2023 K2 Mindbender 89Ti W

We’re loving these new Mindbender builds from K2 for 2023. With a more explosive feel into and out of the turn, the on-trail capabilities of these skis are greatly increased. While the versatility stays roughly the same throughout, the carving and front side aspect of the K2 Mindbender 89Ti W is vastly increased. They’ve moved past the Powerwall design and incorporated a full sidewall, giving the ski more grip and a more consistent flex from tip to tail. By doing this, as well as tightening up the shape a bit, K2 has made this ski into a strong contender in a competitive category. The 164 cm length produces a 13.1-meter turn radius, so these things can turn on a dime. If you’re a fan of on-trail cruising and carving, this ski will be right in your zone. The Titanal Y-Beam has been altered to be more sophisticated, including a lower start point in the shovel and a more bulbous finish to the tail. This equalizes things a bit, and while we all really liked the 88Ti from last year, this new 89Ti takes it to the next level for sure. Still awesome in the bumps and off-trail scenarios, the new 89Ti loves to be on-trail and in a carved turn, and we’re all about it.

Abby Maurice skied the 158, noting that “I usually ski in the 160’s, but enjoyed the control of a shorter ski.” She scored it top marks of 5 out of 5 for stability, quickness, maneuverability, torsional stiffness, and edge hold. 4’s completed her scorecard for overall impression, versatility, forgiveness, playfulness, and flotation. These are some consistently high scores for sure when talking about a true all-mountain ski, and we’re stoked to see it. Abby states that “This ski provides precision, strength and speed and they will ask the same from you. I would recommend this ski to someone who thinks quickly on their feet and can comfortably maneuver various snow conditions and terrain. It definitely has the power to tire out the legs if you're not prepared to lean in and push boundaries. Their weight allows you to charge through fluff or crud but their flexibility polishes off a turn nicely while continuing to hold a stable edge.” While a good and easy turner, we do agree with Abby that the more you put into it the more you get out, so if you’re willing to put in the effort, you may tire quicker, but you’re going to have a good time doing it.

Carly Monahan was also on the 158. She noted that while it felt true to size, she’d get the 164 for herself. Like Abby, we’re seeing a lot of high scores on Carly’s card, with 5’s going for overall impression, quickness, maneuverability, and stability. Versatility, flotation, playfulness, torsional stiffness, and edge hold were next with 4’s and a lone 3 went for forgiveness, showing that this ski still has a business-like personality. She calls it “A favorite of the day. Feels sturdy and stable without being at all heavy or laggy. Rather, it’s nimble and responsive; quick edge to edge, easy to skid the tails and slarve turns softer snow, and can be driven into a variety of turn shapes. When you really try lay it over and follow its intended turn radius, its lively construction pops ya right into your next turn. Recommended for an all-mountain skier who’s not necessarily aggressive, but who wants to feel like they have some power under their feet.”

It’s pretty awesome to see such universal approval for a new ski like this. We also saw it with the wider Mindbender 99Ti W, so it’s not that surprising to see it with the 89 as well. For a shorter-turning ski, it’s a great option for that all-mountain skier who likes to push it and have fun out there at the same time.