2022 K2 Disruption MTI

The K2 Disruption MTi returns unchanged for 2022, much to the delight of aggressive carving enthusiasts who value edge grip, stability, and dampness. Not sure which expert carvers wouldn’t value those characteristics, but it’s very nice to know that it’s all there with the MTi. At 74 mm underfoot, it’s certainly on the narrower side of the front side spectrum, and with that width, you get endless edge grip and torsional stiffness that’s bolstered by the unique construction of these skis. Built with a blend of maple and aspen in the wood core, you also get K2’s Titanal I-Beam to do the bulk of the heavy lifting. Edge-to-edge underfoot, the metal laminate tapers to the central portion of the skis towards the tips and tails, allowing for a slightly easier entry and exit to the turn, while keeping the middle parts of the skis, where you really need the power to be, fully ensconced in metal. This type of construction is great for a front side ski that doesn't have a race background—rather it has the power of a race ski but the accessibility of a front side carver. Minimal to zero taper and rocker in this ski accentuate the carving prowess, making it one of the smoothest skis in its range. Advanced and expert skiers, as well as former racers, will love the stability, dampness, and power of the ski. We’ve had a lot of happy skiers on this product, and they become even happier when the skis are used in the intended terrain and snow conditions. Smooth, hard, and fast is the way to be.

Dana Allen gave both the 175 and the 180 a crack, and found the longer length to be more appropriate for him. At 5’10”, Dana notes that the 175 was a bit short for him while the 180 was just right. He notes about the skis that it’s “Definitely a front side carver. Very stiff tip to tail and edge to edge. The dampening characteristics of the material in the tip and tail are good, but when it is really hard, they can shatter. Super quick edge to edge. Prefers medium to short turns. More business. Less party.” On the 180, Dana states that “The tip is relatively soft and floppy, while the underfoot area is relatively stiff, leading to vague but extremely forgiving turn initiation. Will hold an edge once set. Tail has nice pop but certainly won’t ‘rail’ the finish of a turn. In chop, the ski gets tossed around at higher speed but manages fine at lower speed. 90mm underfoot with a big shovel means decent versatility and float. Likes big turns and does ok on smaller ones.” Pretty similar scores overall, with some differences that you’d expect, such as the 180 getting a 4 out of 5 in stability, while the 175 was a 3. Overall, Dana describes the ski quite well here, noting that edge grip and underfoot stiffness is a big strong point.

Dave Carter was on the 175 and he states that it was “The first ski I tested today, so I got to ski it on firmer snow - Nose Dive turns, and Rimrock, and it felt solid there. Good all mountain carver that is probably best suited for groomers.” He scored the ski 4’s out of 5 for stability, forgiveness, torsional stiffness, edge hold, versatility, and overall impression. Pretty high overall scores from Dave here, as this is a ski that he’d gravitate to for a front side tool. The “solid” feeling that he describes was one of my first impressions as well, and while it takes a hot second to get used to the narrowness of the waist, it doesn’t ever feel like the ski will take you for a ride.

If you spend most or all of your time on the front side of the mountain, perfecting your groomer turns and looking for the next bit of fresh corduroy, these skis are a fantastic option. There’s a whole lot to like here about the stability and edge grip, and the quickness stands out as one of the ski’s top-end strengths as well.