2014-2015 LINE Mr. Pollard’s Opus

Jason Hutchins reviews the Line Mr. Pollard's Opus
14/15 Line Mr. Pollard’s Opus

Ski: 2014-2015 Line Mr. Pollard’s Opus, 185cm

Dimensions (mm): 144-118-141

Turn Radius: 17.2 meters

Actual Tip-to-Tail Length (straight tape pull): 183.4cm

Boots / Bindings: Nordica Supercharger Ignition / Marker Griffin (DIN at 11)

Mount Location: recommended line (- 2 cm from center)

Test Location: Niseko, Japan

Days Skied: 3

[Editor’s Note: Our review was conducted on the 12/13 Opus, which is unchanged for 13/14 & 14/15, except for the graphics.]

In their website description of Eric Pollard’s pro model, Line states that an opus is defined as a great work of art or literature, especially the single, greatest work of an artist.

But that is actually the definition of magnum opus; an opus is commonly defined as a musical composition by a particular composer, generally catalogued in order of publication.

Maybe Line thought Mr. Pollard’s Magnum Opus was a little over the top. Personally, I think it sounds badass.

In any case, Line believes that Eric Pollard has created his masterpiece. After more than a decade of tweaking his fattest pro model, Eric settled on the current design and is bringing back the Opus unchanged for the 2013/2014 season.

I was excited to hear that Eric had mellowed out his pro model when the Opus was introduced in the 2011/2012 season. The older EP Pro was fun in untracked snow, but it was less than ideal for skiing just about anything else. By adding camber underfoot, stiffening the flex, mellowing the rocker, and narrowing the ski, the Opus looked to be a jibbing machine that could be skied on a more regular basis.

What I have found is that, while Mr. Pollard’s Opus is more versatile than some of Eric’s earlier designs, it’s still a ski that works best in conditions like those that we’ve had every day so far here in Niseko. From its shape to its beautiful oriental-inspired topsheet and bases, the Opus seems to belong here.

Over the course of the last few days, I have been able to test the Opus in a variety of soft snow conditions, from blower pow to warmer, denser snow riddled with fallen, tree pillow land mines. And at this point I can say the Opus floats better than the old EP Pro and is versatile enough to be fun from the first chair to the last.

While skis like the K2 Hellbent and the original EP, with their aggressive rocker profiles, are a blast in deep, untouched snow, they ski rather slow at times. You can really feel the snow push back against a massively rockered shovel on a ski like that. This push back is most noticeable when landing into deeper snow after an air. It’s like a slow waterski start where you plow through the water for a couple seconds before beginning to plane over the water’s surface.

Line (and other manufacturers) have addressed this issue by reducing the amount of rocker splay and smoothing out the profile on earlier, more aggressively rockered ski designs. Line likes to say that this shallower rocker on the Opus lets you plane instead of plow through the pow. And, yes, the Opus does indeed plane over fresh snow. The sensation of getting pushed back upon reentry into powder is greatly reduced, making floatation more consistent and smooth.

In addition to helping the ski plane, a stiffer flex compared to the old EPs helps to prevent the ski from folding in half when throwing it sideways at speed.

I did, however, miss that massive splay of the old EP and the K2 Hellbent when skiing switch in powder. With the Opus, I was quickly tossed onto my ass if I didn’t anticipate tracks cutting across the wide open and mostly untouched lines off the Fuiwara gate. The shallower rocker would dive under the snow if I didn’t stay balanced over my toes in these conditions. With more tail rocker, I am able to slow myself down and make turns more easily.

When I am skiing switch, I am usually skiing at moderate speeds that I control by making rather frequent turns. I certainly don’t pretend to be as good as the likes of Pollard, so a more forgiving tail would better suit my switch skiing abilities and make things easier for your average freestyle skier.

Now, if we are talking about ripping the resort, fresh snow only lasts so long. The Opus’ rocker/camber profile allows the ski to be enjoyed in a far wider range of conditions than the old EP.

I wasn’t afraid of washing out to my face when throwing 1s into chopped up landings in the Super Area off the Ace Center 4 lift. The Opus is forgiving on less-than-stomped landings in tracked conditions, both forward and backward. This is a key characteristic when hopping blindly off pillows in Niseko’s closely spaced trees. Over the course of the last few days, I have managed to pull off a number of imperfect landings in tight, skied-out trees without impaling myself.

