EP and Line skis go their separate ways

L

lastskier

Member
Seems like their long successful partnership is drawing to a close (per Eric's Instagram)- any idea where he'll be headed next, or if he's thinking of starting a new phase in his career?
 
Just saw this, news travels quick in 2020.

I wonder if he's just done? Like not trying to be a pro or anything, maybe he just wants to chill. Although I hope he'll still get to give input on ski design somewhere because my SFBs are amazing.
 
J skis x Eric Pollard collab time?

but seriously he better have some input at Line, his graphics are better than any other

(edit: I had a typo)

**This post was edited on Oct 19th 2020 at 12:28:21pm
 
I hope he gets back together with Jason. I've always wanted to ski his designs but could never buy lines after watching my friends' traveling circus and afterbangs fall apart in two months.
 
Word is that EP is starting his own ski & snowboard brand called Season.

Bringing along some familiar nimbus faces and Austin Smith (of Nitro Quiver Series and Firetruck RV fame) for snowboards.

If it's true their shapes are going to be amazing.
 
14185266:whitenab said:
Word is that EP is starting his own ski & snowboard brand called Season.

Bringing along some familiar nimbus faces and Austin Smith (of Nitro Quiver Series and Firetruck RV fame) for snowboards.

If it's true their shapes are going to be amazing.
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source? where do you hear this?
 
14185266:whitenab said:
Word is that EP is starting his own ski & snowboard brand called Season.

Bringing along some familiar nimbus faces and Austin Smith (of Nitro Quiver Series and Firetruck RV fame) for snowboards.

If it's true their shapes are going to be amazing.
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That's really exciting if true- I'd love to see some of the shapes they put out
 
I wonder if he will start making ski boots. He does a ton of custom boot work and really understands boots, I wonder if we see EP boots soon.
 
14185276:CatdickBojangles said:
I wonder if he will start making ski boots. He does a ton of custom boot work and really understands boots, I wonder if we see EP boots soon.
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Pls make tall people boots Eric, I want something that actually has my calf in the boot too
 
"I simplified the menu, so that when people come up ask what ski is right for them, they’re not choosing from a menu of 40 different skis. "

976385.jpeg

I see all mountain freestyle(East coast daily driver), wider all mountain freestyle(east coast pow and west coast daily driver) and powder ski.
 
And of course, the rossignol soul 7

14185312:snowfinder said:
"I simplified the menu, so that when people come up ask what ski is right for them, they’re not choosing from a menu of 40 different skis. "

View attachment 976385

I see all mountain freestyle(East coast daily driver), wider all mountain freestyle(east coast pow and west coast daily driver) and powder ski.
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Pumped for Pollard designs with solid materials and construction. I've always loved the way his skis ride, always hated how quickly they fell apart.
 
14185276:CatdickBojangles said:
I wonder if he will start making ski boots. He does a ton of custom boot work and really understands boots, I wonder if we see EP boots soon.
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I think he had to do a lot of custom boot work because of how he basically destroyed one of his legs and he can't ski without customs.
 
14185356:a_pla5tic_bag said:
I think he had to do a lot of custom boot work because of how he basically destroyed one of his legs and he can't ski without customs.
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Yeah thats why he started making custom boots. It would be interesting to see what innovations in boots he could come up with though.
 
14185356:a_pla5tic_bag said:
I think he had to do a lot of custom boot work because of how he basically destroyed one of his legs and he can't ski without customs.
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It looks like he has drop foot or something similar and can't use his ankles as much as he used to. Instead he moves the boot cuff up his calf so his knee and shin can do more of the work on turns and controlling the skis.

So hyped on this and really excited to see both the skis and boards tomorrow.
 
14185235:DrZoidberg said:
Just saw this, news travels quick in 2020.

Although I hope he'll still get to give input on ski design somewhere because my SFBs are amazing.
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Okay looks like we're safe from a world without EP designed skis and I don't need to stock up on SFBs.
 
14185442:Dapotatoman said:
Does anyone know if the skis he helped design for line will be discontinued? Like the pescado...
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The Pescado and Sakana will be available this year and next from Line. After that I'd be very surprised if Line continued to produce them.

Alternatively Eric's new brand, Season, is producing similar fish shapes which we can expect to hang around for a while.
 
I think this makes a lot of sense. I've always kinda seen Line as being two ski companies: there are lines, and then there are the EP skis.

I also like that companies are really starting to buck the industry standard of "you need to buy a new ski every year because we changed (insert something that never needed changing)!" Vishnu makes 4 skis and the construction is the same every year. Line has barely changed the blend for years. ON3P seems to stick to the same general shapes and constructions. Moment hasn't changed the deathwish in forever. It's time to end hyper - consumerism and planned obsolescence and build things that will last.

