The latest offering from K2 Skis is their Mindbender Collection!
For this new line of skis, K2 told their engineers to throw out convention and to design skis that THEY want to ride. Not as engineers and designers, but as the skiers that they are!
What they came up with is the Mindbender Collection, a whole new lineup of freeride skis designed to perform perfectly for the conditions that they are designed for, whether that’s waist deep in powder, ripping groomers, or chattering across hardpacked runs.
Torsion Control Design
There are many skis that will grab hold of the snow and stick to turns like a razor. There are many skis that are super floaty and fun to slide through turns. But, there are very few skis that will do both without compromising one attribute for the other. K2 Mindbender was designed to do both!
The core principle behind the Mindbender Collection is the philosophy of Torsion Control Design. This design allows for the skis to have both solid edge grip but still be capable of letting them loose when you want to! The front of the ski is designed to start and hold turns while the back of the ski is designed to allow the ski to drift and feel more free. The torsional stiffness in the tip doesn’t have to be the same as the stiffness in the tail. By tuning how the ski grips or flexes from the tip to the tail, K2 has engineered skis that perform in a whole new way on the snow. In a word, they are engineered to be fun without having to sacrifice control, and vice versa!
Titanal Y-Beam Technology
Titanal Y-Beam Technology is a metal laminate layer that is shaped to apply stiffness where you need it and reduce the stiffness where you don’t. Under the skiers foot, the stiff Titanal material goes all the way across the ski to efficiently transfer lateral force from their boots to the ski. This makes the skis super responsive to the turning input from the rider. Moving towards the tip of the ski, the Titanal is removed from the center of the ski and focused to the edges. This allows those turning forces to be directed right to the areas of the skis that initiate and hold turns, allowing for precise, powerful turns. Then, as you move to the tail of the ski, you see that the Titanal is removed from the edges but focused on the center of the ski. This loosens up the grip on the edge, allowing the back of the ski to feel more free-floating and playful.
As you can also see in the animation above, there the Powerwall which is a layer of ABS plastic between the wood core and the Titanal Y-Beam to allow for even more stability underfoot!
Mindbender Titanal Y-Beam Models
Mindbender 108ti:
String ’em up and slap ’em down. These freaks were made to run. Utilizing our proprietary Titanal Y-Beam, this freak of a ski is meant to do one thing: mash. From deep pow to the chalky steeps, this beast is the big mountain charger you’ve been waiting for!
Sizes: 172, 179, 186, 193 |Dimensions: 136-108-125 | Radius: 22.9m @ 186 | Rocker: All Terrain Rocker | Core: Fir/Aspen
Mindbender 99ti:
Quick edge-to-edge? Check. Absurd float in pow? Oh you bet. You might be surprised to hear that this ski only clocks in at 99 underfoot – it definitely hits above it’s weight. Toss in that Y-Beam and you’ll be wondering where the speed limit on this thing really is.
Sizes: 170, 177, 184, 191 | Dimensions: 138-99-123 | Radius: 18.5m @ 184 | Rocker: All Terrain Rocker | Core: Maple/Aspen
Mindbender 98ti Alliance:
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No compromises, no shortcuts. We turned to the K2 Alliance, women, like Mckenna Peterson, to help design the most versatile women’s ski we’ve ever made. Built to charge through chop, handle the deep stuff, and hold an edge like you’ve never seen on hardpack. Yeah. all that.
Sizes: 154, 161, 168, 175 | Dimensions: 134-98-120 | Radius: 15.6m @ 168| Rocker: All Terrain Rocker | Core: Aspen Veneer
Mindbender 90ti:
Not every day is hero pow and waist-deep trenchtown. But when that high pressure sets in, you still gotta put ’em down and rip. So take on the hardpack, the blown out sastrugi (yeah that’s a word) and churn and burn no matter what’s in front of you.