Night skiing in Niseko on the Line Mr. Pollard's Opus.
Andrew Gregovich, night skiing in Niseko Grand Hirafu.

With a short, 17.2-meter turn radius, a light swing weight, and a near-centered stance, the Opus was easy to weave though trees. I confidently negotiated the tightest trees in the Mizuno No Sawa avalanche control area and on Mirarashi off the Hirafu Gondola, and was able to place sharp turns wherever I pleased.

77 comments on “2014-2015 LINE Mr. Pollard’s Opus”

  1. Awesome! I’m heading to Niseko in 11 days so this review couldn’t be more timely. Scrambling last minute to find the best boards to take on Japan’s bridge-breaking pow!! I love slarving deeps, charging steeps and control in the air. I’m not too crazy about the Hellbent’s or Caylor’s…is there anything else you’d suggest looking at?? Domo!!

    • Hi Mike,

      If you are looking for a freestyle powder ski like the Opus, both the Armada JJ and the Moment Night Train would be worth a look. Check out Jonathan Ellsworth’s reviews of the AK JJ (the JJ’s big brother) and the Night Train.

      Two skis that I haven’t reviewed yet, but I think would be right at home in Japan’s deep pow are the Solomon Rocker 2 and the Volkl Chopstick. Unfortunately at this point I am unable to weigh in on these skis.

  2. Andrew,

    I’m looking at a new powder ski and have narrowed my choices down to the Line Opus or the Moment Bibby Pro. Have you rode the Bibby? If yes, how do these two skis compare. I’m 6ft, 200lbs so I am leaning towards the 190cm Bibby which I understand may be slightly stiffer and more stable.

    • Hi Brent,

      I have only skied one of the earlier versions of the Bibby 4 years ago back when it was a softer and more playful ski. From what I have heard the most recent version of the Bibby is significantly burlier. If you are looking for a stiffer and more stable ride go with the Bibby, hands down. Definitely check out Will Brown’s review of the Bibby Pro. After reading it you will find that the Bibby and the Opus are very different skis.

  3. Im trying to decide what length to go with. Im 5’8″ tall and around 165lbs. I currently have 2010 173cm Line blends. I dont know if I should get the 178 or 185 Opus. I do want a ski that can turn on a dime which makes me want to go with the 178, but I dont want it to be to short and small when im out in the deep pow. With the earlyrise I know it skis shorter so I dont want to get the 178 and feel too short… But I also dont want to go with the 185 and have it be too long for me… Advise???

    • Hi Eric.

      The Opus certainly skis short with it’s rocker and near-center mount postion. It is also pretty light, making the 185 a very manageable option for you. I mentioned in the review that personally I would have preferred the longer version. However I also think that the 178 would float just fine for someone your size. It really comes down to personal preference. If you think that you can handle the longer length and want more stability in your ride go with the 185. If you want a more playful and agile ski go with the 178.

      Hope that helps.

      • Yeah, I do think Ill go with the 185. With all the Early Rise it might even ski shorter than my 173 Blends with no early rise ha! Plus when I want to go harder I do want that stability under me. Thanks for the help! I loved your review, makes me want to start planning a trip out there!

  4. Great review Andrew!! Just came back from Niseko and had a blast!
    I am 5’8″ and 150 pounds and rode some 172 Bacons which were fun but just not fat enough for that pow.
    Thus I am already on the search for some bigger planks. Am thinking the Opus but can’t decide on the length. Any advice will be greatly appreciated :)
    Thanks!!

    • Hi Ash,

      I’m assuming you’re trying to decide between the 178 and the 185? The 178 will definitely be a step up from your current setup. If you’re looking to do a lot of butters and spins, the 178 may be all you need. If you’re not doing much of that stuff however you could opt for the 185.

      Hope that helps,

      Andrew

  5. Your review says the Opus is coming back unchanged. Just want to confirm the only thing that is changing is the graphics. Because if so I want to grab a spring sale on the 2011-2012 models. I also happen to like that graphic more.

    Torben

  6. Would you compare the Opus to the BD AMPerage? Opus is certainly more jib oriented with a bigger tail but is the torsional stiffness similar?

    • Eric,

      This is really an apples to oranges comparison. My intuition tells me that the Amperage may be more torsionally stiff, but I am not entirely sure.

