Hover image to zoom
K2 Mindbender 89 Ti W
MSRP: $699.95
Buy Now — $699.95
THREE YEARS AGO, K2 LAUNCHED THE MINDBENDER COLLECTION OF SKIS AND BOOTS and it reinvigorated the brand’s freeride roots. The collection could conquer the entire mountain, but did so with a playful nature that freeskiers—like you, the readers of this magazine—couldn’t quite find. Now, for 2022-23, K2 has refined the entire Mindbender lineup for men and women, with the K2 Mindbender 89Ti W receiving the most significant update.
“We decided to build on the success of theses skis by incorporating lessons learned from years of product development on other ski collections,” explains Peter Brigham, Design Engineer at K2. The changes Brigham is referring to are several: a new aspen veneer core, slightly deeper rocker profile, adjustments to the tip and tail taper and a slightly shorter, more nimble turn radius. However, the biggest change is how K2’s engineers utilized their proprietary Titanal Y-Beam construction to achieve better stability, turn initiation and finishing power.
“We updated the Y-Beam shape keeping the existing benefits of Torsion Control Design while adding top end stability and performance,” says Brigham.
The new Titanal Y-Beam construction places Titanal directly over the edges in the forebody of the ski for predictable turn initiation. Underfoot, the Titanal spans the full width of the ski for maximum control and power transfer. In the tail, K2’s team moved mass away from the ski’s mounting points increasing directional stability and consistent turn release.
The K2 Mindbender 89Ti W is a ski that ladies should reach for in between storm cycles, or if they live in a region where it doesn’t snow all that much. During FREESKIER’s Ski Test, skiers enjoyed cornering on groomers and utilized the ski’s playfulness in soft snow. The new changes allowed the ski to compete with other frontside-focused skis yet, most importantly, maintained the versatility and fun our testers covet. For such a narrow ski, it’s fun to maneuver in soft snow with a poppy feel to bounce around moguls as well as groomers.
“The new design allows skiers to make a wider range of turn shapes,” says Brigham. “It excels on and off piste, and if you are looking for a ski to grab when it hasn’t snowed for a bit. This is a great choice.”