K2's all-new Reckoner lineup features all the usual candidates; the park-friendly 102, the do-it-all 110, and a 122mm powder beast. It also features a very left-field freestyle pow weapon, straight from the mind of Karl Fostvedt that’s definitely not an everyday ski for most skiers. It makes bouncing around in pow in all directions unbelievably fun. And while
As one of the few athlete-designed pro-model skis available to buy this year, it may be tempting to think that the Reckoner KF is a one trick pony that’s only suitable for those of us with Karl Fostvedt’s unique skill set. While it certainly caters to that style of high-energy freestyle powder skiing, it’s a remarkably approachable ski for us mere mortals.
Groomers & Resort Skiing:
The Reckoner KF’s super-playful nature and soft snow prowess come at the expense of high-speed stability on hardpack. Simply put, these are not very confidence-inspiring to rip GS turns on while charging a groomer, particularly an icy one. The soft tails lack grip and tend to wash out in turns. Of course, they are manageable as a resort ski. They aren't as soft as something like the Line Bacon 122 (or even Bacon 108 to be honest) so they will get you back to the lift with no problem, but they are not built with resort skiing in mind.
“For my style of riding within the resort this ski was definitely one of my favorites I’ve ridden. Lots of rocker and flex which allowed a very playful ride. Certainly a ski best suited for days with good snow conditions though. The light swing weight allowed for nimble riding in between trees and for unlimited freestyle capability.” - Dillon Eades
Powder & Mixed Conditions:
Crud and heavy snow are definitely a weak spot for the Reckoner KF. The nose and tail are both SOFT and yes the capitals are warranted. The amount of carbon in these means despite the soft flex, they have a lot of rebound, but that rebound isn't quick enough to deal with crud (though it can help on landings).
As a freestyle-forward pow ski, the mount is fairly centered. Karl likes to ride these backward nearly as much as he does forwards, so they provide a very balanced, park-ski-like feel, even in pow. The intentional design of the massive tip and tail rocker really helps the ski keep you centered and prevent the dreaded over-the-bars feeling when landing in deep snow. It is possible to overpower these, no question but we were surprised by how little it happened compared to something like the Bacon 122.
For those skiers used to skis that carve long, drawn-out turns in powder, the Reckoner KF will take a few runs to get used to–despite the long turn radius, it prefers short, powerful, slashy turns at speed. Despite the skis being quite soft, the carbon axial braid core construction (there’s no metal) gives an incredible feeling of built-in suspension that provides both a damp ride and a trampoline-like amount of bounce and pop
“In crud and variable snow the ski was susceptible to getting deflected. I’d say this isn’t the ski for crud-busting but that’s not why you’re buying it. These things are a pow day dream.” - Milo Harper
Park & Jibbing:
Load up the soft tails and you’ll find yourself airborne instantly. The really low swing weight makes shifties and spins as effortless as can be and there is a ton of rocker for landing switch in pow. The ski is actually really light feeling overall, and we expect to see quite a few of these make an appearance in the park. They are easy to ski, easy to spin, and will surf and slash with the best of them. 112 is starting to get pretty fat for a park ski, but it's not out of the question.
“The flex pattern with the softer tails makes it nimble in tight areas but solid when boosting. If it were a decent snow day these skis would be wicked for a booter sesh and landing switch. Being 112 underfoot I'd take these as my main all-mountain driver, touring setup, cliff hucker, and even for the odd cruisy park lap.” - Jordan Condon
Who's it for?
The Reckoner KF shines in playful pow skiing terrain: pillows, cliffs, and treeskiing. Unsurprisingly, it’s also really fun to go slithering around the resort on them, popping off side hits, cat tracks, and even sliding rails in the park. It makes bouncing around in pow in all directions unbelievably fun. As one of the few athlete-designed pro-model skis available to buy this year, it may be tempting to think that the Reckoner KF is a one-trick pony that’s only suitable for those of us with Karl Fostvedt’s unique skill set. While it certainly caters to that style of high-energy freestyle powder skiing, it’s a remarkably approachable ski for us mere mortals.