  7. Hey Andrew,

    I rode the Bacon in 184 mostly in CO this year (couple trips to UT, and WY) and loved them. The 184 Bacon is also the longest ski I’ve been on. I am 6’1 and 165 lbs. Next year I am going to be back on the east coast and was thinking about picking these up for powder days. Two questions:

    1. Would these be a good pair of sticks to pick up for east coast (New England) powder days, and for a couple trips out west?
    2. Would a 192 be too long / aggressive for me (I realize I’m fairly light for my height, although I do Ski aggressively and have an athletic build)? …Is the step up from a 184 Bacon to a 192 Opus going to be that different?

    • Hi Ross,

      Why not stick with the Bacon as an all mountain/ east coast powder ski? I haven’t been on the Bacon personally, but from what Jason Hutchins has said I feel like they would be all the ski you need.

      That being said, if you are interested in the Opus I don’t think that the 192 would be too long for you.

      Andrew

  8. Great review guys. I bought the 11/12 Line SFB’s in 178cm this year and absolutely love them, I think they are a fantastic (wide) all mountain ski. At the time I was torn between them and the Opus but could only afford one pair so went with the SFB’s on versatility. I’m 5’11″ and hover around but below the 80kg mark, when I tested the SFB’s in both the 178 and 184 length I found the 184 a little “flappy” during high speed GS turns on fast groomers, so I went with the 178′s, which worked out fine in all conditions, inc. 12 inch powder days.
    Now I definitely want to get the 12/13 Opus for this coming winter (crazy it’s only May) as my true powder ski, do you think I should stick with the 178 or move up to the 185cm, I always feel like I’m a big little guy or a little big guy whenever it comes to sizing things. I’m also thinking of putting the Marker Duke binding on them for side/slack country use here in Telluride CO. my home mountain. Do you think the Duke would complement the Opus, the only adverse stuff I seem to be finding online re. the Duke is that it can stiffen the centre of the ski adversely affecting the ski longitudinal flex pattern. I used Salomon 912′s on my SFB’s.
    Any hints or advice would be greatly appreciated, keep up the good work here at blistergearreview.com and thanks.

    • Hi Howie,

      I’m the same height as you, albeit a little lighter, and I would definitely recommend getting the 185. I think you would find the 178 to be insufficient for deeper days.

      I haven’t skied on a pair of dukes so I can’t speak to any potential changes in flex. If you won’t be doing much you could mount them with a traditional pair of alpine bindings, otherwise I might give the duke a shot.

      Hope that helps,

      Andrew

  9. Hi Andrew,

    I have just purchased the 185 Line Opus 12/13 and confused where to mount the bindings. I will be using the ski in Japan for 2 weeks and New Zealand.

    I don’t ski backwards and rarely jump cliffs.

    The ski store recommended -4cm from factory line because the ski skis short but all reports I have read have recommended the factory line.

    I am 5’11 and 88kg

    What do you recommend?

    • HI Jonathan,

      Even though the recommended line is further forward than you might want based on your skiing style, the ski is designed to be mounted at the recommended line. At -4 cm you might be working against the finely tuned splay and sidecut of the ski. A mount position like that will probably hinder the ski’s performance. If you are really concerned about such a forward stance, you could try mounting your bindings 1 or 2 cm behind recommended, but I wouldn’t go much further than that.

      Hope that helps.

      Andrew

  10. Thanks Andrew, I’m glad I asked – I did compare the mid sole with my old 10/11 SFB and find the SFB to be longer in the front, so I am going to mount -1cm on the Opus.

    Thanks again

  11. I have mounted the bindings also on the factory recommended point (-2cm). The tail feels short, so I don’t know how they would behave with a binding mounted to far behind.

  12. Great review mate, all your reviews are real well written. Could you please give your opinion on the opus vs ’12 obsethed? They are very similar in dimension and specs? Is one better in crud? Also what about the lack of rocker on the opus for powder vs the powder rocker of the obsethed? Thanks for your comment!

    • Thanks for the reply Suney!

      Unfortunately I have only skied the Obsethed back when it was the original Seth Pistol, so I can’t provide a comparison for you. As a more directional ski, I imagine that the Obesethed would be better than the Opus in crud.

