2022 K2 Disruption 82 Ti

The K2 Disruption 82 Ti returns unchanged for 2022—still with that super-bright highlighter yellow top sheet and the sheer determination to hold tight to hard snow and add a little spice to the all-mountain versatility of the ski as well. At 82 mm underfoot, these are the widest Disruption skis, and this adds to the well-rounded nature, as does the low rocker profile, but the build is still mainly focused on the art of the perfectly carved turn. Built with a blend of aspen and maple wood in the core, the skis get K2’s Titanal I-Beam to do a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of power and performance. With full width of metal underfoot, the laminate tapers to the central spine of the ski in the forebody and through the tail, allowing for a fantastic amount of dampness and stability, while maintaining the ski’s ability to engage and release from the turn with a bit of playfulness and fun. This is, after all, not a race ski, but rather an all-mountain carver, and the build is treated as such. Still a ton of power, especially underfoot, with the powerwall addition to the sidewall, the K2 Disruption 82 Ti has a whole lot going for it.

Benny Wax was on the 177, and he noted that it skied long, especially in the softer goopy snow that he had for test time. I’d imagine Benny would have a different experience if the snow were smooth and firm, but I’d also venture to guess that the 170 would be a better size for him in this ski overall. Resultingly, Benny gave top marks of 4’s out of 5 for stability, torsional stiffness, and edge hold, with lower scores of 2 for quickness, maneuverability, flotation, and versatility. All other scores were 3’s so he nevertheless feels that these skis have some merits to them, just not quite in the all-mountain department. “This log was ok for long gentle sweeping turns. From crud to hard pack really nice turning. Don't try to get in the bumps or turn too quickly!” Not only the stiffness comes through in the bumps, but also the weight—these skis do have some heft to them, so be aware of that for sure.

Matt McAlary had a positive experience on his 177, noting that it skis true to size and is a good length for him. He had anticipated scores of 5 out of 5 for stability, torsional stiffness, edge hold, and overall impression. Sometimes with these skis, you can just tell they’re going to score high within a category, even without looking at the sheets, and Matt’s case was right on the money. “I really enjoyed this ski. I feel like a lot of upper-level skiers would enjoy this ski as their early morning groomer zoomed. It felt effortless to ski, but it responded well when you really wanted to drive it. It had a subtle but pleasant snappiness to it that I was not expecting and it was much nimbler than I had originally anticipated. I enjoyed skiing it so much while the conditions were a bit firmer in the morning that I took two runs on it. I felt like I could open up the 18-meter radius to something a bit longer and it remained very stable, and it almost felt like I could manipulate it into a shorter turn as well. It also felt agile enough to actually go ski bumps or trees with (when there is no new snow). Overall, I think it's just a ski that makes you feel like a better skier. and I think High end intermediates to experts would really enjoy it as a frontside ripper.”

The weight puts more pressure on an intermediate skier, while the advanced and expert skier might have a better grasp on using the ski’s weight as an advantage. They are certainly strong and stable enough to handle some of the higher speeds that you’ll find out there, and they definitely handle those conditions and terrain with aplomb. Very impressive skis with virtually no speed or stability limit—only those of the skier.