2021 K2 Reckoner 102

I like it when the narrowest ski in a model line is a 102. That shows that they're built for deep snow and big fun. The new 2021 K2 Reckoner 102 is an ideal choice for skiers looking for a fun-loving, playful, and surfy ski for versatile snow conditions and terrain. Much like the wider Mindbender 116 C, the Reckoner 102 uses a wood core and K2's carbon spectral braid. This allows the ski designer to really fine-tune both the longitudinal and torsional stiffness of the ski. For a soft-snow ski like this, the braiding is tighter right in front of and behind the binding, with looser braids in the tips and tails. The end result is a playful floater with a twin tip shape and moderate rocker. Most skiers who spend a lot of their time in soft snow and enjoy a more freestyle-oriented ski will absolutely love the new Reckoner 102.

Bob St.Pierre lucked out and got a pretty powdery day to ski these. It was a cold smoke type of day with huge drifts on the sides of the trail. While a bit more forward-mounted than he would normally like, he still loved the 184 and the playfulness of the ski. Earning 5's out of 5 were flotation, playfulness, and forgiveness. "For a 102, they float really well, and the surfiness of the ski is really unmatched in this width. The combination of construction and rocker/taper profile lines up really well in this ski. While I was a bit heavy for the ski, even in the 184, I still got a lot of positive aspects of soft snow performance out of it. It was a bit of an exaggeration to call the drifts pillows, but that's how I felt bouncing down the sides of the trails. At the end of the day, it was a bit too flexible for me, but I still had a blast on it." While that carbon braiding is an effective tool in controlling the flex of the ski, it's still not going to be ideal for every skier, especially if you're topping 220 pounds and have some force behind your turns.

Jeff Neagle got to ski the 184 and loved the length. He scored the ski 5's out of 5 for quickness, forgiveness, playfulness, and overall impression. I had a feeling Jeff would like these skis, and I was right. "I really enjoy skiing these. Right up my alley. This is the type of ski I could ski every day and be really happy about it. Checks a lot of boxes for me personally. Versatile for different terrain, playful attitude... you can do a lot on it. Perhaps one of the coolest things about this ski is how the soft longitudinal flex isn't indicative of the edge grip, K2's Spectral Braid construction works in some solid torsional stiffness underfoot, which means you can really flex this thing into different radius carves thanks to the soft longitudinal flex, but good torsional stiffness. I think a lot of skiers will enjoy that concept. For me, or for someone like me, it crosses over between park ski and all-mountain ski really nicely. Light on your feet and narrow enough to use in the terrain park, yet wide enough and with the right shape to tackle off-piste terrain and softer snow conditions. I honestly won't be surprised if we see a lot of K2 athletes switching from a ski like the Poacher to the Reckoner 102. I'm sure not everyone will, but it's lighter and has a surfier feel, which aligns well with "modern" freeskiing. A worthy replacement for the Marksman, and somewhat of a nod to past skis like the Shreditor. Similar shape, but new construction and new feel."

From tip to tail, the fun-loving Reckoner 102 will meet and exceed a lot of playful skier's expectations. They're incredibly surfy and fun, and they're capable of making really clean and round turns.