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Most versatile pair of skis I have ever owned is the all new 2012 Line EP Opus skis. The Line EP Opus skis does whatever you want the ski to do in any conditions and terrain. With the float of the EP Pro and the maneuverability of the Sir Francis Bacon the Line EP Opus skis are the ultimate one ski quiver ski. Although the ski is narrower than the EP Pro it still has amazing float thanks to where the Early Taper and Early rise have been located. Eric Pollard designed these skis as his masterpiece and as someone who has not only skied every ski that Pollard has designed but also has been skiing with the man himself  he has combined all the best of his creations into this one ski. If you are looking for an excellent AT ski but don’t want the waist width of the Opus then I would suggest the Sir Francis Bacon.

If you are looking for a ski to help you poach your favorite places then this is my weapon of choice. It will ski the deepest of powder with ease while attacking the windblown snow with very little effort. 2 places the EP Opus excels in where many others in this 115mm+ waist category does not is on the groomers and bumps/moguls. I was able to make full pull bump runs with very little effort or adjustment. When it came to skiing glades there was no other ski I would rather be on than the Opus. If you are charging hard and enjoy a stiffer ski than you would want the Prophet 115 or Influence 115, but if you enjoy a ski with tons of playful energy and one that just enjoys everything in front of you then the Line EP Opus is a ski that you really should not pass by with out buying. It looks like untracked.com or Al’s Ski Barn has these in stock right no and ready to sell!!

A review of the 2012 and 2013 skis is already available if you scroll down through my posts. However, there has been one important change for 2013 and 2014 and that is the addition of the 192cm Mr. Pollard Opus. Other than a new graphic and a new size the ski stays the same. The Line Mr Pollard Opus has been one of the best-selling skis of 2012 and we expect 2013 to be even better! A few select dealers still have the 2013 Mr. Pollard Opus skis so be sure to get yours today! Still one of my favorite skis you can not go wrong, unless you go to short. The 192cm length in the Mr. Pollard Opus is my favorite go to do everything ski. Now witht he addition of the Sir Francis Bacon in the 190cm length that will probably turn into my All Mountain Ski along with the all new amazing Head Cyclic 115 Skis.

2013 Line Mr. Pollard Opus Video

2014 Line Mr. Pollard Opus Sale!

Here is the review of the 2012 Line Mr. Pollard’s Opus Skis which are the same for 2013 and 2014, but now with the additional length of a 192cm length!!

Most versatile pair of skis I have ever owned is the all new 2012/2013/2014 Line Mr. Pollard Opus skis. The Line Mr. Pollard Opus skis does whatever you want the ski to do in any conditions and terrain. With the float of the EP Pro and the maneuverability of the Sir Francis Bacon the Line Mr. Pollard Opus skis are the ultimate one ski quiver ski. Although the ski is narrower than the EP Pro it still has amazing float thanks to where the Early Taper and Early rise have been located. Eric Pollard designed these skis as his masterpiece and as someone who has not only skied every ski that Pollard has designed but also has been skiing with the man himself  he has combined all the best of his creations into this one ski. If you are looking for an excellent AT ski but don’t want the waist width of the Opus then I would suggest the Sir Francis Bacon.

If you are looking for a ski to help you poach your favorite places then this is my weapon of choice. It will ski the deepest of powder with ease while attacking the windblown snow with very little effort. 2 places the Mr. Pollard Opus excels in where many others in this 115mm+ waist category does not is on the groomers and bumps/moguls. I was able to make full pull bump runs with very little effort or adjustment. When it came to skiing glades there was no other ski I would rather be on than the Opus. If you are charging hard and enjoy a stiffer ski than you would want the Prophet 115 or Influence 115, but if you enjoy a ski with tons of playful energy and one that just enjoys everything in front of you then the Line Mr. Pollard Opus is a ski that you really should not pass by with out buying. It looks like untracked.com or Al’s Ski Barn has these in stock right no and ready to sell!!

