2027 K2 Mindbender 101 W

The 2027 K2 Mindbender 101 W is a fun freeride ski that floats better than expected while having a smooth and powerful feel on groomers and in variable conditions. These skis have a progressive shape and a sturdy build that allows advanced and expert skiers to evenly divide their time between front side and freeride activities. With an emphasis on flotation, these 101's are incredibly fun, swervy, and useful in deeper snow.

Built with a mix of aspen and paulownia in the wood core, the Mindbender 101 W has a mix of snappy energy and smooth power. They use their Titanal I-Beam on top of the core for damping and stability. We normally have seen I-Beam tech in K2's front side skis, but now that has filtered into their freeride division as well. The other big story here is the use of Dark Matter Technology. K2 basically adds weights of elastomer into the forebody and aft section of the skis along the edges. This reduces bad vibes and keeps the ski solidly on the snow. The blend of metal and elastomer certainly creates a unique feel within these skis as they provide a ton of confidence both on and off-trail.

At 101 mm underfoot, the Mindbender 101 W again blurs the line and creates a versatile ski that can vacillate between powder and groomers with ease. The shape is pretty interesting and fun, with measurements of 130/101/122 that generate a 17-meter turn radius in the 171 cm length. It's a bit longer than other models and that makes it feel drifty when you throw it sideways. The lower camber height and resulting flatter overall profile also contribute to the slashy mentality of these skis. The tip and tail rocker is quite long, and the taper shape is on the smooth side, so these skis don't tip into turns with vigor, but rather slide into them with more of a playful and creative mentality.

This ski will work very well on the feet of advanced and expert skiers, especially those with more of a freeride style. If you spend most of your time either in, or in search of deeper snow and more rowdy terrain, the K2 Mindbender 101 W is an awesome choice. Built with a strong and sturdy backbone to go along with a smooth and playful shape, these skis are super fun and engaging in all sorts of variable snow.