  13. Thanks for the great review. just wondering: if I skied a 179cm Obsethed (and liked it), do you think I should go with the 184 or the 178 opus? Btw, I’m 5’8″, 160 lbs. I like to charge pretty hard, but i need to be able to turn pretty fast since i ski the tight trees on the lower slopes here in CO.

    Seems like the Obsethed are a heavier ski, so I’m leaning towards to 184. What do u guys think?

    -j

    • I’d go with the 184. K2s, especially the older models, tend to measure out a little longer. I’m not positive, but I imagine that the 179 Obsethed and the 184 Opus measure out to a similar length.

      Hope that helps

  14. I am considering either the Line MPO or the Atomic Automatics for my powder ski. I currently own 2010 Line Prophet 100 in 172, 2012 Line Influence 105 in 179 and 2013 Blizzard Bonafide in 180. I am 5′ 6″ and weigh 165. I was pretty set on getting the Automatics for my powder ski but keep coming back to the MPO. The one thing I am worried about is when I first bought my Line Influence I had them mounted a tad in front of the mid sole line. So basically between traditional and center mount. When I skiied on them mounted like that I hated the way they skiied. I took them back and had them remount them right at the mid sole line and when I took them back out to ski them I loved them. So I am concerned if I get the MPO since the mount is more towards the center of the ski I will not like the way they ski. Is this a logical assumption? I want a really playful powder ski to use for resort powder days. There will be hiking involved but want the ski capable of skiing some skiied off powder runs as well.

    Thanks,

    Chuck

    • Hi Chuck,

      For you yes I do think it is logical to assume that you will not like the Opus because of the more centered mount position. If you didn’t like the forward mount on the Influence I really doubt that you will like the Opus. The recommended line is 2 cm back from center, significantly further forward than where you had the Influence mounted originally.

      I think that the Automatics would be a much better choice. Lets hope you get some deep snow to use them in!

      Cheers,

      Andrew

    • Chuck I picked up the 2013 Influence 115 this season. It has a similar shape to the opus but a more traditional mount. I had the Opus and it was a Tad bit too soft for me. Ive been told on this site that the influence is a little bit stiffer than the opus but not a super stiff ski. By the hand flex I can def confirm that this ski is going to be plenty playful with a touch of stability. You should check them out if you want a ski of similar dimensions with a more traditional mount

  15. I am skiing on JJs (175 cm). I am 5’9″, 160 lbs. The JJs excel in the trees, powder, soft groom, and light crud. In heavy crud, I get “beat up”. In the icy groom, they are approaching worthless. What other (and better) options would you recommend? Would 185 cm JJs be an upgrade? Some of the ski publications recommend the Opus or the Nordica Patron or the Atomic Automatic. I am looking for “playful”. I cannot afford a quiver.

    Thanks. I quite enjoy your review.

    • Alan,

      None of those skis will slay icy groomers, however I believe some will perform better than others. I have not skied the Nordica Patron, but based on other reviewer’s experiences I think that the Nordica Patron or the Helldorado would be the best ski for you. Of all the skis that you mentioned the Patron is the best for firm conditions. The Helldorado is the same ski as the Patron plus two sheets of titanal. I can’t say much about this ski so I would suggest that you check out our review of the ski. I can tell you that the Opus is the most playful of all those skis and I think that you would not like it since it is not a stellar hardpack performer.

      Hope that helps,

      Andrew

  16. Andrew:

    Thanks for your insight. I realize that the “ideal” one quiver ski does not exist. My problem is that I live in the East but ski 3 weeks out West. I can only bring one pair of skis on the plane. That said, I need a ski that does everything “pretty good”. Since I try to avoid groomers, I am willing to sacrifice a hardpack performer for a ski that excels in the powder, trees, and crud. Again, I am skiing on a 175 cm JJ and quite like it. Can you list some alternative skis which would be “more capable” than the JJ (e.g. the Opus) but equally as forgiving. Would a longer JJ (185 cm) ski much differently than a 175 cm?

    • Alan,

      While the Opus is very playful, my concern for you is that it would be too forgiving and that you will not like it as much as the JJ in firm conditions. I imagine that the 185 cm JJ would be more stable in chop, while retaining the characteristics of the 175 cm that you like. The best alternative that I can suggest is the 184 cm Moment Bibby Pro. As a versatile powder ski I can tell you that it is a favorite among Blister reviewers. I myself have not spend a lot of time on either the Bibby Pro or JJ. Instead of speculating I would suggest that you check out our review of the Bibby Pro. If you still have questions I would direct them towards Jonathan Ellsworth or Will Brown since they probably have the most experience with those skis. Good luck with your search!

