With a bunch of different technologies and ideas built in, the 2020 Line Sir Francis Bacon has a lot going on. Starting with the shape, the 107 mm underfoot ski benefits from Line’s Convex Base shape to get even more float out of the ski. By shaping the tips and tails to resemble a boat hull, the skis plane and float over snow like it is water. The curved shape increases the overall surface area, so even with a big 143 mm tip and a 139 mm tail, the convex shape gives them even more base to work with when you encounter deep snow. Due to the evenness in the tip and tail width, the skis make very round turns because they’re almost symmetrical at this point. A blend of Maple and lightweight Paulownia wood make up the Partly Cloudy core, and this makes for great strength to weight ratio. Keeping it glued to the snow is the sidewall construction, that pairs well with the core to create strong edge grip and a very consistent feel from tip to tail. They’re pretty light for their shape, coming in at 1850 grams per ski, so for fresh and soft snow, they’re a fantastic choice. Our testers loved the playfulness of these skis, as their rounded shape really give them a new dimension in terms of all-mountain skiing and freeride fun.
Bob St.Pierre skied the 184 and found it to be a bit short. The 190 would be better for him due to his size and aggressiveness, but for test purposes, the 184 was just fine. Given the rockered tip and tail and the 16-meter turn radius, they do run a bit short, so if you’re in between, we suggest thinking about sizing up. Bob’s high scores of 5 out of 5 were given for quickness, maneuverability, and playfulness. As this is what the ski is designed to do, these scores are not shocking. Conversely, his lower scores were given for torsional stiffness and edge hold, and with firm snow lurking underfoot, that’s not a surprise, either. Bob calls the Bacon “very quick for a wider ski—loved to make quick and short turns. I took it in the woods and it loved squirrelling around the trees.” And in emphasizing the quick shape, the Bacon “made very round turns.” Again, this harkens back to the nearly symmetrical shape and the more centered mount that really puts you in the middle of the ski. Longer tail length means rounder turns, and the Bacon is all about it.
Matt McGinnis was a better match for the 184, as he approved of his test length. He had a ton of high scores, with all 4’s given right down the line with an exception for a 3 in flotation. When we see these types of consistent scores, it’s usually indicative of a well-rounded ski. Back to the symmetrical nature of the Sir Francis Bacon, it’s a nice parallel. Matt notes that “overall, I found myself very impressed with the Sir Francis Bacon. It felt strong, powerful, and able to control a carve. One feature worth noting is the Convex shaped shovel which wants to push soft snow out of the way. While mainly intended for fresh snow use, I noticed that it made turn initiation a lot easier on-trail as well.” In terms of a target audience, Matt states that “overall, I’d suggest this ski for skiers who like to take freeride sensibilities all over the mountain.” Well said, Matt!
Skiers looking to not only push the envelope, but also push snow out of the way of their skis, will love the playful shape of the Sir Fancis Bacon. It takes a lot to get a ski to stick out the way the Bacon does, and Eric Pollard and his design team have done a fantastic job in making the Bacon a unique ski with a particularly fun skill set.
