The K2 Midnight is a fine example of a park-specific ski that holds up to some serious jumps, rails, pipes, and airs. This thing is all business, but in the funnest way possible. K2 has been known for creating some of the most playful and fun-loving skis on the planet ever since inception, and all of those years of experience definitely shine through in the Midnight. If you’re looking to jump start your park career and make some waves in the freestyle world, the 2024 K2 Midnight is the way to go. With a new graphic for 2024, the ski remains structurally the same while bringing a new look to the top of the podium.

Built with an aspen wood core, the ski has an excellent blend of energy and pop. By using this wood, they’re making a flexible ski that’s strong enough to handle big impacts and high-speed carves. When you’re making your way to the takeoff, you’re hitting some high speeds, so it’s necessary for your ski to stand up to this demand. Adding to the energy is K2’s Carbon Boost Braid which runs longitudinally along the spine of the ski. This carbon gives the ski a lot of pop and energy for when more performance is needed. Additionally, we see K2’s triaxial fiberglass laminate employed here, and while that takes the strength of the ski to the next level, it also adds some weight. In the 169, we’re looking at a weight of 1707 grams, which is on the hefty side for a ski of this size and shape.

At 88 mm underfoot, we’re right in the sweet spot for competitive park skiing. If you go too much wider, you’re losing quickness. If you narrow it up too much, there’s a loss of stability. As such, this 88 is right on target with what most park and pipe skiers are looking for. While it’s close to symmetrical in terms of shape, it’s not quite there, with a 116 mm tip bookended by a 110 mm tail. The 6 mm drop in taper isn’t a whole lot, but it does keep the ski from being totally the same. The twin tip splay is a lot more identical, with equal parts in the tips and tails that allow for clean and proper freestyle skiing. In the 159, we’re getting a 14.5-meter turn radius, which is on the short side, but it’s also on the fun side, so there’s a trade to be made here. For skis this short, the shorter arc makes sense and allows for proper carving off of lips while freeing the ski from being too hooky or catchy.

Overall, there’s a lot of skiers out there who need a ski like this. The Midnight is a fantastic option for skiers who are entering or topping out on the freestyle circuit. It’s durable, predictable, and confidence inspiring. When you’re sending park jumps at high rates of speed, this is an imperative part of the ski selection process, and the Midnight has that part of the park world down.