Check out our Best Of Test | Powder video for more on the K2 Reckoner KF:
As one of the few athlete-designed pro-model skis available to buy this year, it may be tempting to think that the Reckoner KF is a one trick pony that’s only suitable for those of us with Karl Fostvedt’s unique skill set. While it certainly caters to that style of high-energy freestyle powder skiing, it’s a remarkably approachable ski for us mere mortals.
Groomers & Resort Skiing:
The Reckoner KF’s super-playful nature and soft snow prowess come at the expense of high-speed stability on hardpack. Simply put, these are not very confidence-inspiring to rip GS turns on while charging a groomer, particularly an icy one. The soft tails lack grip and tend to wash out in turns. Of course, they are manageable as a resort ski. They aren't as soft as something like the Line Bacon 122 (or even Bacon 108 to be honest) so they will get you back to the lift with no problem, but they are not built with resort skiing in mind.
“For my style of riding within the resort this ski was definitely one of my favorites I’ve ridden. Lots of rocker and flex which allowed a very playful ride. Certainly a ski best suited for days with good snow conditions though. The light swing weight allowed for nimble riding in between trees and for unlimited freestyle capability.” - Dillon Eades
Skier: Jordon Condon. P: Carter Edwards
Powder & Mixed Conditions:
Crud and heavy snow are definitely a weak spot for the Reckoner KF. The nose and tail are both SOFT and yes the capitals are warranted. The amount of carbon in these means despite the soft flex, they have a lot of rebound, but that rebound isn't quick enough to deal with crud (though it can help on landings).
As a freestyle-forward pow ski, the mount is fairly centered. Karl likes to ride these backward nearly as much as he does forwards, so they provide a very balanced, park-ski-like feel, even in pow. The intentional design of the massive tip and tail rocker really helps the ski keep you centered and prevent the dreaded over-the-bars feeling when landing in deep snow. It is possible to overpower these, no question but we were surprised by how little it happened compared to something like the Bacon 122.
Skier: Dillon Eades. P: Carter Edwards
For those skiers used to skis that carve long, drawn-out turns in powder, the Reckoner KF will take a few runs to get used to–despite the long turn radius, it prefers short, powerful, slashy turns at speed. Despite the skis being quite soft, the carbon axial braid core construction (there’s no metal) gives an incredible feeling of built-in suspension that provides both a damp ride and a trampoline-like amount of bounce and pop
“In crud and variable snow the ski was susceptible to getting deflected. I’d say this isn’t the ski for crud-busting but that’s not why you’re buying it. These things are a pow day dream.” - Milo Harper
Park & Jibbing:
Load up the soft tails and you’ll find yourself airborne instantly. The really low swing weight makes shifties and spins as effortless as can be and there is a ton of rocker for landing switch in pow. The ski is actually really light feeling overall, and we expect to see quite a few of these make an appearance in the park. They are easy to ski, easy to spin, and will surf and slash with the best of them. 112 is starting to get pretty fat for a park ski, but it's not out of the question.
“The flex pattern with the softer tails makes it nimble in tight areas but solid when boosting. If it were a decent snow day these skis would be wicked for a booter sesh and landing switch. Being 112 underfoot I'd take these as my main all-mountain driver, touring setup, cliff hucker, and even for the odd cruisy park lap.” - Jordan Condon
Skier: Milo Harper. P: Carter Edwards
Who's it for?
The Reckoner KF shines in playful pow skiing terrain: pillows, cliffs, and treeskiing. Unsurprisingly, it’s also really fun to go slithering around the resort on them, popping off side hits, cat tracks, and even sliding rails in the park. It makes bouncing around in pow in all directions unbelievably fun. As one of the few athlete-designed pro-model skis available to buy this year, it may be tempting to think that the Reckoner KF is a one-trick pony that’s only suitable for those of us with Karl Fostvedt’s unique skill set. While it certainly caters to that style of high-energy freestyle powder skiing, it’s a remarkably approachable ski for us mere mortals.
Check out our Best Of Test | Powder video for more on the K2 Reckoner KF:
