Gear Reviews

2016 Line Mordecai Review

Line skis comes through with another fantastic lineup in the Pollard series – their big mountain freeride lineup. Designed by legendary skier Eric Pollard, the idea behind this set of three skis is to float in powder, send big airs, and have fun all over the mountain. The lineup consists of the Magnum Opus, Mordecai, and Sir Francis Bacon, offering waist widths for every condition, while also holding their own in just about any condition on the mountain. Here, we review the 2016 Line Mordecai.

Click here to get yourself a pair of Line Mordecai skis.

Test Locations: Vail, Keystone, Aspen-Snowmass, Copper Mountain & Arapahoe Basin

LINE MORDECAI

mordecai

SPECS:

Waist Width mm: 114

Length cm: 179, 186, 193

Shape mm: 141-114-138

Sidecut m: 17 (186cm)

Stance mm: Eric’s Choice -20 / Recommended -60

Weight: Weight: 2,029 g/ski (186)

Profile mm: 15-5-15

(Tip Early Rise-Camber-Tail Early Rise)

With a narrower waist than the Line Magnum Opus, the Mordecai provides a more versatile option with similar performance. The Mordecai is at home in all conditions, with an early rise tip as well as five mm of camber underfoot, this ski grips the groomers and floats you through the powder effortlessly. If you are in the market for a one ski quiver, the Mordecai is the way to go.

line-mordecai
The Line Mordecai – it’s the way to go

Powder

Sitting at 114mm underfoot, the platform of the Line Mordecai provides plenty of float in even the deepest conditions. The Early Rise technology that Line incorporates into the Mordecai allows for solid tip float, without needing to shift your weight into the backseat. Most noticeable when really charging through powder fields, you’re able to stay on top of the ski without feeling like the ski is going to sink and disappear on you. Similar to the Magnum Opus, the Mordecai uses the Longer Active Edge to power through the powder when in steeper more technical terrain rather than pivoting like many powder skis with an early rise tip and tail. (“The Longer Active Edge” provides a longer engaged edge, mostly designed to provide grip on hardpack, but it also allows you to really slash through powder rather than surfing on top).

Groomers

Generally, around this waist width, especially when factoring in the early rise tip and tail, skis of this nature tend to chatter and get rather uncomfortable on groomed terrain. This is another area where the Mordecai separates itself from the competition. Even railing turns down hardpack, the Mordecai really felt at home. Popping off knolls and buttering down groomers, these skis did not behave as many others I have been on at this waist width. Ice, like always, proved a tricky area, with a couple slip outs, but this is generally not a ski you would find yourself on in truly icy conditions. Through and through this ski felt at home ripping groomers.

Trees and Tight Turns

Getting into trees and tighter, more technical areas on the mountain is where the 17m turn radius can truly shine. With the wider platform, that relatively short turn radius allows the ski to pivot quite easily and feel extremely agile. Keeping the weight down with the partly cloudy core lowers the overall swing weight, which aids the ski in those steep chutes when jump turns are a must, or just making very short cuts across the mountain. There wasn’t a time that I felt uncomfortable on this ski, and the Mordecai really dances across that border of soft and stiff quite nicely.

Other Skis in This Category To Consider

The other skis I would put into this category would be the Moment Bibby Pro, the Armada JJ, and the Liberty Origin. The Moment Bibby Pro definitely had a more playful or flexible feel, I may choose this one over the Mordecai if I predominately ski trees and bumps. The Armada JJ would ski the most similar to the Mordecai, with a similar turning radius and freestyle feel. When comparing the Origin to the Mordecai I would say that the Mordecai felt slightly more stable, but the bamboo in the Origin gives it a snappier, quicker feel.

Bottom Line

This ski is designed to be a western every day ski or an east coast powder board. When skiing anywhere on the mountain the ski felt extremely stable and not the too-soft feel a lot of Line Skis have. If you are looking for something extremely buttery, I may lean slightly away from this ski due to the backbone this ski has. That being said, this ski is not a directional bomber – it leans closer to a freestyle feel and really walks that line closely, allowing this ski to perform on steep, technical terrain in addition to jibbing around the mountain.  The Mordecai is as versatile as the Pollard line has ever been.

Comments

Similar Posts