K2 Pontoon Skis 2010

Comments about K2 Pontoon Skis 2010:

Butter dripping down a hot pancake. That's the smooth feeling the Pontoons offer. I skied the Pontoons all season at Alpental and each experience took me on a magic carpet ride. As a small-framed female, I was initially reluctant to buy these because the smallest size K2 offers is the 169 (I was previously on 158s). I was assured by all of the other Pontoon Cult Devotees that the rocker ensures a longer size is preferable. They were right. My Pontoons were fast, stable, floatable, and, yes, magical.

Comments about K2 Pontoon Skis 2010:

Comments

Comments about K2 Pontoon Skis 2010:

This really is the best ski I have ever skied. For anything but ice. And even on ice, it does just fine. I just wouldn't go quite full speed. I have never laughed so much on a ski. Nor ditched my other skis with such reckless abandon. I've ended up skiing more days on this ski than any other ski, and we've only really had one powder day out of 20 total this season. There is nothing that beats a pontoon in powder. It makes powder skiing easy and more fun than you could have ever thought possible. I have no problem skiing away from my ski buddies if there is even an inch of pow, and with crud and hidden pockets, it is best to just increase speed and sail right over. Last weekend, we were skiing icy crud covered in windblown with grabby pockets in flat light. I happily skied halfway down, and stopped to see how my boyfriend was doing behind me. I couldn't even see him. He was panting when he finally skied up, having worked so hard pushing snow around and getting caught in windblown pockets. And he was on 183 atomicP imps, which isn't really a skinny ski, and we usually ski the same speed. I generally like a longer ski, though I guess the longest I have (modern skis) is but a 185. I got the pontoons in a 179 because that's what I demoed, and I felt just fine on a 179. I'm 5-9, 180. They don't feel too short at all, and I think a 189 would only increase the weight, I am guessing that they both ski like a dream.
I have yet to try a pair tele, since the only time I saw a pair mounted tele, I was offered the chance to try and didn't have my boots. Darn! I'm guessing these would be pretty fun on tele's, though in my personal opinion, I'd get the 179's for tele, cause the tips wouldn't be as long turning on flatter ground. and we have a bit of flatter ground around here...
My only issue is that I skied over a very large rock and now have some filler material, but the rock probably wanted to take off my edge completely, but my ski didn't budge. It's still straight and true, albeit with a little more epoxy.
I've skied these not quite to full speed straighline on cattracks, and they hold fine. I generally find myself with one ski flat and the other on an edge somewhat, due to the width, but they don't feel floppy, and they don't wiggle around. They track pretty well. They really do turn on a dime, and are super easy going and springy. It takes a few runs to figure out that they just aren't like your old skis, but once you refigure your skiing stance a little, these will be the best and most fun ski you will ever ski. I would highly recommend a pair. your friends will all be jealous, and your legs will thank you every day.

Comments about K2 Pontoon Skis 2010:

My son convinced me to buy a pair of these for us to "share". I was skeptical. I thought they would be for deep powder only and might be too much ski for me (I'm a competent telemark skier, but not that aggressive). After sharing them for two weeks (actually, fighting over them for two weeks), I bought a second pair. I've skied them in a wide range of spring conditions (some true powder, heavy "powder", slush, slop, breakable crust, corn). I've yet to find any soft snow conditions or terrain where I don't prefer the pontoon over a traditional ski. They are fantastic in powder, but that's not all they're good for. I think they have even greater advantages in deep heavy snow, mank, and breakable crust. They just ride over everything. You can't bury a tip no matter how hard you try. A few surprises: 189 is not too long. I usually ski 175-180. But the pontoons ski short (due to the rocker on both ends). I find them easier to get around in tight chutes than a 175cm conventional ski. They turn plenty quick enough despite the 130mm waist. I think they're acually a very easy ski for tele. And they're not just for experts. Actually, I'd recommend them to intermediate (or maybe even beginner) tele skiers. I'm a cheapskate. This was the most money I've ever spent on a pair of skis in my life. And absolutely worth it.

