Gear Profile: K2

K2 has been our most popular rental brand in the 6 years I have been here and that is because they just plain make skis that are easy and fun to ski on.  For years the Recon was the one ski we couldn’t keep in the shop and its replacement, the Rictor has taken on that roll.  The Rictor is similar to the Recon but the biggest change is a little rocker in the tip and tail.  This will be a common theme with K2 who has gone all in with the rocker revolution.  Every single ski that K2 makes has some form of rocker in it.  They have different names for their different styles of rocker: All-terrain rocker, speed rocker, catch free rocker, jib rocker and powder rocker!  Most of the skis we carry have all terrain rocker which has traditional camber under foot and a slight amount of rocker in the tip and the tail.  It is so subtle you will not notice it on the hardpack but it will make life a little easier in the crud.  It also isn’t quite enough rocker that I would call it effective in powder.  The other mens ski we carry is the Aftershock.  I would say this is a bread and butter ski for Aspen/Snowmass.  I believe this ski does everything the Rictor does but is more versatile.  You can carve it just as easily but the added waist width makes it ideal for crud and a little bit of powder.  We put everyone from very intermediate skiers to experts on this ski.  K2 was one of the pioneers of the women specific ski movement and they continue to dominate that category.  The Lotta Luvis going to be the women’s equivalent to the Rictor.  This is a great ski for the lady who likes to ski the whole mountain- half on piste and half off.  The Burnin Luvis the ideal ski for the woman who likes to charge the groomers.  This is a relatively stiff ski for a women’s ski and is only 70mm under foot making it very quick edge to edge.  The Free Luv is a very easy ski to maneuver for intermediate skiers.  Finally, the Sweet Luv is pretty much identical to the Free Luv but has a composite core instead of a wood core which makes the ski softer and lighter.  Catch Free is the model of rocker the Sweet Luv has which is designed to make it easier to initiate the turn for the beginning skier.  If you will be in town for the upcoming holiday weekend come on in to Incline and demo some new K2 gear!