2021 K2 Mindbender 98Ti Alliance

Long strange name, but really fun ski, the 2021 K2 Mindbender 98 Ti Alliance returns unchanged structurally, but with a (much needed) graphics refresh. No longer so bland, the MB 98 Ti is an ideal choice for advanced and expert lady skiers who are looking for the ultimate in power and versatility. With a playful overall shape and profile, the ski has some meat on the bones as well in terms of construction. Built with an Aspen core, the skis start out fairly light and agile, but they gain their strength mainly through the use of K2's titanal Y-Beam. This metal laminate extends to the edges in the forebody of the ski and then tapers to the central portion of the ski in the tail. This gives the ski a ton of power and precision at the start of the turn and a more playful exit. These partial metal laminates are all the rage these days, and K2 has a good stance on how that should work. Precise and stable in the front, and fun and flappy in the back, the 98 is a versatile ski for a variety of conditions, turn shapes, and styles. The squared-off tip shape lightens swing weight and increases maneuverability so if you're spending time in the bumps or trees, this is a big bonus as it doesn't jeopardize overall stability or power. Our testers were huge fans of these skis, and found them to strike a good balance between playfulness and seriousness.

On that note, Kelsey Boleski noted that the skis have both "svelte and strength." She skied the 168 but felt that she could have gone longer. All 4's down the board for Kelsey, showing the true all-around versatility of these skis. In addition to the nice description at the top, Kelsey notes that "the MB 98 is a great do-everything ski for the east and beyond. The Ti adds the strength with the ease of use makes for the svelte feel." Also on the 168, Darcy Mangan totally agreed with Kelsey in the scoring department. All 4's in the book for Darcy as well, doubling down on the versatility and high-performance nature of these skis. She says that the skis are "all there without being overwhelming. Stable and quiet, and while I could have used more grip on ice, it's certainly a fun ski willing to do whatever you ask it to." That type of willingness in a ski is a great quality-one that we'd like to see talked about more for sure.

In that dual-nature of a ski, Lauren Lepage notes that the MB 98 Ti "offered a high level of fun and confidence. They were playful yet stable." It's very nice when these opposing qualities come together and work as a team. Typically, skis that are playful are not particularly stable, and vice versa. Lauren had a lot of 4's on her card as well-this ski probably has more 4's than any other ski in the test-I'll have to go back and check. But seeing those consistently high numbers, especially on Lauren's 168 tester, shows that K2 has done a very solid job in creating, designing, and finally building a fantastic all-mountain ski for ripping lady skiers.

Sure, the narrower ski will carve better and the wider ski has more flotation, but there's a lot to be said for the ski that does it all pretty darn well. Sometimes, one or more qualities of a ski gets lost in the shuffle when a company tries to do everything, but K2 has a nice blend of stability, performance, and fun that goes a long way for skiers who are looking for a true do-it-all ski.