ADVENTURE ... Backside Series
Lightweight Aspen and Paulownia wood cores are 15% lighter than those in the all-mountain series. Except for Pontoon, all backside skis have flat, notched tails for practicality in the backcountry and to allow climbing skins to stay secure and centered. Also, except for Pontoon, all skis come with tip and tail holes for climbing skins.
Many models feature a tip rocker design that improves soft snow behavior but the normal camber in the remainder of the ski adds versatility in other conditions.
All skis in this category are offered “flat” which is to say a binding needs to be mounted before you can go skiing.
Darkside
128mm underfoot, 27 meter sidecut in 181cm length. Available in 174, 181, 188cm.
A big board for big lines. Rocker starts 20cm from the tip. Tip and tail attachment holes for skins.
SideStash
108mm underfoot, 25 meter sidecut in 181cm length. Available in 174, 181, 188cm.
Rocker starts 15cm from the tip. Tip and tail attachment holes for skins.
HardSide
98mm underfoot, 23 meter sidecut in 181cm length. Available in 174, 181, 188cm.
Most versatile in this lineup due to more sidecut and slightly narrower waist. Tip and tail attachment holes for skins.
Pontoon
130mm underfoot, reverse sidecut (opposite of hourglass shape). Available in 169, 179, 189cm.
Full rocker design (tip and tail curved upwards) with only slight camber underfoot for packed snow. 95% soft snow ski.
COOMBAck
102mm underfoot, 22 meter sidecut in 174cm length. Available in 167, 174, 181, 188cm.
An evolution of the Doug Coombs commemorative model Coomba, the COOMBAck adds rocker starting 30cm from the tip. A percentage of sales go to the Coombs family as well as to the American Mountain Guide Association Chad Vanderham Endowment which is dedicated to improving guide education and safety.
WayBack
88mm underfoot, 22 meter sidecut in 174cm length. Available in 167, 174, 181cm.
A super light core and carbon fiber make this one of the lightest mid-fats on the market according to K2.
BackUp
82mm underfoot, 19 meter sidecut in 174cm length. Available in 160, 167, 174, 181cm.
Very light, a perfect choice for inbounds tele skiing or high performance ski-mountaineering.
ALL-MOUNTAIN ... Apache Series
K2 all-mountain skis for men and women have a unique vibration-damping system developed at the Boeing Test Labs.
The first part is MOD technology, a secondary core element that acts as a mass damper and suspension system. It absorbs vibrations and impacts along the entire ski, but does not impede smooth flexing because is moves independently from the main wood core.
The second part is MOD Monic, a solid zinc mass attached to the MOD core. It is precisely located to damp vibrations in a targeted location. The MOD Monic mass is an X-shaped element on men’s skis and a specifically engineered oval-shaped weight on women’s skis. Apache Outlaw has been retired.
Xplorer
84mm underfoot, 17 meter sidecut in 177cm length. Available in 170, 177, 184cm.
After only one year Xplorer has become one of the most popular and versatile all-mountain skis for soft snow resorts.
Recon
78mm underfoot, 18 meter sidecut in 177cm length. Available in 163, 170, 177, 184cm.
The ultimate versatile ski, 50/50 soft snow/hard snow.
Crossfire
74mm underfoot, 16 meter sidecut in 177cm length. Available in 163, 170, 177, 184cm.
A NEW design this year that is 4mm wider and the only design in this series to have ABS sidewall construction for hard snow grip.
Interceptor
84mm underfoot, 17 meter sidecut in 177cm length. Available in 163, 170, 177, 184cm.
New this year. Interceptor is the same dimensions as Xplorer but it uses a torsion-box construction instead of metal laminates. Torsion box construction is more lively underfoot.
Raider
78mm underfoot, 18 meter sidecut in 177cm length. Available in 156, 163, 170, 177cm.
Raider is built on the Recon chassis but uses torsion box construction instead of metal laminate to deliver a more forgiving ride.
Ranger
74mm underfoot, 15 meter sidecut in 170cm length. Available in 156, 163, 170, 177cm.
