Our testers jumped at the chance to get on this year’s K2 Pinnacle 95 Ti. After gaining traction of the past couple of years, the Pinnacle series really came into its own. Skiers realized that you don’t have to have the stiffest and strongest ski to enjoy your day on the mountain, what you really need is the proper ski for your ability and the terrain and conditions that you normally ski. Enter the K2 Pinnacle 95: it’s a no-nonsense ski but it is born from playful parenting. The designers at K2 built a ski that can handle any and all conditions. It can carve on groomers, float through powder, and bust through crud. If there’s a better-rounded ski out there, we’d like to see it.
Benny Wax was enthusiastic about jumping aboard the 177 cm Pinnacle 95. He scored it 5 out of 5 for flotation and overall impression. As an enthusiastic turner of skis, we weren’t surprised that Benny was impressed with the 95. He also scored all 4’s for stability, quickness, playfulness, and versatility. These are all very good scores for important ski qualities. He states: “Yippee on corn, powder, and mini-bumps!” Not sure really what mini-bumps are, but we’ll take it! He also comments on the diversity of turn shapes that the Pinnacle 95 allows for. He specifically mentions “short and long turns,” but we’d be willing to wager they can handle some mid-range carves as well. He concludes with a succinct “playful ski.”
Jason Krupsky skied the 184 cm length and scored it 5 out of 5 for playfulness. He backs up his 4 out of 5 score for quickness and maneuverability with a quote: “The Pinnacle 95 is a very quick turning ski for a 184.” The long tip rocker definitely has something to do with this; the turn initiation gets a lot faster with the length of the profile. As a result, some people including Jason, found that the tips had a bit of chatter and vibration while at speed. When the skis aren’t fully cambered, it’s expected that some air is going to flow under the ski and create that flutter effect, especially on harder snow. He calls it “playful and has a lot of energy. It’s a great ski for someone looking for a ski for powder and shorter turns.”
James Stewart found the 177 to ski shorter than expected, but that didn’t deter him from scoring the skis with mostly 4’s out of 5 including overall impression and versatility. “This is a fun ski for the funnest days on the hill. It’s relatively soft and the light construction makes it playful in soft and edgeable snow. They have a solid feel underfoot, and while the tips are big and soft, they also allow for the ski to plane up on the snow and float really well for a 95 mm waisted ski.” The aspect of the big floaty tip is certainly a plus for the fresh stuff.
Justin Perry loved the torsional stiffness and edge hold of the 184 cm Pinnacle 95. He scored 4’s out of 5 for versatility and overall impression, so it’s safe to say that this was Justin’s kind of ski. He noted that it “skied a bit long, but fun nonetheless. It’s stiff because of the titanal layer, which at the 184 length, made it interesting. It does wonders on hard hack and ice. In addition, it cut through the crud like a beast.”
K2 definitely has some good stuff coming down the pike with the Pinnacle 95. They took a great construction, a versatile shape, and added a playful profile. The end result is a true all-mountain ski that can be used on any day and any slope.