Sizes: 163, 170, 177, 184 | Dimensions: 127-90-114 | Radius: 17.9m @ 177 | Rocker: All Terrain Rocker : Core: Maple/Aspen
Mindbender 88ti Alliance
Yeah yeah, another skinny-waisted freeride ski. But after the firstturn, you’ll realize the 88ti means business. With all the power you need and the ability to break it free on the backend of a turn, you’ll wonder why you waited this long to get on a pair.
Sizes: 149, 156, 163, 170 | Dimensions: 125-88-112 | Radius: 14.7m @ 163| Rocker: All Terrain Rocker | Core: Aspen Veneer
Carbon Spectral Braid Technology
Carbon Spectral Braid Technology is a carbon fiber laminate layer that is tuned to perform perfectly for the use. For Mindbender Skis, that means a tighter weave pattern of carbon fiber at the tips for edge hold and control, a different weave pattern under the skiers foot for tuned power transfer, and a more open weave at the tail to allow for that free feeling. By using carbon fiber instead of the metal Titanal you are left with a ski that is still responsive and playful but lighter weight when power and damping aren’t as important.
Mindbender Carbon Spectral Braid Models
Mindbender 116c
Conceived in the heart of the Cascades, this is the model that inspired the name “Mindbender”; never has there been a more capable 116mm waisted ski. If skiers keep pushing the envelope, this ski will lick the stamps.
Sizes: 179, 186, 193 | Dimensions: 143-116-133| Radius: 22.9m @ 186 | Rocker: Powder Rocker | Core: Maple/Paulonia
Mindbender 115c Alliance
k2’s widest female specific ski is designed from the ground up to meet the demands of the k2 Alliance. The 115c combinds the stability, float, and confidence worthy of the vangaurd of women’s freeride.
Sizes: 165, 172, 179 | Dimensions: 140-115-129| Radius: 20.4m@172 | Rocker: Powder Rocker | Core: Maple/Paulonia
Mindbender 106c Alliance
Designed to excel in the most demanding conditions. Constructed with carbon fiber for perfectly balanced torsional rigidity, female specific flex, and ultimate control..
Sizes: 159, 167, 175| Dimensions: 139-106-124|Radius: 15.0 @ 167 |Rocker: All Terrain Rocker | Core: Aspen Veneer
Mindbender 90c
Stability is good, edge grip is impressive; but it’s the intuitive nature and versatility of the Mindbender 90c that opens up new terrain all over the mountain.
Sizes: 156, 163, 170, 177 | Dimensions: 127-90-113| Radius: 15.0 @ 167 | Rocker: All Terrain Rocker | Core: Aspen Veneer
Mindbender 90c Alliance
Light, quick, and designed with Correct Flex, K2’s women’s specific technology that ensures a smooth and even flex throughout the entire length of the ski from tip to tail. Perfectly blended rocker and camber for a sublime feeling like no other!
Sizes: 149, 156, 163, 170 | Dimensions: 127-90-113| Radius: 14.5 @ 163 | Rocker: All Terrain Rocker | Core: Aspen Veneer
Remaining Mindbender Models
Mindbender 85
The first step in getting your mind bent. Tuned to grip in the front and rip in the back, the Mindbender 85 gives you a performance freeride ski at an approachable price.
Sizes: 156, 163, 170, 177 | Dimensions: 130-85-113| Radius: 13.5 @ 170 | Rocker: All Terrain Rocker | Core: Aspen Veneer
Mindbender 85 Alliance
The freeride gateway ski and the perfect introduction to the Mindbender series. Easy to maneuver, ligh, and quick for all-terrain skiing.
Sizes: 149, 156, 163, 170 | Dimensions: 130-85-113| Radius: 12.1m @ 163 | Rocker: All Terrain Rocker | Core: Aspen Veneer
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ERIK’S own Andrew Pettis (our Ski and Snowboard Product Manager) got a chance to ride the Mindbender Skis recently with Olympic Gold Medalist Jonny Moseley!
Check out the available Mindbender models at your local ERIK’S location or at shoperiks.com! More models will be added as they are released!