Model: 2014 Line Sir Francis Bacon Skis

Size: 184cm

Actual Length (Pull Chord): 181cm

Dimensions: 140-108-136

Stance -2.0cm from Center (Pollard’s Mark)

(Line Has a new line for 2014 that is -6cm’s for skiers who don’t want to be as close to center) I however found the ski to ski the best where Eric designed the ski to be skied which was at -2cm.

Again for 2014 Line Skis has done an amazing job with the Sir Francis Bacon. It comes back for 2014 with an updated graphic which is another piece of art by the master Eric Pollard. I didn’t think that Line could do a better job with the graphic and I was wrong, Eric really put some amazing color into the ski and the graphic has been getting amazing reviews.

Now to the skiing. I said it last year and I will say it again this year, if you are looking for a one ski quiver ski that is playful and wants to always be searching out for the terrain off the trail then you will be very hard pressed to find anything more versatile in the 100-110mm category than the 2012/2013 Line Sir Francis Bacon Skis.

Other companies seem to always be playing catch up with Line and with the Early Rise/Early Taper on both the SFB and Opus Skis  it is easy to see why! They turn on a dime with no effort at all, yet when you need stability on groomers the Line Sir Francis Bacon really holds on edge and with a turn radius of about 17m you will think you are on a ski 90mm in the waist. The Bacon allows you to easily get in and out of turns quickly and playfully. If you are like me and enjoy skiing the side 10 feet of the trail in the crud and sugar snow the Sir Francis Bacon eats those conditions up with ease! With the Early Rise and Early Taper the ski has a surf like feel to it and will easily ski all conditions that you throw its way. If you are into skiing pillow lines and searching out deep snow you can ski the Bacon, but you may want to look at its big brother the Mr. Pollard Opus for true powder lines in the backcountry.

One major factor you need to consider when buying this ski is the length. These skis not only measure short but they ski short as well. The one thing that is need with the Sir Francis Bacon is a 190cm length ski and for 2014 there is now a 190cm length!!!  The 184cm length is the top selling length and when you get on it you will see why. It turns like a 170cm length ski and sometimes you forget that you have a ski on that is over 180cms. For bigger guys and more aggressive skiers I think the 190cm length would be a no brainer for adding to your line up. Just don’t sell yourself short, these skis may be 108mm in the waist but you still want the length to truly get all optimal ride out of this ski. If you are over 160lbs you should be skiing the 184cm length.

As for mounting point I would really suggest the Eric’s Choice mark that Line has already suggested. The skis do ski the best mounted on that line and if you are a tele skier I would really suggest talking to whoever is mounting your bindings and make sure they mount them so your boot mid sole is around the mid sole mark on your boot. These do ski best toward center even on a tele set up. If you are a skier that is not very centered when they ski then maybe you want to have them mounted a little further back, but I will be honest with you the ski skis best where Eric originally designed it to be mounted.

I look forward to getting out this weekend on the Bacon’s again and see how they perform on true firm Northeast snowpack! Please feel free if you have any questions to post them here and I will do my best to get back to you in a timely manner. Although it is April the weather and snow feels more like February so I have been getting out on the hill and testing as many skis as possible so look for more reviews to follow.

These skis did excellent on groomers but to be honest with you I rarely find myself on the trail these days.

2013 Line Sir Francis Bacon Skis Video

2014 Head Cyclic 115 Skis

Length Tested: 181cm

Turn Radius: 19m

Dimensions: 148-113-131

Sandwich Cap Construction

Binding: AAAttack 13

Video: http://youtu.be/Cgr9QAITMXQ

It has been a while since i have written a review about any Head freeride skis and that has mostly been up until now there just have not been any worth spending the time to write about, until now!! The Head Cyclic 115 skis is a game changer for Head skis in 2014. Never have they had a freeride ski that was as playful and fun as this ski. I know what you are thinking Head builds heavy skis that are designed for speed. The all new Freeski line from Head is totally different, they have redesigned everything from the construction, rocker,shape, and top sheet. The most impressive thing about the Head Cyclic is how easy it skis everything from tight trees and bumps to carving trenches on on the groomers. Because of the all new tip and tail shape this ski easily makes a variety of turn shapes with ease. If you want a ski that is versatile and lightweight then look no further than the Head Cyclic 115. You may give up a little at the top end speed but the versatility you get in everything else is a dream. Do yourself a favor and get on a pair of these skis and try them for yourself.

