Model: Made’N AK
Size(cm) / Radius(m): 179/? 189/27
Sidecut : 137-108-127
Length tested: 189
Manufacturer’s Description:
“Several members of the Factory Team have been sighted cranking up the volume on their cassette decks and runnin’ to the hills with a pair of Made’Ns in hand on deep pow days. This colossal ski has been designed with the big-haired, sleeveless concert-T-wearing rockers in mind. 189 and 179, a 128/108/118 footprint, and a 12mm side cut are the ‘numbers’ of this Beast. The dark, metal-inspired graphic will have rockers bangin’ their heads for a bottomless day. This backcountry-functional twin will get them stomping in any terrain.”
Ski-Review’s verdict:
First - let’s talk about dimensions. The K2 Made’N AK is fatter than the kid who ate all the glue in kindergarten. Spec’s lifted from the K2 data sheet say it all:
Dimensions: (Shovel/Waist/Tail) 137/108/127
Sidecut: 10mm
Radius: 27m @ 189
Lengths available: 179, 189
This is an imposing ski, and riding it will get you plenty of second looks in the lift line. K2 plays on this with a heavy metal graphic strongly reminiscent of Iron Maiden. K2 wants this ski to get noticed. On first glance, one can see the ski is super fat, with a very minimal sidecut compared to many of its cousins designed primarily for on-piste riding. The longest length is a 189, but at these dimensions, even this is a massive platform. A quick bend shows that these skis are very soft - softer than just about any aggressive skis this tester has ridden.
As expected, the ski cannot be called quick by any means on-piste. Snappy turns are possible however, with strength and good technique. The minimal taper to the ski means making carved turns will make you want to party like it’s 1989. Setting a hard edge at speed on an icy slope will show all the negatives of the wide waist, and soft construction. Chatter is not just what your teeth do when it’s cold out. Still—because of the softness, and the shorter length, (this tester rode a 189) there are many freeride oriented skis that do worse on piste - and a dedicated ‘pow-head’ could be satisfied with this ski as his/her only ride.
Where the K2 Made’N AK shines is away from the crowds. Once off the groomed, the Made’N AK floats effortlessly through the fluff. Because of the extremely wide platform, the ski begins to plane even at slow speeds. Staying centered over the ski, (the ski floats so well, there is no need for a slight weighting to the back,) you get the feeling of surfing on air. Gaining speed, this ski turns on, and the combination of uppity dimensions and soft flex float you over anything you encounter. A nice side effect of the twin tip is the fat rooster-tail you’ll generate as you rip turns down the hill.
In less than ideal snow - slush, deathmank, or chunky, chopped-up leftovers, the width of the ski again comes to play, while the softness, (especially in the shovel) let you make mistakes without having to pay for it.
This tester felt it was a great ski - for what it was designed to do. Before this sounds too much like a K2 marketing campaign - let’s discuss the downsides….
The ski has a huge radius, and getting the ski to turn around anything smaller than a 1966 Cadillac Eldorado will take strength and skill. Edge to edge transitions are glacial when compared to a top-line slalom ski, or even most all-round all mountain skis. These babies are heavy too! The extra weight will have you working for a living if you are not the big jock K2 designed these for. In addition, this weight makes the twin tips a bit suspect. While it is possible to land tricks off a backcountry kicker with these, it had better be a big hit, or you had better be a great rotator. Someone looking to do complex aerials will probably find a lighter ski somewhere else.
All said - this tester found the K2 Made’N AK to be an excellent ski. Spending 80% - 90% of my time off the piste - this has become one of my top picks of the season. It is recommendable to consider this as a second ski if you are fortunate enough to be able to own more than one pair. If you only ride one ski, then you have to evaluate fairly weather or not the excellent off-piste ability of this ski outweighs its mediocre (and in the freeride category - mediocre is good!) abilities on the slope.
About the tester:
Height: 6’1’ Weight: approx. 170 (lean and mean) lbs. Age: 30ish
I rode this ski over several months, (still riding) at several resorts in central Europe. I was able to ride all sorts of conditions and even busted some rails and landed on my head in the pipe. Backcountry tricks were done after poaching a kicker some kids had built…(they didn’t know it was for me!)
I’ll leave it at that. I’ll keep who I am a secret because I’m not sure my contacts giving me the skis would appreciate me writing open and honest reviews of their gear….
Real time prices for the K2 - Made’N AK 2005, or similar ski products:
Written by Ski Review Guest on 03/07
The Made’n AK (179) is my favorite ski I have ever ridden. Not for the non aggressive skiers but if you want to go fast and rip the mountain, this is the ski…even for the non-powder days.
6’4 160 lbs
Written by Ski Review Guest on 03/17
I ride the 179 and it is the funnest thing I’ve ever been on. I’ve ridden many fat skis. I am a teaching pro and backcountry enthusiast. I usually don’t use this ski for teaching though. This ski is THE ski for Berthoud Pass, CO—a place I can always count on untracked turns if its snowed within the last 5 days. At the short length I’ve found that the turning is quite snappy on in-bounds/groomed runs. The key to this ski is speed, it’ll do what ever you like as long as you’re hauling ass. It has made more switch cliff landings feasible. Only downside is swing weight is a bit heavy for spins/rails. If you were lucky enough to get your hands on ‘em this year I’m sure you agree with my comments. If you don’t have ‘em get ‘em for ‘05/‘06.
male 6’1”, 170 lbs
Written by Ski Review Guest on 03/17
i am but i am skinny. 150 lbs.
i felt that my seth pistols were a little short to be my all-mountain and pow skis, so i remounted them to center for park. do you think the 189 is too big for me? and is it too big to spin off bc kickers?
