2023 K2 Reckoner 122

The K2 Reckoner 122 is a serious ski for playful skiers. It’s a crazy mix of deep powder fun and freeride freedom. There are a lot of wide skis out there, but very few have the playful and fun-loving nature of the Reckoner 122. In terms of application, this thing is pretty one-dimensional in that it needs and wants deep and fresh snow in order to perform. There are narrower versions of the Reckoner (102 and 112) that are better-suited for more all-mountain pursuits, but if you are looking to spend most of your time in bottomless snow, definitely reach for the 122. As a resort ski, the hope is that you are in a zone that gets a lot of snow. There are other ways to get up the mountain, whether it’s by snowmobile, cat, helicopter, or hike, but for most skiers, the lifts work really well. At the end of the day, it’s all about having fun out there on the hill, and if you can do so in waist-deep fluff, so much the better.

Built with a blend of fir and aspen wood, the Reckoner 122 gets an energetic build that has decent stability to it. The fir core is located on the outer portions of the ski for strength in the edges, while the aspen is found in the central spine to provide energy and pop. Carbon Boost Braid consists of tip to tail carbon stringers that are woven into K2’s triaxial fiberglass laminate to give the skis an extra kick of stiffness and radiance. The big thing here, as it has been for a few years, is the implementation of the carbon spectral braiding that allows the engineers at K2 to fine-tune the torsional stiffness of the ski. As a non-directional twin, we’re seeing tighter spread of these stringers in the middle of the ski with looser braiding in the ends. This allows for more playful freestyle fun from a drifty and smeary perspective as it allows the tips and tails to come loose with the underfoot zone still intact.

With measurements of 144/122/136, these skis have some serious surface area to allow for maximum flotation. The 184 produces a turn radius of 23.7-meters, which is definitely on the long side, but when you consider the flexible nature of the ski, it allows the skier to push into the ski and get it to bend to the desired shape. The point is, you can certainly tighten that arc up and manipulate it if need be, and that’s a huge part of the playful and freestyle nature of all of these Reckoner skis. As with any large-bodied ski, the taper shape and rocker profile fall on the dramatic side of the spectrum, and that’s great news for skiers who do not want their skis to submerge in the deep stuff. If you’re looking to stay afloat on any depth of snow, these skis and their amazingly long rocker lines and low-slung taper will keep you on top for sure.

As the widest Reckoner, the 122 holds a special place in the hearts of powder enthusiasts and deep snow crazies. From nutty pillow drops to huge cornices and vast powder fields, the K2 Reckoner 122 is one of the floatiest and smeariest skis on the planet, and it makes a lot of sense if you know you’re getting a deep day. For those rare storm cycles, you’ll be stoked to have the 122 on your feet.