The 2025 K2 Mindbender 116C is a dedicated powder ski built for the most epic of deep days. Sturdy and energetic, the 116C is composed yet creative for burly lines and staches. To top it off, they are light enough to get to your objective and back again in a touring format.

Why we like it:

Well suited for both a resort powder ski as well as a backcountry powder ski due to its composure and middle-of-the-road weight. Intuitive flex pattern, progressing in stiffness from tip to tail to ensure stability at high speeds and big impacts but forgiving and supple in the tips for maneuverability.

Who it's for:

Advanced to expert skiers seeking a true powder ski with loads of deep snow freeride applications. Skiers looking for backcountry jumps, big mountain lines, pillows, and steep trees will find these 116C’s an absolute dream in all those formats.

Highlights:

K2’s Aspen Micro Block core uses small stringers of aspen to provide composure and stability as well as forgiving flex pattern for a well-balanced feel in deep snow. Carbon Spectral Braid fine-tunes the flex pattern of the ski to make the forebody of the ski have torsional stiffness for proper turn engagement while the tails have more longitudinal stiffness for stability and charging capacities. Bio-Resin adhesives used to hold the ski together is a green approach to construction to lessen the footprint of production. Uni-Directional Flax functions for vibration damping and smoothness in variable snow.

Things to consider:

The Mindbender 116C is a powder specific ski that is fairly one-dimensional in its application. Firm snow and groomers are not necessarily in it’s forte so if you are looking for a more versatile all-mountain soft snow ski, the Mindbender 106C or 96C would be better options within the C line of Mindbender skis.

Fit & sizing considerations:

Skis true to size. If you need top-end high speed stability, impact stability, or floatation it may be worth sizing up especially if you are between sizes. If you prefer to have maximum maneuverability and playfulness, sizing down if between sizes is likely the way to go.