Member of the Month

JalmarKalmar
April, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Line Mordecai Callout

profile picture
ModMommy
Posts: 10731 - Karma: 55,613
First off, let me just say I'm super glad the Mordecai isn't going to have a partly cloudy core next year.

That being said, let's discuss some issues with Paulownia, and the fact you guys wouldn't release what exactly was in the core. That makes life hard for shop employees. I get you guys were tweaking them, and still had stuff in the works, but it's not a cool move. Beefing them up once in production was a good call.

Why the "Cloud Core" was/is a bad move:

First off, your binding plate in the Mordecai was awful. Dimples in the base and top sheets of the skis, screws snapping off into the core.

Second, sidewall delam /splitting/ separation/ or total blowout was fairly common, we had several warranties alone on this issue, and I've had plenty of friends who ran into this problem fairly fast on their new skis.

Third, using Paulownia was sketch. I get that's "the wood of the future" But it seems the core could have been tested better, or had some kinks worked out before production.

Idk, maybe I'm just bummed so many of my friends got cool skis, only to have them ruined before they could ski them, or within less than a week.

I can expand upon this when I'm out of class.
Apr 5 2016 1:51PM
20 3
profile picture
hot.pocket
Posts: 4199 - Karma: 10,395
Paulownia works great in touring skis IIIIIIIIIIIFFFFFFFFFF you put denser / heavier wood stringers throughout the core. It sounds like the entire core in the Mordecai was all Paulownia, and that is scary.
Apr 5 2016 3:45PM
4 0
profile picture
ModMommy
Posts: 10731 - Karma: 55,613
hot.pocketPaulownia works great in touring skis IIIIIIIIIIIFFFFFFFFFF you put denser / heavier wood stringers throughout the core. It sounds like the entire core in the Mordecai was all Paulownia, and that is scary.


That is where the issue is, they never fully explained what the partly cloudy core is. You absolutely need a denser wood, or something added into it, it simply can not function as full paulownia.
Apr 5 2016 3:52PM
1 0
profile picture
.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,178
I've actually heard nothing but good things about the cloud core. A light bomber freeride ski.
Apr 5 2016 4:05PM
1 1
profile picture
ModMommy
Posts: 10731 - Karma: 55,613
.lenconI've actually heard nothing but good things about the cloud core. A light bomber freeride ski.

True, however drilling them is another issue. I've talked to quite a few techs (and mounted a few myself) that were literally the worst.
Apr 5 2016 4:09PM
2 0
profile picture
.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,178
safarisamTrue, however drilling them is another issue. I've talked to quite a few techs (and mounted a few myself) that were literally the worst.


I guess that's true. Not enough retention. It would be dope if they kept the light core and put a wood mix or a bunch of stringers and what not so there isn't a problem mounting bindings.
Apr 5 2016 4:12PM
0 0
profile picture
BigScaryLarry
Posts: 1448 - Karma: 2,732
Idk if the SFB have the same core but the sidewall on my friends pair started to separate from the base and pull out of the ski itself after only a week of skiing. wtf line...
Apr 5 2016 5:58PM
0 0
profile picture
qazwsxedc34
Posts: 2886 - Karma: 2,252
Go back to the Maple Block core with aspen. Love the feeling of those two woods, or change the Maple to Beech.
Apr 5 2016 6:20PM
0 0
profile picture
patagonialuke
Posts: 1624 - Karma: 8,663
full Paulownia seems very sketchy. Wonder if they'll add more beefy stringers and/or binding plates. Noticed Faction is putting binding plates on the CT's for next year, and they use a light core, albeit balsa/flax and not paulownia.
Apr 5 2016 6:43PM
0 0
profile picture
hot.pocket
Posts: 4199 - Karma: 10,395
safarisamThat is where the issue is, they never fully explained what the partly cloudy core is. You absolutely need a denser wood, or something added into it, it simply can not function as full paulownia.


Do they not list what partly cloudy core is on the product page of their website?
Apr 6 2016 1:13AM
0 0
profile picture
Line_Skis
Posts: 1983 - Karma: 37,398
Hi Sam,

Did you bring these issues up with the NW rep? Could you please e-mail me at josh@lineskis.com to address these concerns correctly?

Unfortunate you feel that way! Some of your statement is a bit off so hopefully this can clear things up:

1. The Mordecai was originally going to use a Balsa/Flax (Cloud Core) which was present in a good amount of samples last year (maybe you've mounted some samples?). They were super light and fun but we saw a bit too much breakage with athletes so we switched to a Paulownia construction for production (Partly Cloudy Core) which does have some maple stringers to add strength. This is the same case for the SFB. Cloud Core is great in big fat pow skis (Magnum Opus) but as you get narrower into all terrain skis it takes a bit too much of a beating.

2. The binding mat issue we saw was due to a thicker mat which was needed for the balsa/flax core, but not the new paulownia, that's what made it tough to drill (too much fiberglass). Using a 4.1 instead of a 3.5 drill bit would solve any screw stripping problems. (side note: This also creates the most insane screw retention ever)

With any new product we'd obviously love to have zero issues but sometimes that's just not the case. The production Mordecai has been received super well and hope more people can get on them!

thanks! - jm
Apr 6 2016 12:50PM
0 0
profile picture
ModMommy
Posts: 10731 - Karma: 55,613
Line_SkisHi Sam,

Did you bring these issues up with the NW rep? Could you please e-mail me at josh@lineskis.com to address these concerns correctly?

Unfortunate you feel that way! Some of your statement is a bit off so hopefully this can clear things up:

1. The Mordecai was originally going to use a Balsa/Flax (Cloud Core) which was present in a good amount of samples last year (maybe you've mounted some samples?). They were super light and fun but we saw a bit too much breakage with athletes so we switched to a Paulownia construction for production (Partly Cloudy Core) which does have some maple stringers to add strength. This is the same case for the SFB. Cloud Core is great in big fat pow skis (Magnum Opus) but as you get narrower into all terrain skis it takes a bit too much of a beating.

2. The binding mat issue we saw was due to a thicker mat which was needed for the balsa/flax core, but not the new paulownia, that's what made it tough to drill (too much fiberglass). Using a 4.1 instead of a 3.5 drill bit would solve any screw stripping problems. (side note: This also creates the most insane screw retention ever)

With any new product we'd obviously love to have zero issues but sometimes that's just not the case. The production Mordecai has been received super well and hope more people can get on them!

thanks! - jm

Thanks for clearing this up guys!!!!!
I wasn't quite sure about the CLoudy vs partly cloudy and it it was a pure paulownia core, so that helps a bunch.

4.1 instead of 3.5 makes sense, especially with a dense mat.

**This post was edited on Apr 6th 2016 at 1:17:42pm
Apr 6 2016 1:13PM
2 0
profile picture
kyvi
Posts: 40 - Karma: 136
Would it be dumb to plug the skis and drill new holes for the bindnings? Can get my hands on a pair but they are mounted as far as possible from the center...
Apr 14 2016 2:26PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-4)