2011 K2 Hellbents

B

bakerbuds

New member
Home mountain: Mt. Baker, WA

Years riding: 16

5'9 175lbs

alright, i've looked at so many reviews been researching the new 2011 hellbents in 179, and i'm pretty positive that its what im gonna spend my money on for my new pow gnar thrashers for the year. I'm super stoked about them, the new 132 waist plus another 10 on the tip and tail, the directional taper, the insane powder rocker, the added bit of camber underfoot to make sure that little but of underfoot is being used as much as it could be on the groomers. So i'm mounting these skis with the PX18 Freeski's, I know not the best binding in the world, but they are bomb proof, and I can rely on not popping out in the most hectic of situations. But im worried about how heavy the hellbents and the px18's will be all together, man that just sounds like a crazy heavy ride, super fun, durable, reliable for that deepest of pow days which is all we get up here at baker. I'm also worried about how well the hellbents work in technical situations, for those sketchy lines, and tight trees. I'm about 60% in bounds but at baker thats alot of awesome sick lines still, and about 40% backcountry. What do you guys think about these skis, tell me more, am I really gonna be stoked? Are they the right ski's for wanting those awesome playful pow days, but still have the ability to get technical, and to take out of bounds? Or are they not the right feel for that vibe. I'm in a huge knot right now. I'm a freakin poor ski bum every winter for most of my life, never even bought a pair of THIS YEARS brand new ski's before, but I rip to shreds everything i've ever had, ride almost 70+ days a year and i wanna make sure I use my money wisely. Also if anyone has anyother ideas on skis that they are personally stoked on would be rad. I do like surfaces new life, seems a little stiff though, also the moments bibby pros, the JJ's are rad to but maybe not as much in the waist as want and the 185 seems a little large. alright i'll stop rambling. just lemme know.
 
Just based on your needs/wants, it sounds like a bit stiffer would suit your needs much better. The Bents are reeeeaaaally soft, and are intended for pow jibbing (playful, butters, switch riding, etc.). If you really like steeps, chutes, trees, tight spots, and generally "hairy" lines, I think you'd be much better off investigating some other sticks that are more up your alley. I think a slightly stiffer ski, that still has plenty of rocker, would be a better one ski quiver out there. If you're dead set on bents, I bet you'd like them, but they're definitely not a point it and go sorta board....they would chatter like a motherfucker if you somehow found yourself in some seriously varied terrain, or some crust/windbuff.
ON3P, Moment, Surface, LINE, Atomic....shit...just about everyone is making at least 2-3 different "off-piste all mountain" skis these days.
 
Take a look at volkl chopsticks, they are a bit stiffer than hellbents and are suitable for charging hard. They have zero camber underfoot, and early rise tip and tail which volkl says makes them have quick turn initiation and uniform edge contact when on groomers, but off piste maximises its float. They are symmetrical so awesome for skiing switch, which you said you liek technical riding in the BC so that is perfect for you.

Only other ones i would personally look at are line EP pros, they are like the chopsticks in that they ski switch awesome but arent symetrical. If its any consollation, this year im upgrading my quiver and getting AR7s for park and piste, and either the chopsticks or EP pros for off piste.
 
sweet ya sorta helping, im real playful in the pow also so the softness of the hellbents doesn't really scare me to much. I had atomic thugs, and loved the soft feel of them for nice poppy ollies in pow, they were about 123 in the waist but had absolutely no shape at all, straight plankers. I'm really lookin at the JJ's but i think the 175 wouldn't be enough ski, and the 185 would be to much ski...it just seems like it would be a real fun ski for pow, riding switch in pow, gettin technical, not a back breaker for those long hikes, awesome reliability for the backcountry. i just wish they had somethin smaller than a 185, tanking with that much ski in front and back of me with bindings centered while im navigating through the trees or tight situations, anyone know if they are a light ski? or how do they feel on below your feet? would 185 be to big?
 
this guy is right. the chopsticks are good skis. that being said, i have the 2010 hellbents, and they are my favorite ski ever. so sick, but they are not durable at all. mine have already had a couple core shots, and there are multiple spots on the top of the ski where it is cut down to the core. so i dont know if you are trying to have these skis last you for a really long time, but just beware of the durability issues. who knows, maybe i just got a defective pair haha, and maybe they fixed the durability issues in the new ones. but they are super awesome skis
 
ya caylor is a rad kid for sure. i kno i've been on a high stoke level for your guys ski's for a few years now ever since he started to talk them up, they were the widest most rockered things i'd ever seen really a few years ago. thats rad you guys are doin well and moved from tacoma to a rad portland spot. i like those skis but they are sorta stiff, aren't they?
 
185 jj's would be perfect for you, the ski has plenty of rocker and therefor the runs shorter then the actual length.
 
well you are in luck I just got a set up last year of the 189 2010 hellbents with the dyno px 18's. So basically the same set up you're wanting to get. First off i will say yes they are a heavy ride for sure but the fact that they are rockered makes a huge difference when riding trees with a much quicker response in the skis and less effort to bring them around and engage your turn. I spent my whole last season charging waist deep pow in japan and can say that these skis will handle anything that you have to throw and them and come out smiling on the other end. If you arn't a strong skier though these skis will take you along for a ride without you having total control over them, you really want to have strong legs and be a confident skier before you're maching it down a gladded run. The bindings are amazing and i wouldn't personally trade them in for a lighter binding because like you said these things are bomb proof and I have never had a problem with them. In conclusion if you have the legs for it this will be a sick set up for you and will have no problem doing everything that you hope for.
BTW I normally ride whistler blackcomb, grouse, seymour and baker just for reference
 
hell yesss, nice im stoked. im gonna freakin do it this wednesday...droppp the bomb. ha. shit man to bad we got the f'in pineapple express right now holy shit! ridiculous amounts of rain,mountain closed for the day. who knows what its suppose to do tomorro during the day, then shits suppose to go wild in the evening, and dump like a foot of fresh before tuesday...then snow through the week heavilyyy
 
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