goods on the goods

This is by far the most innovative powder ski of the season, if not the decade. K2, with the help of Shane McConkey, has redefined the entire category with this ski. Traditional powder skis have differed from all mountain skis only in width. Aside from this, they have been constructed basically the same. The K2 Pontoon is much bigger than any of its predecessors, plus it has a tapered tail and a powder rocker design. This is a totally new ski…

Tapered Tail – the Pontoon’s dimensions are 160/130/120. Powder skis have become wider every season, but with a tip width of 160 the pontoon is the biggest. The Pontoon also has a narrower tail than waist. This allows the tail to sink in deep snow enabling the rider to maintain better body position and stay balanced regardless.

Powder Rocker Design – Deep snow is completely different than hardpack. Why should your powder ski have the same flex pattern, camber and construction as carving ski? With a rocker design the Pontoon has much more in common with surf boards and wakeboards than skis and snowboards. In order for a ski to work in powder it has to be bent into reverse camber (the tip and the tail are both bent up). The Pontoon is already in reverse camber, making it amazingly easy to ski despite its overwhelming size.

K2 is setting all the trends in freeride skiing. It is likely we’ll see similar constructions from two or three other manufactures in the coming seasons.