Just bought a pair of these today. K2 rep suggested this exact ski over anything they have onnthe market. Now if only the Sierra would start getting dumped on!! Great review.
Hi, thanks for the review! Thinking about getting new skis and still deciding between Rossignol Experience 86 TI and K2 89 TI. Skiing mostly in the alps and staying mostly on trail. Any input is much appreciated, thank you in advance!
The K2 is a bit more flexible and amenable to variable conditions and terrain. The Rossignol is happier when it comes to on-piste and precise carving performance. If you're mostly on-trail and are looking for consistent power from tip to tail, I'd go with the rossignol.
Debating on getting these or the Atomic Maverick 88 Ti. I typically make 2 trips out west each year. Other than that I mostly stay on groomed/piste. Any major differences between the two? Which would perform better on powder vs piste?
I'd rather ski the Atomic in powder by about the same amount that I'd rather ski the K2 on piste. They're very close when it comes to performance. The Atomic is lighter and has a floatier tip shape, so it's going to stay on top of the snow a bit better. It also has a longer turn radius that makes it slightly more playful and drifty. The K2 has a shorter turn radius and a heftier feel, so it's going to want to find the bottom more readily. If you're mainly on-piste, I'd say the K2 offers a better chance of overall success.
The K2 will lean more to the groomers. I feel that the QST 92 is still a good groomer ski but is considerably friendlier in an off-piste format than the Mindbender. The QST is also not overlapping the Origin 106 all that much. I'd lean to the QST.
Hi! Thanks for the reviews! Is this a ski that an "athletic " advanced intermediate who's looking to improve could get along with (as Jeff likes to say)? I skied the Dynastar M-Pro 90 last season and did well on it. However, I'm looking for something with a bit more consistent flex, generally a little quieter, and that will pull me into a carving turn more readily. I'm 5'11 and 170lbs, ski mainly out west and mostly staying on trail (with some forays off trail). I was thinking the 89ti or the Serpo might be decent choices. Any input is appreciated, and thanks again.
Yes, since the K2 has opposite metal shaping as the Dynastar, it certainly pulls you into the turn more readily. I'm surprised at the shorter radius and the kick out of the tail as well--this ski is an amazing carver. That said, it's still fine to take off trail and into more adventurous zones. Serpo is very similar--lots of energy and pep. It's wider, so it'll be floatier, but not a huge difference from the K2, while the K2 is still a slightly better turner than the Serpo, especially from an initiation standpoint.
Thinking about getting these as part of a 2-ski quiver where these would be what I grab on groomer / low-snow days. I have a pair of black crows Camox that I love for soft snow and bumps but sometimes want some better hard-snow groomer performance. Think a good call? Thanks for your videos
Skied them this morning and loved them! Excellent energy out of the turn and quite versatile for bumps and light powder. They have a nice short radius, so that's a great thing for pop and rebound!
Great video as always! Is the main difference between the Mindbender 89TI and the Stance 90 the turn radius? Is there a ski that performs similarly to those two but has a turn radius somewhere in the middle? I think the Stance 90’s turn radius is slightly too long for my liking, so I’m leaning forwards the Mindbender 89TI, but I’m wondering if there are any other skis I should consider. Thanks!
The Kendo has more tip to tail power while the K2 is more agile and energetic. I'd rather ski the K2 if it came to bumps and trees while the Kendo offers fairly unrivaled stability and edge grip on firmer snow. The K2 is less demanding with more of a focus on carving fun while the Kendo is decidedly more businesslike.
The Mindbender feels a bit more substantial, especially at lower speeds. When you get them going, the Atomic settles down a bit, but because it's got a blend of light weight and responsive energy, it feels a bit more jittery at shorter turns. The K2 does not suffer from the same affliction--that ski is very comfortable when it comes to tighter arcs and an overall smoother feel. That said, you do pay for it a bit when it comes to weight.
Gents! The best, as usual. Moving from a Camox to get more real about what i ski most. East coast chop, steeps, side hits. Love the trees and want to keep geting better there. to either the K2 89ti or the Armada Declivity 92 How would you compare the two?
Hi. I ride mostly in Swedish mountains, but also some in the Alps. Right now I have a pair of Dynastar CR72 in 178 / r15.0 I like to carve but want to do taight C rather than long S to keep the speed down. It feels like I can't push the ski into shorter turns. (a little lack of technique and a very stiff ski) Do you think that the Mindbender 89ti 182 would be possible to flex into shorter turns? On paper it's a bigger radius than my Dynastars but it seems to be nicer flex on the Mindbender... Looking forward to your answer. Thanks😊
While it's not a race-like ski, it does have a shorter radius for an all-mountain ski. That makes it able to reach higher edge angles and come around nicely, which is what you're looking for. I am constantly surprised with the rebound out of the tail of this K2 ski.
Thanks. I love your work. Specially when you have your comparisons between similar skis. It makes it easier to understand what might suit me. Looking forward to next season even though I will then have fulfilled my "need" for skis 😁
The Disruption 82 Ti is right there with those skis. Strong and capable carver--not quite as versatile as the Deacon, nor as manageable as the Forza. Disruption is strong and stiff.
Just bought a pair of these today. K2 rep suggested this exact ski over anything they have onnthe market. Now if only the Sierra would start getting dumped on!! Great review.
Good choice!
K2 really need to fire their graphic designer... the top sheet is the only reason that I don't want to buy them!
