Ski: 2019-2020 Line Sick Day 114, 180 cm
Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length: 179.4 cm
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 1920 & 1936 grams
Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 140-113.5-125 mm
Stated Sidecut Radius: 21.1 meters
Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 73 mm / 26 mm
Traditional Camber Underfoot: ~1 mm
Core: Maple / Paulownia
Factory Recommended Mount Point: -10.4 cm from center; 79.3 cm from tail
Available Lengths: 180, 190 cm
Ski: 2019-2020 Line Sick Day 114, 190 cm
Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length: 189.3 cm
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 2102 & 2137 grams
Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 139-113.5-126 mm
Stated Sidecut Radius: 23.9 meters
Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 72 mm / 27 mm
Traditional Camber Underfoot: ~2 mm
Core: Maple / Paulownia
Factory Recommended Mount Point: -10.85 cm from center; 83.8 cm from tail
Test Locations: Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Canada; Arapahoe Basin, Rocky Mountain National Park, & Cameron Pass, CO; Mt Bachelor, OR
Total Days Skied: ~25
[Note: Our review was conducted on the 17/18 Sick Day 114, which was not changed for 18/19 or 19/20, apart from graphics.]
Intro
For the 17/18 season, Line has revamped their “Sick Day” series, and it will now include the Sick Day 88, 94, 104, and 114. We have already published a First Look and Flash Review of the Sick Day 104, and we’ll post our full review of that ski soon. But for now, let’s talk about the Sick Day 114…
The new Sick Day 114 comes in two sizes (180 cm and 190 cm), and this past spring, we spent time on both lengths — we put an AT binding on the 180 cm Sick Day 114 and focused on it as a touring ski, and we put a Marker Jester on the 190 cm Sick Day 114 and focused on its inbounds performance.
So what’s the story with the Sick Day 114?
In their marketing copy of the Sick Day 114, LINE has chosen to focus on its deep-snow chops:
“The 114, equipped with our featherweight Partly Cloudy Core, is meant for those days. You know — those days. The days you dream about. The days where the refills are free, and you froth and chomp at the bit. The days where you time gate drops perfectly, and the whiteroom is perpetual. Yeah, those days.”
While the 114 is the widest ski in the Sick Day lineup, this copy certainly is in keeping with the trend we’ve seen recently of “powder” skis getting narrower, or fat skis getting skinnier. Three or four years ago, it wouldn’t have been at all surprising if there was a Sick Day 122 (and just in case you need evidence of this, LINE actually used to make a Sick Day 125). But now if you want a LINE ski that’s wider than 120 mm, your options are the more specific, Eric Pollard-inspired (and very good) Pescado and the Magnum Opus, while the Sick Day series keeps things in a range of more versatile widths.
Then again, LINE’s own copy makes no mention of the Sick Day 114 as a versatile, everyday ski, so that is going to be one of our primary questions to answer: is this really a dedicated soft-snow or deep-snow performer? How well does it hold up in less-than-deep, less-than-perfect conditions?
Weight
The 180 SD 114 comes in at 1920 & 1936 grams, and the 190 version comes in at 2102 & 2137 grams. That’s light, but it’s not crazy light, which is a good sign if you want this ski to not suck in variable conditions.
Weight-wise, it also means that the Sick Day 114 could certainly work as a dedicated (wider) touring ski, but there are a whole lot of lighter touring skis out there. So weight weenies probably aren’t going to be interested in the Sick Day 114 as their dedicated touring ski, but those looking for a 50/50 ski for inbounds and touring duties should definitely keep reading (as should anyone who still understands that dragging an extra couple hundred grams uphill often pays dividends when it’s time to actually, you know, ski).
Flex Pattern
Hand flexing the 180 cm Sick Day 114, I’d sum up the flex pattern like this:
Tips: 6
Shovels: 7-8
Underfoot: 9-10
Behind the Heel piece: 10-9
Tails: 8-7
I.e., the tips are forgiving, the tails are supportive, and the middle of the ski is substantial…
Shape / Rocker Profile
And just to be clear, this is not one of LINE’s super buttery skis; check out that mount point — at more than 10 centimeters behind center, we are in fully directional territory here, and we should point out again (as we did in our First Look at the Sick Day 104), that the DNA of the now-discontinued, truly-excellent Sick Day Tourist 102 lives on in the Sick Day 114.
This also means that, while the Sick Day 114 has a good amount of tip rocker, its tail rocker is actually pretty modest, so this isn’t going to be the slashiest, slarviest 114mm-wide ski out there. So if you’re only interested in super-deep-snow surfing, you might want to look elsewhere.
Other Questions
If the versatility of the Sick Day 114 is our primary question, the second question we have is how similar or different the Sick Day 114 feels on snow compared to the LINE Mordecai — and in particular how similar or different the 190 cm Sick Day 114 feels from the 193 cm Mordecai, especially in terms of stability at speed.
We’ll also be weighing in on how the Sick Day 114 stacks up against another new 114mm-wide ski, the Blizzard Rustler 11, and we’ll be offering our recommendations for whether we think it makes more sense to bolt a touring binding or an alpine binding on the Sick Day 114. Till then, check out our rocker pics of the ski.
