of time in the park and want the flexibility to explore elsewhere. While not a park-specific ski, it compares in performance to skis in that niche. In addition, the added versatility gives it higher marks for overall value. I wouldn’t use the ski in every condition, especially big powder, but it’s a more-than-worth-it option for a lot of skiers.
What I Like
There’s no denying that these skis are fun. They seem to be fully built to keep a smile on your face and their main allure is definitely how they perform in the park. I’m more of an all-mountain or big-mountain skier who likes to dabble in the park when conditions aren’t great elsewhere. However, in my younger days I fully attempted to be a park rat, and one of my first skis to attempt that feat was the Blend. I found them to be worthy of the pursuit.
I especially like the Blend on rails and smaller features because of their flexibility. If you like to jib and butter, you’re going to love these skis. They are seriously some of the most flexy planks I have ever skied on. While that’s a downside in some situations, it’s great in the park.
I also enjoy that these skis aren’t just a park ski. They have enough versatility to stay strong in a variety of other conditions and they fully fall into the freestyle category that focuses on fun. If you want to take some of those well-deserved and hard-earned park skills to other areas of the mountain, these will deliver.
What I Don’t Like
The same design and construction elements that make these skis so fun and playful will also be a detriment in some situations. While I knew they weren’t going to perform as well as some other all-mountain alternatives, the Blend does leave a bit to be desired in some situations outside of the park.
At high speeds, they chatter. No doubt about it. While I’m accustomed to a bit of chatter when using a rockered profile ski, these feel close to unstable when you really push them fast. Not out of control, but not necessarily fully in it. On steep groomers when I pointed straight, it felt like a car on the highway with different air pressure in the tires. You’re still rolling, but it’s not as stable as you would like.
I also wouldn’t recommend these skis in extremely deep powder. They can hand in light-to-moderate dumps, but if you’re pushing a foot or more of fresh stuff, I’d look for a wider and more burly model. They are also well away from being considered a crud buster.
The Alternatives
If you’re looking for an alternative option to the Line Blend that gives you serious park performance with the versatility to roam all over the mountain, check out these other skis:
- Armada ARV 96 – This is another ski that gives you freestyle freedom with a focus on the park. Armada is a brand with a similar vision to Line, in my opinion, and their lineup hits the sweet spot of park focus with stand-out characteristics elsewhere. The ARV 96 (review) is a fun and capable option.
- Line Chronic – If you want another Line option that offers similar attributes to the Blend but is not quite as flexy, check out the Chronic (review). These skis still give you full focus and capability in the park, but hold up a bit better at high speeds.
- Icelantic Nomad 95 – These are a great option if you’re looking to flip the script and go with a ski that’s more all-mountain focused but still capable in the park. A really fun ride in all sorts of conditions, including the park, the Nomad 95 is another recommended favorite.
Final Verdict
The Line Blend is a fun ski. If you love to spend a lot of time in the park, but still often take advantage of other conditions, these will serve you well. They are a freestyle ski that features some serious all-mountain attributes. The flexibility is apparent and sacrifices some control and power. Even so, the Blend is a ski I would recommend to any high-flying skiers who truly love the sport.