We are committed to testing gear no matter the conditions, but there’s something about testing in fresh snow that just hits different. Two days before we went up to Sunapee, they got dumped on, which meant full coverage in the trees and plenty of pow stashes on the sides of the groomed runs. 

6 ski testers and 1 snowboard tester got after it on new K2 boots, boards and skis. 

Softgoods buyer Devon Scovill spent a lot of the day on the new Mindbender 96C. Designed to be a lighter all-mountain ski, she felt it performed well for the soft conditions, calling it flowy and easily maneuverable. 

She also took the 104C out for a quick dip in the trees. “It was very reactive in the tighter trees, which was awesome,” she said. She appreciated the wider waist width in the glades where the snow was a little fluffier. 

We also had the opportunity to test more of their BOA boots. Boot fitter, Andrew Plourde, wore the Mindbender 120 BOAs for a good portion of the day. 

“The BOAs feel way more uniform in pressure in the forefoot, and they help drive that heel back into the pocket,” he said. Andrew has a higher instep and said he didn’t feel any pressure on the top of his foot that he usually gets from traditional four-buckle boots.

He also spent some time on the Reckoner 102s — a true all-mountain twin tip. He felt it was easy to maneuver and pivot through the trees, but he was also impressed with its grip on hardpack for being a little more lightweight. 

Tyler Fuller, a member of our customer service team, had tested the new Mindbender Cs at the Pico demo earlier in the season, so he came into the day curious to test them out at a different mountain in different conditions. 

“On our dedicated K2 test day, I did feel like I was able to lay the Mindbender Cs over a little better than I was able to at Pico,” Tyler said. “I was really impressed with how nimble they felt off-piste.” 

Regarding the Mindbender Tis, he said they felt heavier, but he appreciated that stability on groomers. 

Boot fitter, Luc Gordon, was a fan of the Mindbender 89 and 99 Ti. “They were super strong and fairly stable, with the edge-to-edge quickness varying between waist widths,” he said. “They have a nice rocker profile, and even with the flat tail they felt easy to throw sideways and get down.”

Compared to the Ti, the new C model is softer and not so great for hard-charging. The metal has been removed and replaced with carbon to create a lighter, more playful ski. It is easier to handle, good for a lighter skier and equally as fun but not quite as powerful. 

Like Andrew, Luc also rode the Reckoner, impressed with how the playful ski could carve, especially at a 102 waist width. He called the turn initiation crisp and noted that it was pretty powerful for a ski with no metal. 

Boot fitter and snowboard tester Dylan Lavoie spent the day on the K2 Excavator. A stable board that carves well and is great for trees and bumps, which we did a lot of this day. If you are not a switch rider then it makes for a more versatile board when it comes to softer snow. 

We ended the day with a classic grill sesh on the Sunapee Beach. On the menu today — burgers and sausages grilled to perfection. Great way to end a ripping test day. 

For any questions about gear book an appointment to come see us in Boston or contact one of our gear experts!