Originally posted at Evogear
K2 Pontoon Skis 2007
The K2 Pontoon: A totally new ski to the K2 Apache line, the K2 Pontoon is the brain child of Freeride legend Shane McConkey. As the name implies, the K2 Apache Pontoon is designed for flotation but it is the innovative design that challenges the conventional thinking behind ski engineering making ...
Best in Snow!
Best Uses: Downhill
Reviewer Comments: Hello people, Shane McConkey here. Yea I know, I'm reviewing my own ski and I of course will be biased as all hell. However, I really have a passion for powder ski design and think about it constantly. I am endlessly testing other powder ski designs and always trying to create the best tool for the job. After skiing on the Spatula for 3 years and testing many different shapes this Pontoon is what we believe to be the best tool for powder skiing. We had 2 main objectives when building the Pontoon: 1. to create the best powder ski in the world and 2. Not loose much ability to carve a turn on the hard pack in the process. The Spatula was a great powder ski but the unfortunate reality of powder skiing is that you will never be skiing only powder. You will always find a hidden hard spot or find yourself on a cat track or groomer working your way back to the powder stash. Even while heli skiing you will encounter the occasional ice crust or wind hammered slope. There are several other brands now making skis similar to the Spatula and will fall into the same catagory as the Pontoon. These brands borrow some of the Spatula's design ideas. I believe some of these skis will be great powder tools but will lack the versatility of the Pontoon and consequently will have some dissatisfied owners. We created the Pontoon specifically for the reality of powder skiing. 90% powder 10% other. Because there virtually is no such thing as 100% powder in any day on the mountain.
Pontoons are actually pretty light for how much ski there is there and you will be amazed at how easily you will be able to make quick turns in tight places. This is due to the tip and tail rocker. It allows you to pivot them on a dime very easily. With these skis you will never again need to shift your weight to the back and do all that ridiculous bouncing in and out of the snow that skiers think they need to do when skiing powder. You will expend less than half the energy you normally would using a typical powder ski. You will find that charging at top speed will be easier than ever. You will be able to scrub speed at any time by quickly slarving a turn or whipping them sideways as needed. Most people get a bit intimidated by the massive girth of these skis on first glance but you will get completely used to it in a couple days of skiing on them. After many different test models and extensive testing I am very proud of what we now have to offer you. K2 has a team of incredibly talented and open minded design engineers whom I feel very lucky to work with. I am very confident our creation is the absolute best ski money can buy for powder today. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do and thanks for letting me spray about my babies!
Shane
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