A recreational ski for the improving all mountain skier.
Force
72mm underfoot, 14 meter sidecut radius in 170cm length. Available in 149, 156, 163, 170, 177cm.
NEW this year incorporating the Catch Free design. Catch Free moves the contact point of the ski behind the widest spot at the tip so the ski is easier to manoeuver, especially for learners.
Stinger
72mm underfoot, 14 meter sidecut in 170cm length. Available in 149, 156, 163, 170, 177cm.
NEW this year. Stinger is aimed at novices and is similar to Force but with a traditional camber profile.
Technology you should know about - K2 Touring skins
A new patent-pending climbing skin is now available from K2 that is perfectly matched to your favorite K2 backside ski. These skins are laser-cut for a perfect, custom fit right out of the pack. There are 4 main features:
- Glide Patch – a central patch of slippery Polymer at the tip allows the ski to glide forward easily instead of plowing into and piling up fresh snow, the curse of every trail-breaker. The patch is only in the center so the ski still has grip along the entire length when on edge.
- Z Clip Attachment – this clip uses the holes K2 has conveniently put in the skis. Z Clip eliminates the skin fold-over in typical D-ring designs and reduces weight. It also eliminates the snow that builds up under the fold, which eventually peels your skins off.
- Tail Strap Clip – This adjustable strap uses the tail hole to secure the skin in the center of the ski. Unlike most clips that create friction by dragging in the snow, this clip sits on top of the ski, improving glide and efficiency.
- It’s super bright, a big help in finding buried skis.
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TWIN TIPS ... Factory Series
Twin tip skis have come a long way and K2 is leading the charge to help the designs keep up with the athletes. Some examples:
- Different twin tip shapes. Modern twin tips for switch (backwards) skiing can vary to make them perform a certain way. So some K2 twins are optimized for skiing in the forward direction and others for skiing backwards just as easily as forward. A ski with identical shape forward and backward is mounted with the binding in the center of the ski.
- Heavy duty construction. Wood cores are standard, vertical sidewalls are common and other less obvious features such as rivets to beef up laminations are found throughout the series. Another good example is the 3.5mm extra-thick edges. The standard edge thickness is 2.5mm but they don’t stand up to the abuse as well.
- Many models feature a rocker design in both tip and tail. K2 defines the rocker with 2 numbers such as 20/40. That means the tip is 20mm (less than an inch) off a flat surface and starts rising 400mm (about 16 inches) back from the tip. In theory that leaves over 30 inches of ski not touching the snow on a hard surface.
Hellbent
122mm underfoot, 26 meter sidecut in 179cm length. Available in 169, 179, 189cm.
20/400 rocker.
A big rocker twin for backcountry switch raids.
179
obSETHed
189
obSETHed
105mm underfoot, 24 meters in 179cm length. Available in 169, 179, 189cm.
10/200 rocker with regular camber under the binding for reasonable performance on the groomed.
Kung Fujas
(pronounced Foo-Hoss)
95mm underfoot, 21 meter sidecut in 179cm length. Available in 169, 179, 189cm.
A mini rocker of 5/300 has been added this year along with a new shape to make switch skiing even better. Designed for 50/50 powder and park use.
Extreme
85mm under foot, 21 meter sidecut in 179cm length. Available in 159, 164, 169, 174, 179, 184cm.
K2 calls this model the most functional inbounds twin tip they have ever built.
Disorderly
85mm underfoot, 26 meter sidecut in 179cm length. Available in 159, 169, 179cm.
A pure park ski with symmetrical sidecut for identical performance forward or switch.
EXT
80mm underfoot, 21 meter sidecut in 179cm length. Available in 149, 159, 169, 179cm.
A NEW ski without all the bells and whistles.
Silencer
80mm underfoot, 21 meter sidecut in 179cm length. Available in 149, 159, 169, 179cm.
This is an entry-level ski that has enough versatility to handle the whole mountain as well as the park.