      AG

  17. Do you think those would be good for open faces and steep lines? I have skied many models of powder skis (186 Renegades, 183 Bents, 192 Atlas), but I have never had an opportunity to try something from Line.

    I am 5’9″, 150 lbs.

    • Raf,

      Sorry for the late reply. Whether or not someone considers this ski good for “open faces and steep lines” depends on the skiers line preferences. If you are seeking features and doing tricks then the Opus is a great option. If you prefer to keep your skis floating through, rather than above, the snow the Influence 115 is a better option. However this ski falls between softer, more playful skis like the Opus and the Volkl Katana.

      AG

  18. I am currently riding 178cm Sir Francis Bacon’s at 6’2″ and 250 on the east coast (mostly groomers). I am headed out to Utah in January and was wondering if I will be ok in the pow? I was thinking about picking up a pair Mr. Pollard’s Opus if needed. What are your thoughts?

  19. BV,

    The Opus, preferably in the 185 length, is a great option for Utah if you know that you like the Bacon. However, I think that the 185 cm SFB would still do pretty well in Utah and that you would prefer it for the East Coast. The 185 could be your only ski quiver in this case. Or you might want to have both skis – its a matter of personal preference.

    Hope that helps,

    AG

  20. I have the 185 Opus and I love it for trees, steep chutes when the snow is deep, 360 carving slashes off windlips, and ski with a completely surf-influenced style. It’s amazing for jumps too – so much pop and so stable on the landings.

    I need a ski that’s chargier for days when I’m Heli-skiing and skiing serious big Mtn terrain – would stepping up to the 192 be a good idea, or should I consider a different ski? I want the power and stability without sacrificing a very surfy feeling.

    • Hi RWB,

      The 192 could be a decent big mountain ski, but there are plenty of burlier skis that still have that surfy feel you are after. Your choice will come down to the amount of stability you want out of your ski. The Opus, while stiffer than Eric’s previous models, is definitely on the soft end of the spectrum for a big mountain ski.

      AG

  21. Which other skis have the surfy feel that are burlier? I’d like something really stable that will let me blast through anything in my way, yet still be able to carve 270 out of slashes, etc.

    I feel like I’m skiing the Opus to it’s speed limit when I’m in wider chutes or bowls.

    • The Solomon Rocker2 122, K2 Pettitor, and Armada JJ all would be good options. Unfortunately I have very limited experience with those skis, so I won’t be able to give you much of a comparison between them and the Opus.

  22. I am also wondering about bindings for the Opus. I am thinking about getting the Rossi FKS 140. Does this binding fit the 185 Opus profile appropriately, and if yes, what size brakes? Would it be better to try and bend the 115 brake to fit the 118 Opus waist? Or would the the Look Pivot 14 in 130 be a better brake size? …not sure if the 130 brake would be sticking out too much on the sides, but also not sure if it’s rational to feel skeptical about bending the brake a little bit. I’d prefer the tightest fit without affecting integrity of the binding. Or maybe I should consider a different binding all together? The FKSs have been good to me previously, but just wanted to make sure it’s a good choice on the Opus..

    • The FKS 140 / Look Pivot will work well with the Opus. I had a 130 mm brake when I skied the Opus in Niseko and there was definitely some drag, but not a concerning amount. With a blow torch and a clamp you can easily bend out the 115 brakes if you are looking for a tighter fit. You run the risk of breaking the brakes, but as long as you are gentle you should be fine. It shouldn’t take much bending to make it fit.

    • Since you were interested in the Opus I assumed that you weren’t looking for a directional powder ski, but if you don’t expect to be doing much switch skiing the Automatic is a solid option. The Bodacious however is a burlier ski than what you are after.

      • Gotcha. I guess I’m trying to figure out if my touring ski is what I will be riding when I’m heli/cat skiing too, because in all honesty I’m doing nearly all my switch riding at the resort. Bc and heli lines aren’t very conducive to switch riding. 2 pair of skis or 3!? Haha!