Tyrolia AAAtack 13 Bindings:

DIN: 4-13

Another top notch product for Tyrolia/Head this year is the all new AAAttack 13 Binding. With a very similar design to that of the Marker Griffon the AAAttack 13 comes in with a lower Stand Height and also a cheaper price. I would high recommend both the AAAttack 13 and 16 for aggressive skiers. One huge difference you will see from the marker binding is the ease that you can step into the Tyrolia Heel especially in deep snow. The Griffon has always been an issue for lighter weight skiers to step into and with the Tyrolia Binding you will find not only a binding that is lighter and easier to step into, but one that will also be trustworthy from the park to dropping cliffs.

Skis: 2013 Line Prophet 98 Skis

Size: 179cm

Dimensions: 132-98-123

Turn Radius: 17.2m

Stance: -77mm

Early Rise Tip & Tail

The Line Prophet 100 is no longer. Last year Line added Early Rise and an all new Capwall Construction!! Both of these changes makes the 2012 and 2013 Line Prophet 98 Skis some of the most versatile All Mountain Skis on the mountain. The slight tip rocker allows this ski to get edge to edge unlike a ski with out tip rocker. You wont even notice this ski is almost 100mm under foot.  These skis are designed for skiing everything on the mountain. If you find yourself tending to go in the woods more than anything then you will want to look at the all new Line Influence 105 Skis or if you enjoy wide like I do the 2012 Influence 115 or 2011 Prophet 115 (2013 Line Influence 115 is much more Big Mountain Oriented) is one of my favorite skis. You can take the Line Prophet 98 anywhere on the mountian with confidence that you have a ski that will handle the conditions at hand. They enjoy speed on those fast groomer days when it has not snowed in a few weeks and yet when it does snow they float wth ease thansk to the Early Rise.

For the masses the Line Prophet 98 Skis are going to be an easy go to ski no matter which coast you live on. With a 17.2m turn radius in a 179cm length you can see why many Volkl Mantra owners have started to make the switch to Line Skis and with a Fatty Base & Edge you are know they are going to have incredible durability.  Don’t be afraid to buy long in this ski as they measure short and the tip rocker makes them ski even shorter.  If you are looking for a one ski quiver around 100mm then look no further than the Line Prophet 98 Skis for 2012. If you do not enjoy rocker yet and are still not ready to change then you can still find some 2010 and 2011 Prophet 100′s on the market.

Ski: 2013 Armada Norwalk

Size: 179cm

Flex: Moderate (same as JJ)

Rocker: Tip Only/Camber Underfoot

Dimensions: 125-140-115-131mm

Turn Radius: 19m @ 179cm

The Armada Norwalk is a brand new ski for Armada in 2013 and we feel this is going to be a huge hit with those of you that are looking for a big mountain ski. If you enjoyed the Armada JJ Skis, but wanted a ski with more energy out of the tail the new Armada Norwalk is the ski for you! With tip rocker only and a traditional tail the Norwalk skis had incredible stability at higher speeds, something that you lose on the JJ because of the non traditional tail. Overall this was an excellent choice for big mountain skis, it was not as versatile as the Line Opus, however if you want a hard charger and enjoy the way Armada Skis ski then this should be a top pick for you. It plowed through chopped up snow and it had not issues at all going through tight trees or bumped up snow. It is one of the best new skis Armada has created. If you want more of a Powder Hound ski then check out the new Armada Magic J or Bubba.

