K2 Apache Recon (2008)

I tried 164s on a very warm day at Sunday River.  Good mix of hardpack in the shadows and soft pushed around crud everywhere else.  These are the first skis for me to ever hold a line through all of it.  Wicked edge grip.  Easy skid-ability if conditions warrant.  No speed limit for me.  No chattering.  78 waist was easy to manuever.  The only gripe is that they don’t like quick turns… they love GS turns.  Great ski but I think I want and quicker turner.

I have the K2 Recons 2009, i am big guy i ski on the 177’s, i am Becoming a British Ski Instructor and they are great fun on Piste carving, not bad for the Short turns can take them off piste and with only a bit of work they are really fun, when it comes to the bumps they are very enjoyable, you can go all over the mountain with these bad boys. they are slightly heavier than some skies but i like it.

These boards are solid all across the mountain. Both my older brother & I ski these in the 181 length (each of us are 6’2” -190 lbs). I had initial concerns about shorter boards both with going over the front and high speed wobble. Predecessors were Salomon Xscream Series in 196cm. In all but the near ice the K2 are crackerjack.  Recons handle ripping the groomers in China Bowl and slipping into the trees left off Pete’s, the Wiedes, steeps and ending bumps with easier effort due to the shorter swing length. These do not force turns or snap you into the next arc, if you want to roll in medium to long arcs, get over the center and ski hard (try to keep your whooping inside). Love them and will ski these for the next few winters!

I have the K2 Apache Recons 174s.  Solid all around ski, this ski was designed with intermediate to expert skiers in mind.  Nice handling in fresh power; while it holds a nice edge with some work. This ski is not a specialized ski.  If you like to Carve, you should go with the Blizzard G Supersonics.  Those are carvers and hold onto the snow like no other.  The Apache Recons are great in mogels, not the best though. You will find yourself riding switch and enjoying the deeper snow without a second thought with the K2 Apache Recons.

At the advice of a friend in Colorado Springs, I grabbed a pair of 177 Recons and headed to Keystone on April 4, 2010. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. These things did everything I asked with significantly less effort than I envisioned. Between the windy and somewhat icy conditions in the morning to the excellent packed powder conditions in the afternoon, the Recons just kept on delivering. Definitely lived up to its reputation as arguably the best all mountain ski available.

Skier Height:170 Skier Weight:5,10 Skier Ability:expert Ski length Tested:174

Ski Review:I have been sking for over 40 years. I worked as a patroller in the late 70,s also skied competitivley . My style is quick snappy turns and fast. I like as steep as I can find and still like big air. With that said after having to retire my favorite skis I looked to find a replacment. Not a easy feat as I tend to ski old style close stance and ski bumps at the top with feet pretty much touching. Because of this I have spent a couple of years sking on pretty much everything out there trying to find a ski I could trust and would respond on a dime. I won,t get into the many skis I did not like as with the newer taught wide stance and a GS type turn many would be well liked. With keeping that in mind I was looking for a single ski that was multi purpose, and have been selling off my five other pairs that are more style specific. Once I started skiing these ,I quickly realized I found the ski I have been searching for. I do not agree with those who thing this is slow edge to edge, for a all mountian ski I can hammer bumps at full speed and know the skis will work as an extention of myself rather than a battle throughout. This is a shorter ski than what I prefere but found it trust worthy on drops, in hardpack or deeper snow. Best ski ( and I have skied on many ) I have ever been on.I recommend it for anyone aggresive and upwards.