Skiing is supposed to be fun. Like pretty much any other sport or pastime, it can be challenging, and the wrong equipment can make it even more difficult. If you could acquire a piece of gear that would mitigate these trials, wouldn’t you do it? The 2019 K2 Pinnacle 88 is just that product. Simply put, they are a fun pair of skis that are capable of handling a lot of different types of terrain and various snow conditions. At 88 mm underfoot, they’re wide enough to handle fresh snow (the wide shovel and long tip rocker help, too), and narrow enough to carve some sweet turns on the groomers. For intermediate to advanced level skiers looking to reduce and minimize their ski quiver, the Pinnacle 88 is definitely a product to take a closer look at. With a wood core, triaxial fiberglass braiding, and a sheet of metal, the Pinnacle 88 is built to handle it all. Our testers loved the versatile and fun-loving nature of the Pinnacle 88, and we’re willing to bet that you will too.
Benny Wax skied the 177 and found it true to size. He hops right on the fun train and comments that the Pinnacle 88 is “just a lot of fun. Easy turning and forgiving. Great in mixed terrain.” He marks the skis all 4’s out of 5 except stability and edge hold, which garnered 3’s. As a result, the overall character of the ski is revealed. “It’s a great ski for the advanced skier who likes bumps, trees, steeps, and etcetera. The spring snow and powder is a plus.” The fact that a ski can do all of these things speaks volumes about the potential of the product. There’s no real top end here, the sky is the limit for the Pinnacle 88
Michael Rooney skied the 184 and had a lot of pleasant things to say about it: “The Pinnacle 88 Ti turns very easily in all types of snow. It is almost effortless. Good cruising ski on blue slopes. You never have to worry about making a turn.” The fact that he scored 4 out of 5 for versatility, forgiveness, and quickness says a lot about the overall personality of the skis.
Dave Marryat skied the 170 cm length and scored it 5 out of 5 for overall impression. “This ski really surprised me. It was stable and held in mixed conditions really well. From frozen groomers to soft snow, the skis are much more versatile than I previously thought. They’re very calm and collected in the tip, while still having the ability to be playful. You can literally take these skis anywhere and not feel overpowered.” This fits our K2 theme of testers underestimating the versatility and performance of the company’s line.
Mike Thomas was on the 184 and wrote a mini-book about it. “I am really glad I skied these today. I loved them today. They cruised through the cut-up granular but gripped well on the still frozen bits. They felt great arcing mid to long carved turns but were easy to steer into short radius turns. They’re a great all-mountain ski for someone who wants a ski that can carve but is also excellent in the bumps and trees. I’d call it a perfect all-mountain ski for a skier who really skis everywhere on the hill in all conditions.” That’s a wonderful piece of insight from Mike, who at our retail shop puts a lot of people on a lot of different rental, demo, and retail skis. Hearing his knowledgeable perspective is extraordinarily beneficial.
The 2019 K2 Pinnacle 88 will make a lot of different skiers really happy. If you’re looking to have a lot of fun and not worry about what is on your feet, the Pinnacle 88 is just the stick for you.
