2021 K2 Mindbender 115C Alliance

As far as soft snow skis are concerned, these things are pretty sweet. Unchanged for 2021 except for a graphics refresh (although these were very nice looking with the pink tails in 2020), skiers who are looking for that powder-specific ski should still seriously consider the 115 C. Built with a maple and paulownia wood core, the skis are stable, strong, and light. K2 adds their carbon spectral braid to stiffen the ski without weighing it down, and this is a very nice way to adjust the torsional and longitudinal stiffness to match the conditions and terrain that these skis are designed for. By tightening the weave in the forebody of the ski, they increase the responsiveness and control, while in the rear, the more spaced carbon braid gives the ski a good deal more playfulness. As a result, these things are tailor-made for deep snow, fun slash turns, and excellent control in numerous situations. A fair amount of taper and rocker accompanies this build, allowing for sublime playfulness and maneuverability through the deepest of snows. You'll love these skis in the fresh-they have a very smooth and natural feel to them. We were fortunate to not only have our staff testers get on the 115, but also K2 athlete Veronica Paulsen who skis in Jackson Hole. Always nice to have some fresh takes on the skis!

Veronica Paulsen skis the 179 and is a pretty big fan. She scored the ski 5's out of 5 for quickness, maneuverability, versatility, and overall impression. It's always interesting seeing what a western skier thinks about versatility, as a Vermont skier would likely not get to see the well-rounded nature of the ski like a Wyoming skier. In that light, she notes: "My favorite thing about this ski is its versatility. It's my go-to everyday ski in Jackson for both in-bounds and the backcountry. The carbon core makes it light for how stiff it is, and the lightness allows for you to ski playfully! For me, it's the perfect combination of stiff enough to stomp big airs and charge fast, while being light enough to stay quick and maneuverable." Sounds like the skis, even without metal in them, have enough strength and stability to handle some of the big stuff out west, and that's a very good thing for hard-charging ladies who love to ski powder and steep terrain.

Our two testers here in the east didn't quite get as fair of a shake in terms of powder skiing, but they can certainly tell a lot about how the ski performed, with wishful thoughts about skiing deep western snow. Catherine Ferguson skied the 172 and scored it 5 out of 5 for a (would be) flotation, torsional stiffness, and edge hold. Her overall impression was a 4, and it just seems like everyone who gets on this ski really enjoys it-we also feel the same way about the comparable men's version. Catherine was pretty wistful about the ski. "I wish I could have tried them on a powder day. The width was a bit too wide for a firmer-to-spring like day like today, although I did enjoy playing around in the softer snow with them. I would recommend these skis to a lady who loves to ski both backcountry and resort powder." We here on the east have become very adept at finding that softer snow on the sides-a great skill to have.

Best suited for advanced and expert skiers as a dedicated powder ski, the K2 Mindbender 115 C Alliance is a great build and shape for flying around and finding the deepest snow on the hill. The build and the shape work very well together, and if you're in the market for that true soft-snow ski, this should be right up there with the best of them.