Hi, thanks for the review! Thinking about getting new skis and still deciding between Rossignol Experience 86 TI and K2 89 TI. Skiing mostly in the alps and staying mostly on trail. Any input is much appreciated, thank you in advance!
The K2 is a bit more flexible and amenable to variable conditions and terrain. The Rossignol is happier when it comes to on-piste and precise carving performance. If you're mostly on-trail and are looking for consistent power from tip to tail, I'd go with the rossignol.
Debating on getting these or the Atomic Maverick 88 Ti. I typically make 2 trips out west each year. Other than that I mostly stay on groomed/piste. Any major differences between the two? Which would perform better on powder vs piste?
I'd rather ski the Atomic in powder by about the same amount that I'd rather ski the K2 on piste. They're very close when it comes to performance. The Atomic is lighter and has a floatier tip shape, so it's going to stay on top of the snow a bit better. It also has a longer turn radius that makes it slightly more playful and drifty. The K2 has a shorter turn radius and a heftier feel, so it's going to want to find the bottom more readily. If you're mainly on-piste, I'd say the K2 offers a better chance of overall success.
Between these and qst 92. Weigh 215 lbs 5.10. Skiing in Utah. Have origin 106s but want something from groomers and off piste capable too. Any recs ?
The K2 will lean more to the groomers. I feel that the QST 92 is still a good groomer ski but is considerably friendlier in an off-piste format than the Mindbender. The QST is also not overlapping the Origin 106 all that much. I'd lean to the QST.
Hi! Thanks for the reviews! Is this a ski that an "athletic " advanced intermediate who's looking to improve could get along with (as Jeff likes to say)? I skied the Dynastar M-Pro 90 last season and did well on it. However, I'm looking for something with a bit more consistent flex, generally a little quieter, and that will pull me into a carving turn more readily. I'm 5'11 and 170lbs, ski mainly out west and mostly staying on trail (with some forays off trail). I was thinking the 89ti or the Serpo might be decent choices. Any input is appreciated, and thanks again.
Yes, since the K2 has opposite metal shaping as the Dynastar, it certainly pulls you into the turn more readily. I'm surprised at the shorter radius and the kick out of the tail as well--this ski is an amazing carver. That said, it's still fine to take off trail and into more adventurous zones. Serpo is very similar--lots of energy and pep. It's wider, so it'll be floatier, but not a huge difference from the K2, while the K2 is still a slightly better turner than the Serpo, especially from an initiation standpoint.
Thinking about getting these as part of a 2-ski quiver where these would be what I grab on groomer / low-snow days. I have a pair of black crows Camox that I love for soft snow and bumps but sometimes want some better hard-snow groomer performance. Think a good call? Thanks for your videos
Skied them this morning and loved them! Excellent energy out of the turn and quite versatile for bumps and light powder. They have a nice short radius, so that's a great thing for pop and rebound!
Great video as always! Is the main difference between the Mindbender 89TI and the Stance 90 the turn radius? Is there a ski that performs similarly to those two but has a turn radius somewhere in the middle? I think the Stance 90’s turn radius is slightly too long for my liking, so I’m leaning forwards the Mindbender 89TI, but I’m wondering if there are any other skis I should consider. Thanks!
Check the Kendo. It' has Volkl's 3D Radius, so it actually makes a decent variety of turn shapes and styles.
How would you compare the Kendo 88 and this one? debating between the two
The Kendo has more tip to tail power while the K2 is more agile and energetic. I'd rather ski the K2 if it came to bumps and trees while the Kendo offers fairly unrivaled stability and edge grip on firmer snow. The K2 is less demanding with more of a focus on carving fun while the Kendo is decidedly more businesslike.
How do these compare to the atomic mavericks 88 Ti ?
The Mindbender feels a bit more substantial, especially at lower speeds. When you get them going, the Atomic settles down a bit, but because it's got a blend of light weight and responsive energy, it feels a bit more jittery at shorter turns. The K2 does not suffer from the same affliction--that ski is very comfortable when it comes to tighter arcs and an overall smoother feel. That said, you do pay for it a bit when it comes to weight.
Gents! The best, as usual. Moving from a Camox to get more real about what i ski most. East coast chop, steeps, side hits. Love the trees and want to keep geting better there. to either the K2 89ti or the Armada Declivity 92 How would you compare the two?
Hi. I ride mostly in Swedish mountains, but also some in the Alps. Right now I have a pair of Dynastar CR72 in 178 / r15.0 I like to carve but want to do taight C rather than long S to keep the speed down. It feels like I can't push the ski into shorter turns. (a little lack of technique and a very stiff ski) Do you think that the Mindbender 89ti 182 would be possible to flex into shorter turns? On paper it's a bigger radius than my Dynastars but it seems to be nicer flex on the Mindbender...
Looking forward to your answer. Thanks😊
While it's not a race-like ski, it does have a shorter radius for an all-mountain ski. That makes it able to reach higher edge angles and come around nicely, which is what you're looking for. I am constantly surprised with the rebound out of the tail of this K2 ski.
Thanks. I love your work. Specially when you have your comparisons between similar skis. It makes it easier to understand what might suit me. Looking forward to next season even though I will then have fulfilled my "need" for skis 😁
Which K2 ski would most directly line up with the Rossi forza 70 or the volkl deacon 84?
The Disruption 82 Ti is right there with those skis. Strong and capable carver--not quite as versatile as the Deacon, nor as manageable as the Forza. Disruption is strong and stiff.