Comments on: K2 to Rework Entire AT Tele Ski Line — Renames Brand

By: Lou

Lou — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:01:32 +0000

Wayback is indeed the Baker SL and it’s a very good ski for human powered vert. It’s probably the ski I’ll be taking to Denali, in a 167. It’s not quite as good on ice as the Backlash (used to be Mount Baker), but if I keep my speed down it’ll work fine in my estimation. Then again, I might just haul a pair of Backlash up there. Will have to skium all this winter! Carpe Skium

By: John

John — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:34:58 +0000

New to conversation here… I am seriously psyched with K2’s new line-up ‘Backside’ I HATE twin-tips and quasi twin tips… My most recent favorite ski was the Baker Super light… I was a climber first and moved to Jackson Hole where snowshoes are as useless as twin tips except for the JH Terrain Park… and that ain’t me. Went Tele first and then Alpine because they are just faster uphill. Except for Dynafit (their non flare tails are too skinny at the waist for Teton snowpack) and K2, it’s pretty hard to find a flat tail these days. K2’s latest move makes it pretty easy to find what you need… I was sad about the departure of the MT baker SL… then I checked out the Wayback (same ski, different name/graphic) totally psyched now. Here’s my current Quiver:

Vokl AC1 170s for hardpack groomer days at JHMR, Snow King etc..
Mt Baker SL 174 w/Naxo NX21 for JHMR Headwall, backside etc…
Wayback 174 w/Dynafit speed lites for the Pass, GTNP, randonee races etc…

I’m not the Super Hardcore skier who has to do Corbet’s, Huck Cliffs or straight line 8 ft wide 60 degree chutes, but I do enjoy fresh powder and ski a lot of variable crap. The Baker’s have treated me well and though they don’t quite have the punch that some of the Resort Demos I went through to get where I am now they solved these issues:

1.) I don’t totally smoked on the skin up
2.) I am still riding a ‘real’ ski on the way down as opposed to hking boots attached to 160 cm Katana swords through variable spring crap…

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:18:28 +0000

I had the opportunity to demo a pair of ‘09/10 K2 BackUps at the Crystal Mtn Vertfest. The K2 rep indicated they were the narrowest waisted ski in K2’s line up for next year. I had been skiing (and that day, racing) on my Super Stinx (sorry, I’m still old school tele)…I am looking for a “lighter” tele ski for Vert races, and these didn’t seem any lighter than my Super Stinx and were not even in the same class skiing the piste…not sure I thought they were too great in our off piste conditions on this day either, about 6-8″ of cut up two day old new on top of rock hard base. Certainly didn’t have as much energy as my Supers..

By: Denis

Denis — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:10:02 +0000

Kent, I’m in the midst of mounting Dynafit Verticals on my SuperStinx.

K2, how about a patterned-based mid-fat ski, like the Guide in AT?

Dynafits on Super Stinx — Thus far I know it takes a (Voile) mounting plate to match the binding to the screw inserts. Or you can drill the ski. I’m waiting for the bindings to arrive from REI.

I’m thinking of this as an interim step. I’m coming from tele (black diamond runs on K2 Supers, 7tm Power Tours, Scarpa T2’s). I’ll try this Dynafit setup for spring backcountry skiing. We’ll see about new boards next fall. (They’ll be fatter.)

Note: The mounting plate says it does not work with Classics, so you have some research to do there. Or get out the drill. I’ve read that a jig makes the installation job much easier. Pro shops have it. Might be worth the charge to have them mounted.

By: Lou

Lou — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:33:17 +0000

Steve, go either way depending on prices and such, Baker SL will be the WayBack, but it’s the same ski.

See http://www.wildsnow.com/1671/outdoor-retailer-show/

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:24:30 +0000

Hi Lou,

Wondering if the new K2 line has a replacement for the baker sl and the womens ShuksAnne with comparable weights? I guess my question is if the new backside ski line is something to wait for or should I look around to get this years model? Any thoughts?

Thanks
Steve