2023 Line Sir Francis Bacon

The Line Sir Francis Bacon has set some pretty cool standards for twin-tippy and playful skis over the past few years, and we’re stoked to see it back unchanged but for graphics. It’s still the same great freestyle/freeride ski for 2023, allowing progressive and creative skiers the ability to make the mountain their canvas and do whatever they please out there on the hill. At 107 mm underfoot and with convex shaping in the tips and tails, these skis surely can float and play with the best of them. Add to that a fun-loving flex and feel, and you’ll be able to make your mark on the snow. Built with a blend of maple and paulownia in the wood core, the skis are light and appropriately flexible for the style of skiing that most people are likely to do. Nearly symmetrical in shape, and very similar in terms of rocker and flex, these skis are well-rounded in more ways than one. The convex shaping of the shovels and tails makes a lot of sense given the smeary and surfy intentions of these skis. Ideally suited for softer and deeper snow, there’s still some wiggle room in the firmer snow zones, mainly due to the shorter turn radius and related edge grip.

On the 184, Bob St.Pierre noted that “it was a good size, but I’d still like the 190 given the rocker and turn radius. That said, I also will move the bindings back next time, as it was a bit too centered for me. All things being equal, I’d say it skis true to size, but there’s not a whole lot out there to compare it to.” He gave it 5’s out of 5 for playfulness, forgiveness, flotation, and overall impression. Stability, torsional stiffness, and edge grip all got lower scores of 2. “I really enjoy a few things about this ski that it does better than anything. Soft snow in the trees, deep carves on soft groomers, and playful flickability in the fresh all are superlative. I think that they work really, really well in these applications, but if the snow is firm or you’re trying to operate at higher speeds, the performance does start to suffer a bit. Most skiers in the intermediate to expert realm will really enjoy this ski from a playful and surfy perspective, but it’s kind of pigeon-holed in that respect. I’d imagine many Bacon skiers will have something narrower and more front-side/all-mountain oriented for more day-to-day skiing.”

Also on the 184, Matt McGinnis found the Bacon to ski true to size. He gave it mainly 4’s for all categories on his scorecard. “The Sir Francis bacon is a ski that really hits the sweet spot between playful and serious. Featuring a medium flex, this ski is there for you when you need it and can power through chopped up snow with ease. But, it’s not too serious either. You don’t need to bring it up to speed or worry about skiing it a certain way. It’s just there for you, however you want to ski it. I’d recommend this ski for intermediate or advanced skiers looking for an all-mountain and capable twin tip that’s also able to keep up on a powder day. Overall, I’d simply describe this ski as capable, no matter what the conditions are.” A bit more well-rounded in Matt’s mind versus Bob, and that’s part of the fun of the test.

Modern freeride and progressive skiers will really enjoy the smeary and surfy nature of the Line Sir Francis Bacon. The ski’s convex shape in the tips and tails makes a lot of sense in that it increases the surface area of the base without adding width to the tips and tails. If you’re looking for a soft-snow and playful specialist type of ski, this is a great place to start and end your search.