The 2024 K2 Reckoner gets a facelift, but otherwise remains the same great freeride ski that we’ve loved for a few years now. By using K2’s long-standing tradition of building fun and playful skis, this Reckoner 102 allows for creative and unique skiing while keeping the performance at a maximum. Basically, since the company started, they’ve focused on having fun on the hill and being individualistic and thinking outside the box. When Reckoner was introduced a few years ago, it just made sense. Our first experience with the 102 was a great one, and fortunately not much has changed. Each time we get on this ski we’re amazed at how well it holds for how playful and maneuverable it is. The 102, especially, makes incredibly clean and round turns on the groomers. While the intention of the ski is about as far from a front side ski as possible, the reality and real-world application of the ski put its carving capabilities in a sharp focus.

Built with a wood core consisting of fir and aspen, the Reckoner 102 gets a sturdy start. There’s a nice blend of agility and smoothness with this core that just makes sense in a modern freeride ski. K2’s Carbon Spectral Braiding is the big story here, as it allows the engineers at K2 to focus attention on certain parts of the ski. In a multi-directional ski like the Reckoner 102, this means that the cross-hatching of carbon stringers is tighter underfoot and looser in the tips and tails. As a result, the edge grip and torsional stiffness in the center of the ski is fantastic while the ends of the skis are smeary and playful. At 1822 grams in the 177 cm length, the ski has some weight to it, but the overall shape and footprint make it a lot more maneuverable than the grams may indicate.

As a freeride ski with freestyle acumen, the K2 Reckoner 102 is a fantastically fun-loving ski that floats great and is also a wonderful turner. The caveat here is that since the tips and tails are on the flexible side, you have to stay central in the ski in order to maximize performance. In the 184, we get a 19.3-meter turn radius, and this is a great mid-range place to be. Skiers can easily manipulate the shape to accommodate their needs and whims. If they choose, they can stand firm in the middle of the ski and it’ll tighten up the radius in more of a slalom format. This is mainly due to the flex and the rocker profile. With a shorter effective edge due to the fairly dramatic tip and tail rocker, you can access a greater portion of the sidecut with less effort. There’s a good amount of taper here as well, so if you’re looking to wheelie and nollie your way down the hill, then feel free to do that as well.

We’ve loved the K2 Reckoner 102 since inception, and those feelings have not changed. The blend of freeride and freestyle capabilities is fantastic, offering a lot of performance and versatility for a wide range of skiers. If you’re interested in trees, bumps, powder, groomers, park, or steeps, this ski is poised and ready to get you what you need. While the ski is flexible enough for intermediates, advanced and expert skiers will find more uses overall, putting this ski in rare company when it comes to playful character and fun-loving personality.