Technology you should know about - Schizofrantic inserts
K2 took the idea of a multi-position binding (Marker Griffon) and combined it with mounting inserts as an option on the Hellbent, obSETHed, Kung Fujas, and Extreme skis. This allows accurate mounting of the binding without drilling.
The threaded insert rings are carefully placed hard points that have twice the pullout strength of regular binding screws.
The K2/Marker Griffon Schizofrantic binding adjusts a full 6 cm along the ski so it’s easy to move from dead center all the way back to a conventional position for powder skiing.
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WOMEN’S SKIS
WOMEN’S ADVENTURE ... Backside Series
GotBack
102mm underfoot, 18 meter sidecut in 160cm length. Available in 146, 153, 160, 167, 174cm.
A shallow 30cm tip rocker and wide waist prepare this model for 70% powder snow. Tip and tail attachment holes for skins.
PayBack
92mm underfoot, 16 meter sidecut in 160cm length. Available in 146, 153, 160, 167cm.
A good choice for telemark or alpine bindings. Tip and tail attachment holes for skins.
She’sBack
80mm underfoot, 14 meter sidecut in 160cm length.
Available in 153, 160, 167cm.
Tip and tail attachment holes for skins.
WOMEN’S T:Nine All-Mountain series
K2 has a long history of women’s skis and it continues with two new binding systems to maximize the performance of the entire collection. In collaboration with Marker, K2 offers the ERS (Energy Response System) and ERP (Energy Response Plate). To look at them, one uses a plate and one does not, but the key advantages are:
- Lighter weight, as much as a pound lighter for ERS
- Attachment points are closer together to match smaller boots which enhances ski flex characteristics.
- ERP plate is shorter and softer than men’s version to match the skis.
- Attachment points are wider to match wider skis, improving lateral response.
A pink ribbon on the bases of T:Nine skis signals K2’s support for Breast Cancer Research. Over the years of the T:Nine program, $1,000,000 has been donated to the cause.
Lotta Luv
82mm underfoot, 14 meter sidecut radius in 163cm length. Available in 149, 156, 163, 170cm.
Wider than last year, ERS binding, Bioflex core.
Burnin’ Luv
70mm underfoot, 13 meter sidecut in 163cm length. Available in 149, 156, 163, 170cm.
Metal laminate, ABS sidewall, ERS binding, Bioflex core.
Free Luv
76mm underfoot, 14 meter sidecut in 163cm length. Available in 142, 149, 156, 163cm.
ERS binding, Bioflex core.
True Luv
74mm underfoot, 14 meter sidecut in 163 cm length. Available in 142, 149, 156, 163cm.
ERP binding, Bioflex core. This is a recreational ski for intermediates.
Sweet Luv
72mm underfoot, 13 meter sidecut radius in 163cm length. Available in 142, 149, 156, 163cm.
Sweet Luv is a ski for novice to intermediate featuring ERP binding Catch Free which makes the ski easier to manoeuver.
First Luv
72mm under foot, 13 meter sidecut radius in 163cm length. Available in 142, 149, 156, 163cm.
ERP binding on a beginner ski.
Technology you should know about - Bioflex Core
Bioflex is a unique core found in some T:Nine skis. It uses a dense wood in the center of the ski and lighter wood at either end to reduce swing weight as well as overall weight. A stringer of bamboo down the middle adds strength. The result is a ski that is strong and solid where it needs to be and light and flexible at the extremities.
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WOMEN’S TWIN TIPS ... Factory Series
MissBehaved
98mm underfoot, 18 meter sidecut in 159cm length. Available in 149, 159, 169cm.
5/300 rocker with regular camber underfoot.
MissDemeanor
80mm underfoot, 17 meter sidecut in 159cm length. Available in 149, 154, 159, 164, 169cm.
Women-specific dual wood Bioflex core for strength and lightness.
MissConduct
80mm underfoot, 17 meter sidecut in 159cm length. Available in 149, 159, 169cm.
This is an entry-level twin that is lighter and more forgiving than MissDemeanor. Bioflex wood core and torsion box construction.
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