Written by Ski Review Guest on 03/17
in reply to above, i am 6’2”. i messed up while typing.
Written by Ski Review Guest on 06/12
I have a pair of 179 Made N’ AK mounted with a pair of Fritschi Freerides. Sure, they’re heavy and get looks in the popular backcountry hot spots, but nobody can touch me on the way down. If you don’t mind hauling up the extra weight, they make an excellent randonee ski. Not to mention breaking trail is a breeze. Note: I am 6’ and 200 lbs. and I love the 179 because they float and are quick on piste. Trust me, I’m a backcountry skier in Alaska skiing the Made N’ AK. They Rock!!!
Written by Ski Review Guest on 08/25
The Made’n is one of the best skis made. Way more versatile than you would think (it was my everyday ski) and can carve a pretty mean trench. The only downside I have found with it is the soft flex that allows it to be so forgiving and such a good pow ski also makes it flop like John Kerry does.
Written by Ski Review Guest on 11/22
Oh man what a ride! The AK?s (179) are now my everyday skis. I?ve skied everything with them from bulletproof groomers to bumps, even throwing on the skins for some bc. I haven?t found any condition that these skis can?t eat up. I strongly recommend these skis for a strong skier that doesn?t mind a few looks in the lift lines!
Written by Ski Review Guest on 12/26
Dude, where’s my car?! These sweethearts are everything I wanted them to be. I mean, with Eddie all over them, expectations are bound to be sky high.
What impressed me most is that I’m able to ride them comfortably in the pistes as well (and if you know ?re, I can tell you they rocked Olympiabacken at 15-30.) The radius is humongous, sure, but then again, who wants to turn a lot?
Up the irons!
L?nkan
Written by Ski Review Guest on 01/18
I am 5’8 and only 140 lbs. i own a pair of line skogen’s and ic enter mounted them for the park but that makes them really hark to keep above the powder. i am debating weather to get these or the line elizabeth’s. Elizabeths are lighter. But these sound pretty nice to me. Also my current skis are very stiff. i wanted something that is soft and can be bowed out in the pow. i am leaning towards these pretty heavily. Also i can get the maden’s with a pro deal so i think ill get them. Its just the fact that they are heavy….
Written by Ski Review Guest on 02/15
anything with Iron maiden on it has too be mad i needa get me suma these
Written by Ski Review Guest on 03/30
Dude, seriously…...These skis are sooo sick. No problem anywhere, any conditions.
Written by Ski Review Guest on 06/21
im quite big and heavy coz i also play rugby and so this is the perfect ski for pow and generally floating and cutting right through any snow. perfect for any decent skiers that find that are not floatin and flowin as well as they think they could.
Written by rweese on 08/06
I was looking for these online and stumbled across a Canadian site that still had them:
http://www.glaciershop.com/
Hope this helps someone
Written by Ski Review Guest on 08/22
I have the K2 Made’N mounted with G3 Targa bindings. Great ski I have never had so much fun riding anything. Great in Pow great in crud and even fun making high speed curves on groomers. Have to ski them agressive and hold nothing back. Make sure your do your lunges and squats in the off season. My next pair will be mounted with Bomber Bishops. I think I can get even more out of them. See you at Powder mtn or snowbasin.
Written by Ski Review Guest on 09/05
The most heavy ski I ever tested working during 2 seasons in a swedish ski-resort. I would love to get my hands on one pair for my own use!!!
Written by Ski Review Guest on 09/21
You can still get these awesome skis (only 189) at ALs ski equipment barn. $550 sick
Written by Ski Review Guest on 11/20
Graphics inspired from Iron Maiden and a wide waist at 108 mm. What more can you want for your powder skis? They are soft too, to keep you on top of the soft stuff.
K2 Made?N AK gear review by Brian
Written by xcjamie on 11/21
Awesome pow ski with 108 waist and also soft. These kill it in the powder but are okay on all mountain not the best. Not the lightest ski to be hiking with either. Cool graphics.
K2 Made’N Aks gear review by ?xcjamie?
Written by Ski Review Guest on 04/01
i have a pair of the 07 made ‘ns, and they are my favorite ski i’ve ever had. i have three other sets that i ride on other days, but my AKs have ripped through everything i’ve put them through and i find myself spending more time on them than any of my other skis. Although the main review says they are hard to turn on, if you have any muscles in your legs, you can cut down a slalom run on these bad boys. The rooster tail these throw up is unreal.
Chase R weight: 195 height: 6’4’‘
Written by Ski Review Guest on 02/11
I have the Maden AK in a 189 as well….let me just say I was looking for a BIG MOUNTAIN DESTROYER, and I found it for sure in this ski….that being said, it is my SECOND ski, and too burly or big to ride everywhere. I have a pair of Line Chronic Twins that I play on….but, if there is more than 8 inches of fresh, my k2’s are there to devour EVERY inch of it!! Stay on top of it, or it will take you for a ride….be STRONG, for sure, and you can get ALL this ski has to offer…
Jay V 5’10”, 200 pounds, in good shape…..still get me a LITTLE BIT tired sometimes!