Comments about K2 Pontoon Skis 2010:

I am 5'-10” 185 lbs and a very aggressive skier

I have 189s mounted plus 3cm with G3 Targa World Cup bindings and Scapa T-Race boots

I have alpined since I was little and made alpine turns on my tele gear and this review is the same for alpine and telemark.

The pontoon was going to be my big powder skis for next year. I planned to ski them on big powder dump days and I figured that I would switch to my seths once the snow was tracked out. I expected this ski to be great but I did not expect it to be the funnest ski I have ever been on. I cannot wait to ride them in powder, since that is what they are designed for. I have been skiing the pontoons all spring and they are much more versatile then I thought, I will be on them almost everyday next year, except on hard pack and in the park. The ski is super stable at speed, even on groomers. It is definitely not a race ski but it does arc a turn. I ride 179 seths but I went with the 189s and I could have gone bigger if they make them. They ride switch really well and have a good swing weight. These skis are flat out phenomenal.

Comments about K2 Pontoon Skis 2010:

Demo'd these on the last pow day of the year. It took 2-3 runs to figure them out. Each run from there was insane... you can't go fast enough on these things. If you get going too fast... its easy to slide them sideways and scrub speed. Dropped off my demo's... walked over to the shop and bought a pair. Don't try'em unless you are ready to buy'em.

Comments about K2 Pontoon Skis 2010:

On the first three of four days on the mountain this year I saw Bryce Philips with his posse ripping the power and smiling wide on the lift lines. He, and everyone else on Pontoons promised that these would change my skiing life, but I did not listen. Finally, in late February I made the plunge, along with a few other friends, and got the 189sm Pontoon (I am 6'1" and 194lbs. and they are not too long at all). Skiing has changed for me - more fun, more control in mixed terrain, more efficent (i.e. I am less tired at the end of the day).
I mounted the bindings 4cm forward and they seem to be perfect. I've had these skis all over the Northwest this year - and this is a perfect year for them. I have learned that they are not just for the huge powder dumps, but when the snow is soft I even use them while skiing with my kids low on the mountain.
Bottom line, I love these skis - they pretty much do all of the great things that everyone says about them. I would buy them again in a heartbeat. Thanks Bryce!

Comments about K2 Pontoon Skis 2010:

These are the BEST SKIS I HAVE EVER OWNED!!! I rode them on an epic 65" pow day up in WA and got to shred every part of the MTN!!!! Great for droppin cliffs and hittin the backcountry kickers, Landed switch off of a 40' gap no prob in the deep snow. Best ski ever, would recommend to everyone. Tried most of the other pow skis and nothing comes close. Enjoy

Comments about K2 Pontoon Skis 2010:

My life as skier changed last March. As I was returning from the Back Country at Alpental and heading back I rode up the quad with skiers wearing the Pontoons. When It reached the top of two the young guns that was sking with informed me that I was talking to Bryce Philips and that he was Mr Evo and extreme skier.

I did a little more reseach and bought a pair of Pontoons the next week.

What a blast. Everything that Bryce told me was true. This is a ski is very easy to ski you just don't get fatigued. While the Seahawks were loosing to the Packers I was taking untracked runs (three in a row)from the top of International to the base of Debbies Gold without stopping in virtually untracked 18"conditions (amazing for a man in his 50's) and I was flying. The ski is great in the steeps and extremly nimble and quick thru the trees. The ski tracks very well in slushi crud at high speeds. Not bad in the bumps because it is so stable. You just point them down the hill and let them go. Not bad if you hit some ice (who wants that though). Have been on the slopes about 15 time this year + 10 last year. The Recons an 1080 foils have been mothballed.

If you like it steep, deep backcounty get this ski. I was getting concerned about old age but I know that I will be in the backcounty when I'm in my 70"s.

Thanks Bryce and K2.You have changed by life for ever.

Snake

Comments about K2 Pontoon Skis 2010:

overall pretty sick, love em and would recommend them to everyone