New K2 site up

[RAWR]

Hey guys,

I'm new posting on the boards here, but a long-time reader. Excuse my JONG-ness if this has already been posted, but K2's site has been updated with their 09-10 stuff. I haven't kept up with it, but their new 'backside' series definitely looks interesting, I can't believe how many skis they're pushing to the backcountry/sidecountry/touring crowd. Anybody else stoked? Or should I just get RAX?

Check it out.

http://www.k2skis.com

[YetiMan]

are you sure it's not K2skis.cn?

[SP_sam-O]

OK, sorry if this is negative and all, but they fucked up a bit. They made the Sidestash exactly 6mm wider than the Coomba everywhere and gave it a 5/15 rocker, which would be fine for a new ski; However, they also gave the Coomba a 2/30 rocker, which will only make it so that it won't make nice smooth turns on hardpack like it does in the 09 model and will not help in pow. The camber made Coombas more lively in pow and gave them smooth long turns on groomers, and since the tip was soft they floated fine, so that tiny but long rocker will only fuck up the ski, sorry. I wish K2 built skis to ski well, not just go well with whatever is new(aka, a mini ski-raping rocker this time).
Oh, and anybody have word on that whole Pontoon profits partly going to McConkey's family that we were talking about? just curious.

[deeppowdr]

Stoked on Darkside!

[hop]

OK, sorry if this is negative and all, but they fucked up a bit. They made the Sidestash exactly 6mm wider than the Coomba everywhere and gave it a 5/15 rocker, which would be fine for a new ski; However, they also gave the Coomba a 2/30 rocker, which will only make it so that it won't make nice smooth turns on hardpack like it does in the 09 model and will not help in pow. The camber made Coombas more lively in pow and gave them smooth long turns on groomers, and since the tip was soft they floated fine, so that tiny but long rocker will only fuck up the ski, sorry. I wish K2 built skis to ski well, not just go well with whatever is new(aka, a mini ski-raping rocker this time).
Oh, and anybody have word on that whole Pontoon profits partly going to McConkey's family that we were talking about? just curious.

You've obviously never made nice smooth turns on hardpack nor skied powder on a pair of Anti-Piste.

[RAWR]

1. Holy rocker!

2. Anybody know about the 'schizofrantic' binding system? Seems unlikely that it increases strength/rigidity over standard binders being adjustable. Still would be cool to have on something like the obsethed.

3. Also stoked on the darkside. Love the product video for it, what a sick line :FIREdevil

[Arty50]

Why don't the Extremes come in a 220? Fail. :D

[sfotex]

Sweet, they come with 'Tip and Tale Holes' (Sorry, couldn't resist)

What's the story with the k2 skins?

[Jonathan S.]

What's the story with the k2 skins?

https://www.climbingskinsdirect.com/

[arewolfe]

K2 = tired as fuck. So many other brands to get psyched on right now.

LOLZ Hattrup in the product videos.

[SP_sam-O]

You've obviously never made nice smooth turns on hardpack nor skied powder on a pair of Anti-Piste.

I have not. Enlighten me as to how good it is?

[spindrift]

K2 = tired as fuck. So many other brands to get psyched on right now.



One of the few majors bringing the significant design innovations of recent years into the mass market in a significant way. Props to them.

I gather you are stoked on Atomic's super duper gee wizz Double Decker system? Or Head's mostly more of the same? Or any of a dozen brands taking the coward's road and doing nothing but recycling outmoded and outdated race born designs?

[Stikki]

One of the few majors bringing the significant design innovations of recent years into the mass market in a significant way. Props to them.

They've done this plus they also make workhorse skis. The newest and coolest stuff may get a ton of hype (JJ, S7, PP, etc) but look around the mountain and you'll see tons of people riding simple reliable K2's (Obsethed, Coomba, Fujas, etc).

[Shorty_J]

OK, sorry if this is negative and all, but they fucked up a bit. They made the Sidestash exactly 6mm wider than the Coomba everywhere and gave it a 5/15 rocker, which would be fine for a new ski; However, they also gave the Coomba a 2/30 rocker, which will only make it so that it won't make nice smooth turns on hardpack like it does in the 09 model and will not help in pow. The camber made Coombas more lively in pow and gave them smooth long turns on groomers, and since the tip was soft they floated fine, so that tiny but long rocker will only fuck up the ski, sorry. I wish K2 built skis to ski well, not just go well with whatever is new(aka, a mini ski-raping rocker this time).
Oh, and anybody have word on that whole Pontoon profits partly going to McConkey's family that we were talking about? just curious.

I don't know man, they still have regular cambered skis in the Apache line. Also, it looks to me like the Sidestash is a combination sidewall/cap ski with metal... beefing up the bc offerings from them. And they continue to make their skis with flat tails for touring versatility, which is by no means jumping on the bandwagon.

How about the Wayback at 3.05kg/pair at 88 underfoot, 174 length. Or the Backup at 3.25kg/pair at 82 underfoot, 174 length with two sheets of metal. Either could be a great hut trip or mountaineering ski.

I think their offerings this year look pretty good, and I'm already a fan of my Coomba's.

[hop]

I have not. Enlighten me as to how good it is?

"It" is good, but I'm biased so don't take my word for it.

Review: K2 Antipiste/FT12/ Megaride - Teton Gravity Research Forums

[Johnny Sizzler]

K2 = tired as fuck. So many other brands to get psyched on right now.

Meh, I don't know, I think of all the big guys K2 leads the way. Plus with this year's backside line up it's tough to bitch about width and length of certain models since they have just about everything covered. Now we can start bitching about rocker rise and length on certain models.