  23. Hi,
    I am going to be picking up a pair of Opus’s this year. I ski up at Stevens Pass and am 6’2 and 180lbs. I am in the expert bucket but was late to the rocker game. I have been on Prophet 100s since they were Mothership Ti’s and loved them. The last two pairs were 186s which I thought were a good allround size and a great all-mountain chassis. When looking at the Opus, should I be in the 185 or the 192? I am leaning towards the 192 since the rocker shortens up the effective edge making them about the same size-ish as my 186s today. The only thing that worries me is that Stevens is all about the trees. Will I be wanting the 185 to stay nimble?

    • I’d recommend the 192. I don’t think that the 185 would be enough ski for you given your size and weight. You’re right in thinking that the Opus will have a shorter effective edge. It also has a recommended mount location that is more forward than the Prophet. Plus the Opus is a super agile ski that will be right at home in Steven’s trees. You won’t regret getting the 192.

  24. Hi,

    i currently live in Park City and ski 180 Bushwackers and love them for the crud and my everyday resort ski. they are super fun at speed on the groomers. at 5’11 and 185 I ski most of the resort here in bounds and have ordered some Cham 97 HM to start some backcountry with friends. not sure how it will go as my real Wasatch powder and tree ski. i wanted to finish my quiver with a FUN powder ski and was thinking the Opus over a JJ. But others have suggested the Automatic or Blog may suit my needs. liking the graphics and reviews I am leaning Opus? What size for tight turns in the trees? will a 192 be too much if i want to stay fun in the trees?

    • I don’t think that the 192 would be too long, however I think that you would be perfectly happy with the 185. If you concerned about overpowering the ski in choppy conditions I would suggest the 192. They are nimble enough to do well in the trees. The 185 would be quicker though and it is an enticing option if you plan on spending most of your days wiggling through trees. Your decision will depend on what you want to prioritize.

  25. Firstly, great information. I appreciate the effort you have gone to. I live in Australia and ski Japan. Just came back from three wicked weeks of Pow and felt my Line Prophet 98’s were underdone. I’ve just ordered a pair of Mr Pollard Opus 192’s for next season. I’m 183cm height and 90kgs (ski fast and aggressive for a 50yr old fart I’m told). Question… Do you think I made the right decision with ski length at 192 and secondly where would you recommend I mount the binding from Line’s mid point recommendation? (I ski all over the mountain, in trees, side country and mix up my turn shapes). Thanks in advance…

    • With your weight and skiing style, you won’t be disappointed that you got the 192. I suggest the recommended mount point for this ski. It’s pretty spot on.

  26. Andrew,

    Thanks for all the great insight. Just turned 61 today, started skiing at 5 yo. I’m 6 ft., 170 lbs. Lately on Line Prophet 100s but looking for more ski for the powder. Ski mostly at Tahoe, powder in the trees at Northstar, but planning to travel now that I’m retired and look for more powder and tree skiing out West. The Opus 185s look tempting. What do you think? Any other suggestions?

    • Jim,

      The Opus is great powder ski that is very easy to ski. There are plenty of other good powder skis available today as well. For you, I would recommend a more directional ski like the Atomic Automatic or Armada Norwalk. Those are two skis that came to mind right away, but there are many good options for a 110-120 underfoot directional pow ski.

      AG

  27. Andrew, thank you for wonderful review. I have bought 178 Opus and spend 5 full days on them in Vail bowls and Breck. It is amazing and very different ski! They do change my skiing. Perform like GS ski on ice and keep me completely on snow surface in powder. They carve tight turns and smear big radius turns with easy. One problem: when I am making closed fully finished turns and bring skis across the fall line, they suddenly engage edges and carve me uphill. That happens with every turn shape as soon as skis cross the fall line and in tight moguls. Is it tunning/detuning issue? Any other trick to handle it?

    • Hi Valerie,

      What you are experiencing is not usual. The ski has a very tight turn radius and Eric designed it to make nearly “inverted” turns. I think the best solution is just a slight adjustment in skiing style.