Update
Become a Blister Member to access our Flash Review of the Line Sick Day 114
NEXT: The Full Review
What do you think: Rustler 11 or Sickday 114?
Those 2 skis are going to ride completely differently IMHO, rustler 11 has metal in it and is stiffer/heavier. Sick day is lighter and has more early rise rocker. I ride them both at my home resort, I also ride the nordica enforcer 110 which is similar to the rustler 11. Try them all out, I love them all. Cheers.
Hi Mike, can give a (short) overview of the differences between those ski’s. That will help me a lot, all three of them are on my shortlist :-).
I am looking for a successor for my rossignol soul 7 (one of the first generations). My soul 7’s are/were fine, but they miss some float and are a bit too short (180) for me (182cm / 8’11,5″). I also prefer a more stable ski at speed and not the floppy tip of the soul 7, but still requires some playfulness.
The binding will be my kingpin’s, I want to have the best possible do it all ski for my preferences. Not a burly charger. Good edge hold en some carving abilities will be some added values.
How does it compare to the Armada Norwalk?
How does the Sick Day compare to the Supernatural 115/newer Influence 115?
I would also like to know…
The supernatural has more camber and also has a piece of metal running through it giving it more weight and stiffness than the sick day. Both are great skis, go demo them.
As someone with a 2014 sick day 110, I’m looking for a ski that is at least as stable, with a bit fore floatation, and is easier to break free/slash in powder. Would this fit the bill?
Hi there!
I used to ski a Wailer 112 Hybrid in a 184- Liked it. Need something wide/floaty again. Will the SD114 (180) fit the bill? The Wailer was relatively undemanding, medium flex and floated great. How will the SD compare in terms of flex and general ease of skiing? As a sidenote, current Wailer 100 Foundation, had to sell again because it was WAY to stiff. Thanks!
Are you sure about the -10 mounting point? Line do list something like -8?
Yes, our measured mount point is correct for how we measure mount points for all the skis we review. For the mount points we list, we simply measure the distance from the true center of the ski (true center being our measured length of the ski, divided by 2).
The way that Line lists their mount points is a bit different. This is how their engineer summed up how they come up with their listed mount points: “our center mark is not the center of the ski but the center of the designed running surface length (you could think of it as a core center of sorts).” So when they list the distance from the mount point to “center,” their center point is not always the “true center” point that we measure.
Since some brands list mount points in different ways, we measure all of ours exactly the same, in an effort to keep them consistent and comparable across different brands. But for all of our ski reviews, the measured mount point is simply how far back the recommended line is from the true center of the ski.
Hi, excellent answer! Thanks!
It just caught my eye that maybe the review tile is wrong, it says 19/20 but shows the 18/19 ski (and the older 17/18) and was written in 2018?
Anyway, a Line Rep just answered a mail of mine saying that Line changed the mounting point from 17/18 to 18/19, can you confirm or comment?
Cheers!
Ps just ordered a 17/18 SD114
Hi, looking for a wider set of skis to use when touring, i have looked at the sick days 114 and the rustler 11, in 190 or 192 cm. i have a pair of sick day 104 that i love and are super fun. Looking for a ski to use in high speed, but at the same time, a ski that turns quickly and is playfull. Which would you choose?
Sounds like you’re describing a fun inbounds setup with alpine bindings, not a touring setup with tech bindings. You find yourself skiing high speed, turning quickly, and hitting features on an every day/normal tour? What bindings do you intend to use? Kingpins? Shift mnc?
I’m currently looking at picking up a pair of 2020 Sick Day 114’s in the 190 length on a pretty sweet deal, the price is right. Before I pull the trigger, I figured I’d see if anyone had input for me.
About me: I’m def on the bigger end of skiers at 6’2″ and approx 250lbs with gear on. I ski all over the Wasatch and I’m looking for a new dedicated pow/soft conditions ski for inbounds. Other skis in my quiver: 4FRNT MSP 99 that I ski as a daily driver in anything from firm conditions up to 8″ of fresh. I also have a dedicated touring set-up, so I wouldn’t be using the Sick Day 114 for more than bootpacking around a resort.
I’m looking for the Sick Day 114’s to replace two skis for me:
1. 2014 Line Sick Day 125’s | 192 length = these need to get retired or made into a dedicated rock ski, but I LOVE them. They’ve been my favorite pure pow ski ever due to their playfulness, float, and ability to pivot on demand in tight situations. I also found them impressively versatile as long as conditions stay soft.
2. 2015 Line Supernatural 115’s = Perhaps the best big mtn ski I’ve ever owned. They got it done in powder when the terrain was steep and open, but imo take more effort to break free or pivot when things get tight. While definitely less playful than the Sick Day 125, where they REALLY shined for me was mobbing crud. Also found they held an edge well on a groomer for their size.
So I guess my question is: If I’m looking for a best-of-both-worlds ski that combines the ability of the two skis above… would that be the 2020 Line Sick Day 114?