2027 Line Tom Wallisch Pro

Pro model skis are very interesting in that they aren’t built for everyone. This is clearly a ski that Tom designed and had Line build just for him and his ski style. Certainly, there are other skiers in the world who will find a lot in common with this ski, but probably not a ton. As a result, skis like the TW Pro aren’t in huge demand. That said, for the skier who fits this profile, there couldn’t possibly be a better ski out there than this. This ski returns structurally unchanged as per the wishes of Tom himself.

Park skis need to be somewhat sturdy for aggressive skiing and jumping. Built with an aspen veneer wood core, these skis have some heft to them. Tom places a carbon ollieband in the ski to provide more support when buttering and pressing the skis. Having that extra strip of carbon goes a long way in providing feedback and energy. That said, these are pretty hefty skis as they are meant to withstand some very aggressive slopestyle skiing. The 178 sits on the scale at a stated weight of 2010 grams per ski. This also provides a more stable feel in the air, but since they’re well balanced and more symmetrical than many other park skis, it feels lighter than the weight indicates. Tester Ryan Nagle, a strong park skier, notes that there’s “Not a lot of profile. There isn’t any noticeable camber or rocker. I would stick to park. The ski doesn’t respond well enough to ski of groomer.” It’s a flat ski overall, and that does translate to on snow slipperiness.

Most pro-level park skis are at least somewhat balanced. In terms of shape, this ski certainly hooks into symmetry. Featuring measurements of 118/90/116, this ski doesn’t leave a lot of room for imagination—it's a park ski through and through. Those dimensions create a 19-meter turn radius in the 178 and the ski features a symmetrical rocker profile as well. This creates balance in the air and predictability throughout. This gives the skier a lot to stand on in a small space. When you’re hitting huge jumps and rails, it’s important not to have too much stuff going on down there, and Tom knows that better than most. You need to have a predictable feel in terms of edge release, and that’s what the new modern taper shape allows for.

The Tom Wallisch Pro is a fun park ski for advanced and expert skiers. Like most pro models, we have to look at this ski through a certain lens. Line has a need to retain athletes on their team. They want to keep the athletes happy. One of the best ways to do that is to allow them into the ski building process and then name a ski after them. That’s exactly what you’re getting with a legend like Tom and his pro model ski. Whether you identify with Tom as a skier or just want a solid and progressive ski for your own park needs, this is a great place to be.