      AG

  28. Andrew,

    First of all I just wanted to say I’m a huge fan of the website and i find all the ski reviews to be super helpful. I’m very interested in the Opus as a powder ski for Colorado and the occasional trip up to Jackson and Down south to Silverton/wolf creek. The only thing that concerns me is stability in the crud and chopped up powder I so often run into a couple days after the storm. I want something that will be very stable through that type of snow but is still playful in the trees and deep stuff. I’m only 5’10” 145 so do you think this ski will hold up in crud for me? or would you recommend something stiffer? any and all help is greatly appreciated.

    Matt

    • Hi Matt,

      During the last few seasons I can think of very few times that I would have preferred the Opus over the Bacon in Colorado. If you are interested in the Opus, but want something that can hold up a little better in firm conditions, I would recommend the Bacon. The Bacon floats pretty well and you are light enough that it will be a good powder ski for you as well.

      AG

  29. A question about mounting (if this thread is still open):

    I bought 2013-2014 Opus today (Tokyo, Japan) but have yet to mount the bindings. I will mount them to factory recommendations, but it’s a bit confusing as there are, in fact, two recommended points: one says “Eric’s choice” and the other says “recommended.” There is also a line marking the center.

    “Eric’s choice” is 2cm behind the center line; the “recommended” line is 6cm back.

    It seems like the “Eric’s choice” would be the way to go, but I want to confirm this. And if Line is so confident in where to mount, why the two choices?

    thanks! can’t way for this Hokkaido powder!!!

    • Hi Dave, for what it’s worth I also recently bought a pair of 192 Opus and had the bindings mounted minus -20 from the center line mark on the skis. I read all the reviews online and tech sheets from Line before doing so (obviously didn’t want to get it wrong).

  30. Andrew, Drew and co.

    I only stumbled upon your guys site today and I would just like to reiterate the above comments – thoroughly enjoying the insightful and balanced reviews.

    My SFB 2011s are sadly on their last legs and pretty sold on the Opus’ – heard nothing but positive things about them – but I’m unsure whether to go for the 178s or the 185s and more specifically do you think the 178s, like my Bacon’s, would be too short? I’m 21 and 6ft but light (73 kg’s which is around the 160 pound marker I think) and looking for a playful responsive ski through the trees and bumps etc and which I’m 100% confident to turn on a sixpence when skiing narrow couloir’s etc. I’m not huge into my park skiing but enjoy the occasional spin or backflip but don’t want to sacrifice stability and float in the pow? I will mainly be skiing in the Alps if this has any bearing.

    Also would you recommend any particular bindings, so far looking at the Marker jester’s, Atomic FFG 16 TEAM or the Salomon STH16?

    Thanks a lot,

    Will

  31. Blister is the most legitimate review team out there. Great info!

    I skied the 2007 Volkl Sanouk for the last 5 years. Straight, no rocker and semi-soft. Ski was sick.

    I now have the 192 Opus and love it. I have an old skool east coaster racer turn however and I somewhat agree with Valerie and the carving uphill observation. I was skiing Crystal last weekend and was coming out of the main chute off Silver King. I slowed down just a bit, faded left to set my exit into the lower bowl and my downhill ski carved uphill, launched me upside down and I absolutely tagged a rock. I’m damn lucky I didn’t rupture my spleen, but I did get to stop at the E.R. just to make sure.

    I detuned the tip and tail well, but now I am having serious second thoughts about a great powder ski when it comes to steeper technical lines with firmer snow. I mean the last thing I want is to be making life/limb preserving turns on steep terrain and have my skis make “vertical turns” hucking my ass down the fall line like last weekend. I’m not used to falling and don’t expect it.

    I love the ski everywhere, hard, soft, whatever. But the concept of not trusting it to behave on steep terrain is making me wonder if I bought the right stick for me?

    If I was into the straight no BS cut of the Sanouk have I strayed too far? Thanks!

    Tom

  32. First off, thanks for doing what you guys do, it helps us skiing folk out ALOT! My question is, I’m 5′ 10″ and a strong 220lbs from my other hobby. Im looking at the 192 Opus for my one quiver here in northern utah, but am wondering if the ski is too soft for me? Would there be a better suited one quiver for my heavy butt? Im an aggressive skier who likes technical lines and cliffs, sprinkled with a little natural terrain jumps and tricks. Im currently on 191 surface live life’s which have been fun.

    Thanks!

  33. Hello can you tell me what is exact weight of this particular model 2014-2015 LINE Mr. Pollard’s Opus – 185cm,

    is it 2100g or heavyier?

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