Ski: 2013 Volkl Kuro

Size: 185cm

Dimensions: 164-132-139

Powered by Titanium

For 2013 the Volkl Kuro receives Titanium Power/Tough Box Construction meaning that the soft forgiving Kuro of the past is no longer. The all new Kuro is stiff and powerful and is now a true big mountain ski that can handle the biggest and steepest mountains that AK and BC have to offer. There are a few shops that still have the older Kuro and if you want a more forgiving powder ski that is an amazing choice and one that I ave enjoyed trying every year. For testing this spring I had a chance to get on the new Kuro and what a ski it is. The older Kuro was like a couch, super comfy and no effort at all in any condition except at higher speed. The new 2013 Kuro wants to go fast and boy is it ever stable. It will handle any speed on any kind of condition and it will still arc turns on groomers no problem at all. The one area where the new Kuro is a lot of work is in the bumps and tight chutes. If you are straight-lining areas this ski will be perfect thanks to the ELP Rocker and Titanium Construction. If you are going to be in areas that have a good amount of bumps you may want to consider the older Kuro or another ski that will be lighter and more forgiving.

The 2013 Volkl Kuro is a totally different ski from the past.

Skis: 2013 K2 SideSeth Skis

Size: 179cm

Dimensions: 147-118-135

Turn Radius: 26m @ 179cm

Rocker: Powder Rocker Tip/Tail Rocker

The all new 2013 K2 SideSeth Skis are unlike any Seth ski you have used before. Seth has changed his skis like he has changed his skiing to allow for more technical lines in more variable terrain and snow. Seth the past couple years has not been skiing the big mountain powder lines he was always known for up in AK. He has searched out the Alps and other areas that require more technical skiing then big fast lines in deep pow. If you want a ski that can handle every condition the backcountry can throw your way the all new 2013 K2 SideSeth Ski is one of my favorite choices. The major difference you will see in the 2013 K2 SideSeth is the ski is much stiffer than any of the Obsethed Skis and the tail is no longer a true twin tip it now has a more versatile shape not only for skins but to also be able to stick the skis into the snow. K2 also makes precut skins specifically for these skis which makes putting them on and off very simple. Because of the change Seth has made to these skis no no longer will be found in the Factory Series they are now in Backside Series. The ski comes with a good amount of powder rocker but also has enough camber to make the ski more versatile when skiing hard pack snow and those days where you are skiing big mountain hard-charging lines. The tail is much stiffer and has less rocker than in the past and this all has to do with making for a more versatile ski on big mountain lines. If you need a real ski to handle everything that the mountain can throw at you then you will want to consider the 2013 K2 Sideseth Ski. The ski was amazingly quick edge to edge and it was really at home in the trees easily skiing bumps and varied terrain with ease. When skiing on groomers the SideSeth got on edge much quicker than the 26m turn radius that K2 says it has. I think part of that has to do with the stiffer less rockered tail combined with a progressive sidecut. If you are looking for a similar ski, but one that is more playful everywhere on the mountain then you want to look at the Line Mr. Pollard Opus and the K2 Pettitor Skis.

2013 Line Influence 115                   VS:          2012 Line Influence 115

Dimensions: 145-115-131                                 Dimensions: 153-115-142

Turn Radius: 22.6m                                          Turn Radius: 19m

Stance: -81mm                                                   Stance: -77mm

It doesn’t take long to immediately see that the all new 2013 Line Influence 115 Skis have been totally changed from the 2012 version and the 2011 Line Prophet 115. The 2013 Line Influence 115 skis are much more true big mountain skis. They always want to be facing down the hill and enjoy high-speed rides down anything including big drops. The all new redesigned tip profile on the ski make skiing big mountain lines a dream and will plow through anything at whatever speed you can throw at it. Both the tip and tail have become narrower making big mountain turns more easy. If you are truly looking for a big mountain ski with lots of energy then the 2013 Influence 115 Ski is your ski.

