2018 Line Chronic Vs. K2 Poacher

skierman_jack

skierman_jack

Active member
Looking for a ski that will spend about 80% of its life in the park. I do a good balance of rails and jumps, but nothing huge. I’m a fairly traditional park skier (not a crazy buttery skier) but I would like something that butters well. Weight isn’t a huge priority but I would prefer a lower swing-weight. I would love to get 2-3 seasons out of my next park skis so durability is key. I’m 5’10”, 156 lbs, prob gonna get something in the 170-179 range. Can anyone vouch for either of these? I live on the ice coast so they don’t have to be great “mountain” skis and I already own powder skis so that is completely out of the picture. Thanks!
 
The new Chronic is a really fun ski but it's not terribly durable. Given your criteria, I would say that the Poacher in 177 is a perfect fit. K2 skis are bombproof and the Poacher is no exception. I've skied both on the East coast and appreciate the feeling of a beefier ski. The Chronic gets bullied by harder, choppier snow and is a little too soft in my opinion. If you did want to butter around the Chronic would be the better choice but given that you're more of a traditional park skier, the Poacher is your best bet. Also check out the Rossi Black Ops 98, the Faction Prodigy 2.0 and even the Black Crows Camox.
 
14026995:animator said:
The new Chronic is a really fun ski but it's not terribly durable. Given your criteria, I would say that the Poacher in 177 is a perfect fit. K2 skis are bombproof and the Poacher is no exception. I've skied both on the East coast and appreciate the feeling of a beefier ski. The Chronic gets bullied by harder, choppier snow and is a little too soft in my opinion. If you did want to butter around the Chronic would be the better choice but given that you're more of a traditional park skier, the Poacher is your best bet. Also check out the Rossi Black Ops 98, the Faction Prodigy 2.0 and even the Black Crows Camox.
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Gotcha. I demoed the new chronics and didn’t like them that much. I am looking at the last gen Chronic.

I am a pretty decorated K2 skier and I have loved how durable they are. With that said my last skis were Line SFB and they help up almost three seasons of park abuse.
 
Last gen chronic is definitely more like the poacher it was a great ski. Either that one or the poacher are great choices.
 
14027242:Cade2 said:
I’d size up and get some 184 poachers if I was ya
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What makes you say that?

I would prefer to keep them on the shorter size. I just am more comfortable with that. I don’t really need the extra stability bc we just don’t have big features here. Let me know though
 
14027285:leevo said:
Wouldn't recommend poachers. Mine blew up just by skiing 3 months in the park.
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Is that just weekends or like most days? Not many skis will still be in decent shape after 80+ days skiing park all day long, especially if you're more rail oriented.
 
14027330:skiP.E.I. said:
Is that just weekends or like most days? Not many skis will still be in decent shape after 80+ days skiing park all day long, especially if you're more rail oriented.
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Honestly as long as the ski holds up decently. I totally understand that park skiing beats the shit out of skis and I don’t expect them to be in great condition after the seasons I ski.
 
I have two questions about the Poacher:

How stiff do they feel? I’ve heard they are on the stiffer side and the only reference I have is my brothers skis which are 14 cm too short.

What’s the swingweight like? I would enjoy a ski with a lower swing weight.

Thanks!
 
14027330:skiP.E.I. said:
Is that just weekends or like most days? Not many skis will still be in decent shape after 80+ days skiing park all day long, especially if you're more rail oriented.
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Around 50-60 days in the park. But ye I skied mostly rails so it wasn't that big surprise that they didn't hold up.
 
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