2023 K2 Mindbender 116C

On the wide side of K2's directional powder ski line is the 2023 Minbender 116C. If playing in the deep snow and searching out pillow lines and surfy spines is your thing, then these skis will fit your desires to a T. Wide, playful, and incredibly fun in the proper conditions, the Mindbender 116C has a lot to offer. The weight of the build, in and of itself, isn't that burly, but since there's just a lot of surface area to be covered, it does end up having some heft to it. For skiers that are looking to access and annihilate the deep snow and crazy terrain of the big mountains of the planet, you need a bit of strength and weight behind your intentions, and that's where a ski like this comes in handy. Best suited to advanced and expert skiers who know what they're looking for in a ski, the Mindbender 116C loves to have its boundaries pushed, and you'll love being the one doing the pushing.

These skis are built with a wood core and K2's carbon spectral braid technology. While the narrower Mindbenders employ the titanal Y-Beam to generate strength and power, the MB 116 C's carbon spectral braiding accomplishes the same feat but with a pittance of the weight. The new Reckoner skis have more of a playful usage of the braiding while the Mindbender 116 C's braiding is more directions, much like the Y-Beam of the narrower skis in the line. With width-appropriate taper and rocker profiles, the skis are built for a maximum of flotation while keeping the weight to a minimum. By allowing the designers and engineers of the skis to be able to stiffen and soften the ski depending on the ski's intended use, they have a very efficient and effective way of implementing the braiding. As more of a directional ski than the new Reckoner series, most of that stiffness comes in the forebody of the ski.

The shaping of the ski also contributes to the maneuverability of the ski with more of a squared-off tip that keeps the bulk of the mass closer to the midpoint of the ski. In the 186 cm length, the skis generate almost a 23-meter turn radius, so these skis are built to go pretty straight. This allows the skier to more directly change and alter turn shape, increasing the playfulness of the ski. The straighter the tail, the more versatile the turns-you're not locked in to a shorter-radius turn that'll keep you from smearing and surfing. The big quality of these skis is their light weight for such a wide ski, and that's going to make a big difference for skiers looking for that maneuverability in the deep stuff. Built for fun and flotation, the K2 Mindbender 116 C is an awesome choice for skiers looking for the ultimate in playfulness in the deep stuff.

While a bit wide for true all-mountain skiing, the 116 is a fantastic freeride choice for the playful skier. Best suited for deep, wide, and fast skiing, the 116 loves to be pointed down the fall line and ripped around the biggest lines and pillows on the hill. If you, like us, love to ski bottomless snow, these skis are worth serious consideration.