And huge props to K2 for putting a square tail on them when every new ski produced now a days is twinned.

[arewolfe]

One of the few majors bringing the significant design innovations of recent years into the mass market in a significant way. Props to them.

I gather you are stoked on Atomic's super duper gee wizz Double Decker system? Or Head's mostly more of the same? Or any of a dozen brands taking the coward's road and doing nothing but recycling outmoded and outdated race born designs?

I was thinking Moment, PMG, 333 and ON3P, et cetera but I wouldn't turn down a free pair of im88's!



Meh, I don't know, I think of all the big guys K2 leads the way. Plus with this year's backside line up it's tough to bitch about width and length of certain models since they have just about everything covered. Now we can start bitching about rocker rise and length on certain models.

And huge props to K2 for putting a square tail on them when every new ski produced now a days is twinned.

Sure I can agrees with that. I was more or less saying why get stoked on K2 when there are so many smaller guys creating killer stuff.

One thing I like about the backside line is the 7cm length increments instead of 10.

[mortimer]

Got to ski their line-up in January, IMHO big improvement over years past. The 1/2 sidewall makes a big difference on hardpack and although the rocker they're using is moderate, it gets the job done. I think the Sidestash would make a great daily driver for western skiers and was my favorite of the bunch.

The Hellbents graphics are awesome this year, especially the goat dragging the brain!

[spindrift]

... but I wouldn't turn down a free pair of im88's!



I would if I actually had to ski them. I'd pay full fare for Hell Bents or Pontoons - and presumably some of the newer K2 designs before I'd spend a set of forced days on IM88s.

Add in K2's corporate family & I'd be in for full fare on EP Pros vs free im88s. Same for Kuros and maybe the new goats.

And would drop coin for many indy skis ahead of free im88s, including some you mention...


One thing I like about the backside line is the 7cm length increments instead of 10.

On a tangential note vs real thread topic -- do you really think you could tell? 7cm is a bit under an inch and a half to each of tip & tail. 10cm is a shade under 2 inches to each. Viewed another way - on a 180-ish length, a 3cm difference is roughly about 1.5%. Hmmm...

Seems to me that increments of 7 is a waste given the business issues in stocking a truckload of SKUs. I suspect the number of people who could tell the difference in a blind test under random conditions statistically rounds to zero. Not that I really care one way or another (other than feeling for dealers who need to waste capital for no reason)

[mortimer]

Seems to me that increments of 7 is a waste given the business issues in stocking a truckload of SKUs. I suspect the number of people who could tell the difference in a blind test under random conditions statistically rounds to zero.

Peace of mind for rec skiers and weekend warriors. I'd rather see them list actual ski measurements: their Backside series measure 3cm longer than what they list, and the Hellbents measure almost 9cm longer.

[sfotex]

https://www.climbingskinsdirect.com/

Sweet, those guys could win big with this. Are they going to be branded as K2?

[mortimer]

Sweet, those guys could win big with this. Are they going to be branded as K2?

I think they will be. From what I saw this spring they also have some sort of glide patch in shovel where you're not getting much grip anyway.

[arewolfe]

I would if I actually had to ski them. I'd pay full fare for Hell Bents or Pontoons - and presumably some of the newer K2 designs before I'd spend a set of forced days on IM88s.

Add in K2's corporate family & I'd be in for full fare on EP Pros vs free im88s. Same for Kuros and maybe the new goats.

And would drop coin for many indy skis ahead of free im88s, including some you mention...


On a tangential note vs real thread topic -- do you really think you could tell? 7cm is a bit under an inch and a half to each of tip & tail. 10cm is a shade under 2 inches to each. Viewed another way - on a 180-ish length, a 3cm difference is roughly about 1.5%. Hmmm...

Seems to me that increments of 7 is a waste given the business issues in stocking a truckload of SKUs. I suspect the number of people who could tell the difference in a blind test under random conditions statistically rounds to zero. Not that I really care one way or another (other than feeling for dealers who need to waste capital for no reason)

Wasn't touting im88's. I've never skied them, just saying out of Head's entire line (of which I've never skied any) I'd take the monsters if someone said "pick a free pair of any Heads." As part of a 7 or 8 ski quiver I'd run them on EC ice days before over anything I have now.

7cm increments simply gives the consumer more options, which is always better (for the consumer).

[RAWR]

Peace of mind for rec skiers and weekend warriors. I'd rather see them list actual ski measurements: their Backside series measure 3cm longer than what they list, and the Hellbents measure almost 9cm longer.

Agreed! I almost pulled the trigger on 189 hellbents, but when I stopped by a shop to see them in person I realized they would absolutely manhandle me. Are they catering to people who have been told they need xxx ski length by a shop tech and don't think about upsizing/rocker on pow skis? Damn you k2, quit treating us like newbs!

[rludes025]

Anybody else notice how dainty the edges are on all the Backside series. I know weight is important on this line but damn K2 find other ways to cut it. I am only bitching since my coombas edges compress when I look at them.

[JayBruce]

Ya I noticed this too. I purchased some last years model coombas this summer. Pretty excited about them, but I did notice how microscopic the edges appear to be.

[schuss]

K2's sizes are always the running length. When the ski is rockered that means it's much longer.

[JayBruce]

K2 just runs long. But their measured length isn't running length. If K2's listed length was running length then a 189 hellbent with rockered tip and tail would 17.8843 miles long.

[rludes025]

I Use the + 5cm rule with K2, though many ski true to printed size not measured size.