Final thought: any guesses on how much these will cost? my guess is $1000 or higher

EDIT: I'm surprised how relatively cheap they are, not what I expected from a small boutique company

**This post was edited on Oct 20th 2020 at 12:08:54pm
 
I am really happy for Eric and am excited to see what original ideas he and the Seasons crew come up with.

The entire team at Line have so much love and respect for Eric and we admire his creativity, and his artwork and his designs. I personally feel fortunate to have worked along side him at Line and can attribute some of my growth to him pushing us to solve hard problems such as sanding convex bases, developing swallow tails that don't break, real cherry veneer topsheets and this is just to name a few recent ones. From what I have seen, Eric is never satisfied and will surround himself with very passionate and capable people in search of perfection. This endeavor at Seasons is no different.

Eric and Line will always have a shared history/DNA because we have grown up together. Ask anyone from either side and you will find nothing but mutual respect and admiration. I have missed getting to work with Eric over the past year but am excited at the opportunities ahead for Line and Seasons. More innovation in more places is healthy for the ski industry. We need as many people doing their best to push the boundaries of what is possible in ski design. Line is committed to making innovative and unique products and will continue to push the envelope of ski design. The years ahead are nothing but exciting.

Congrats again to Eric (and Josh)!

Much Love,

Peter
 
14185470:cobra_commander said:
$699-$749 depending on shape

3 shapes.

Pollard isn’t the only former Line employee involved.
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If we're going off of former "employee" and not "skier/athlete", I'd guess Josh Malczyk seeing as he left in the recent past (a year or so ago), but seems to be hush hush about his future endeavors. Based off his IG, he seems to be spending a lot of time in Oregon as well. Have to imagine he's doing some recon missions with Pollard and Smith, both based in OR... Just connecting some dots...
 
14185605:OhJay said:
If we're going off of former "employee" and not "skier/athlete", I'd guess Josh Malczyk seeing as he left in the recent past (a year or so ago), but seems to be hush hush about his future endeavors. Based off his IG, he seems to be spending a lot of time in Oregon as well. Have to imagine he's doing some recon missions with Pollard and Smith, both based in OR... Just connecting some dots...
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Yeah that makes the most sense. Josh is an awesome dude can’t wait to see what they have in store.
 
14185658:snowfinder said:
Little disappointed with the graphics or lack there of.
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Seconded, my guess is that since his art style was so intrinsic to his designs at Line it was hard to still present that but differentiate his brand. I'm a bit more disappointed that there's no lengths above a 183.... I was honestly pretty ready to buy even though I'm broke since Pollard skis have always been my favorite but it looks like us tall boys are SOL. The forma would definitely fly in that length, but it would be nice if the others had like a 187 or a 190.
 
I honestly dig the minimalist graphic, but I am bummed that there are not more lengths. I am hoping that the lack of lengths is due to them just launching the brand.
 
14185676:alpha.moose said:
I honestly dig the minimalist graphic, but I am bummed that there are not more lengths. I am hoping that the lack of lengths is due to them just launching the brand.
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I like the minimalistic feel too, but they could've done something with it, I'm not a fan at all of the black bases. Yeah I assume that there will be more lengths in the future.
 
14185673:NightFantasies said:
I'm a bit more disappointed that there's no lengths above a 183.... I was honestly pretty ready to buy even though I'm broke since Pollard skis have always been my favorite but it looks like us tall boys are SOL. The forma would definitely fly in that length, but it would be nice if the others had like a 187 or a 190.
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yeah this, the only thing I will buy under 185 is a park ski and even then I won't go below 180
 
I'm short (5'5") and I think the Aero is still a bit short for a ski with rocker. I use a 175 JJ and 171 magnus. It says gender inclusive/non-binary, which is a weird way to describe a ski but I'm guessing until they get more lengths, the small size is for women and the larger is for men.

Unless EP worked some kind of magic and these sizes actually ski fine and he's right about their being too much choice with little functional difference between similar sizes.
 
Shapes look great, hopefully they do some demo days near me. Considering EP is such a good artist and all his previous skis have had awesome graphics I was a bit disappointed with the all black topsheets. He couldn't even sketch like a nimbus cloud or snowflake or something simple to put discreetly on there? Hopefully by next season he'll have time to come up with something cool.
 
Unless the price is significantly lower than other skis I don't see myself buying from his brand. I don't like the "minimal" design. I really liked his designs for Line and now I might just have to get me some sakanas before they are gone forever.
 
Does anyone know who's making the skis? Not much info on the construction yet other than full sidewall and blackout bases.

Skis look fuckin sick, love the concept of this brand so far.
 
14185811:JupitahJosh said:
Does anyone know who's making the skis? Not much info on the construction yet other than full sidewall and blackout bases.

Skis look fuckin sick, love the concept of this brand so far.
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Amer Sports will be making the skis and SWS in Dubai will be making the snowboards.
 
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