However, if you are looking for something more versatile in a variety of conditions say some big mountain lines, but also a lot of inbounds groomers and resort skiing then you may want to consider the 2012 Influence 115 skis or the 2011 Line Prophet 115 Skis. These skis have a quicker turn and are much more All Mountain/Freeride oriented skis rather than Big Mountain like the 2013 Line Influence 115 Skis. If you want something that you feel comfortable taking anywhere on the hill in any conditions go with the older versions, but if you are skiing big mountain or big snow or chop the 2013 Line Influence 115 skis will excel in those conditions.

Ski: Sean Pettit Pro Model called K2 Pettitor Skis

Length: 179cm

Rocker: Powder Rocker

Dimensions: 147-120-141

Turn Radius 22m

Binding Used: Marker Griffon

K2 changed up their Factory skis for the 2013 season. There is no longer a Seth ski in the Factory line up of skis, instead Sean Pettit has received the promotion to having his own Pro Model Skis that he likes to call the 2013 K2 The Pettitor. Sean has been one of the most fluid skiers in the world since his young days as a pro. Now with the ski like the Pettitor for him to charge on it will be interesting to see where he takes the sport.

First thing you will notice about the 2013 K2 Pettitor skis is the rocker vs. camber is much more different from anything that Seth did on his skis. The camber on the Pettitor is the stiffest in the K2 Factory Team line up and what you will also find of note is that it was directly under the boot where it was the stiffest. Along with the camber the K2 Pettitor has moved the contact points closer together making for a more playful big mountain ski. If you enjoyed the Obsethed skis but wanted something that was quicker turning and had better edge hold and stability at speed on groomers then the K2 Pettitor is the ski you want. This ski was hard charging like a big mountain ski and would leave trenches on the groomers. When skiing it in softer snow it was like a dream, I would call it the most playful of the Big Mountain skis and would go as far to say that it was my second favorite ski to that of the Line Mr. Pollard Opus Skis. If you plan on skiing big mountain lines with large cliff drops then you would probably prefer the K2 Pettitor Ski, but if you wanted a one ski quiver ski in the 120mm waisted area then the Line opus is still my top choice. The K2 Pettitor is built for high-speed stability and big cliff bands and for many they are going to find this the answer they are looking for. K2 had a long run with the Obsethed Skis, but they had run their course and it was time for something that had more of a playful side along with a backbone for skiing big mountain lines along with skiing the resort. They have an A+ with the addition of the K2 Pettitor for 2013 and it is backed by not only Sean Pettit but Pep Fujas has also been seen skiing big mountain lines with the new K2 Pettitor Skis and he has been loving them! This is a top vote getter for 2013 so pick up a pair with confidence!

Skis: 2013 Line Influence 115 Skis

Size: 186cm

Dimensions: 145-115-131

Turn Radius: 22.6m

Stance: -81mm

For 2013 Line Re-Designed the Line Influence 115 to more of a true Big Mountain Ski. The turn radius is now bigger and made for more straightening than the 2012 Influence 115. Another major change besides the shape is the If you want a super quick turning ski for groomers and powder go with the 2012 Influence 115 or the Prophet 115 from 2011, if you want more of a Big mountain ski that will plane through deep snow and not plow and bounce then go with the all new 2013 Line Influence 115. The metal matrix is now flat into the ski and not on top like before and this helps save weight . Line has really found a way to improve a ski that I already used as an everyday ski. The energy you could get out of the ski was amazing and good form them for dropping the 172cm length and adding the 192cm length. These skis because fo the Early Rise in the tip and tail ski very short so you need to go longer to get the correct length for you. Also, you can really feel the active edge when you are on groomers getting back to the lift and that is the big difference I have been finding with many of the Line skis compared to others is that they ski very short but yet you feel like you are using the whole ski. The new tip and tail design also will take a skin clip easier for more backcountry adventures. If you are looking for a big mountain ski with versatility the Line Influence 115 should be in your top 3 for 2013!!