Skier: Daniel Tisi
Skier Height: 5′ 7″
Skier Weight: 150 lbs
Ski Length: 175 cm
Ski Radius: 19.5 m
Ski Dimensions: 142-108-128
The Line Vision 108: In my opinion, a boundary shattering piece of equipment. I have ridden on Line Skis as an athlete for them for the past 10 years of my life. I spent a majority of my time riding any and all Eric Pollard crafted skis. Anyone who has ridden them knows how legendary and traditional those skis are. Real wooden cores and a Hybrid constriction, intuitive shapes, perfect blend of rocker and camber, and true versatility. I have taken all of these skis through resorts, backcountry, touring, and freeride. I had grown fond of the Pollard designed skis and for good reason. Therefore I never looked to ride anything else.
In comes the Line Vision and its variants, but specifically the 108. Key attributes I look for on a ski is how well it aids you throughout different movements. A heavy/stiff ski isn’t always the best for going fast or stomping big airs, and it sure isn’t good for touring either. A ski has to promote freedom of movement and agility, while still providing a solid stomping platform. The best and most playful skiers in the world abide by this criteria too. Look at Marcus Eder, Sean Pettit, Candide Thovex, and the list goes on. What first caught my attention on the Vision 108 was its weight. Being 1605g per ski is phenomenal. They have a THC composite core that still provides a ski that you can ride hard. These served as my primary ski when touring long distances. Do not be fooled though, on the descent these things rip! 1,000 vertical foot straight lines were a breeze, 40 foot airs were no problem, and even hardpack sends were extremely manageable. Hell, they even do well in the park. Low swing weight is key to aiding in maneuverability.
Now let’s go into the shape of the ski. This is a semidirectional shape, meaning it has a full front tip and a rear rip half the size. You can very easily take off switch, land switch, and ride switch. You get all the benefits of a stiff tail, playful front, and low drag coefficient. They even went oldschool and made them with black bases, making them slide faster on the snow. Colored bases are not as good at this. Now you might ask if there are any cons, and I would say yes. Durability is always in question when looking at composite core skis that were designed light. I had no problems with the construction of them, but I chose my lines carefully to avoid any rocks. No ski can hold up to repetitive core shots, so treat your Visions accordingly. The Line Vision 108 has won me over, and they will see use for years to come!
If I were to score the ski on a 10 point scale I’d say it comes in at a 9.5/10. The ski aided me in all kinds of movement and still provided an agile and sturdy platform to land on. The -0.5 is solely due to the potential that composite core skis have to deconstruct due to rocks, trees, and any other hard object that’s not snow. These skis scaled 8,000 vertical of skinning in a day with ease. They executed lines with ease. I have zero complaints. In the end of the day the skis do not make the skier, the person on them makes the difference. These skis help with natural athletic movement, and that is the most important.
What you need to know: If you’re looking for a do-it-all type of ski then this is a solid candidate. If you are looking for a lightweight touring skis that is even better at freeriding, this is also your ski. Base MSRP is $749.
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
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