Working with the Alliance Team to further develop our line of women’s specific skis has lead to the Bioflex core, a breakthrough multi-wood core technology. Used on our T:Nine series of skis, the combination of two distinctly different woods, fir and spruce, provides a blend of stability and forgiveness in our women’s skis. Not just different layers of wood, but completely different cores fused together at the tip and tail. Spruce, a light, soft wood is used in the extremities of the tip and tail and fir, a more solid, dense wood is used underfoot. The Spruce provides easy turn initiation, lightweight characteristics, and overall ease that T:Nine skis have come to be known for. The Fir underfoot provides a new level of confidence inspiring control, predictability and stability. The 2009/10 core incorporates a bamboo stringer that runs down the center of the entire core for added strength. The beauty of the Bioflex core is that it produces a lighter weight core which translates into skis that are easier to maneuver and causes less fatigue than a comparable men’s size and model. The Bioflex core can also be tuned to the performance level of the ski. The Burnin’ Luv and True Luv both share a Bioflex core, but the flex and performance levels differs dramatically.

Triaxial Braiding was developed by K2 in 1988 and is still the best way to apply fiberglass to a wood core. This process consists of sending a milled wood core through the patented Triaxial Braiding machine, where interlocking strands of fiberglass wrap the core. This unique method produces skis that have a great deal of torsional or twist rigidity and strength, while maintaining the lively innate flex characteristics of its wood core.

The FCP and ACP are the first two locations that come in contact with the snow when the ski is placed on a flat surface. This type of camber is still the most versatile camber to keep a ski lively and versatile in all types or terrain or conditions. We use a traditional camber on certain models in all three categories of skis

K2 introduced tip and tail rivets 7 years ago on the Factory Series skis. They were functionally developed for additional protection, reinforcing the tip and tail of the ski against delamination. Although function is still the primary purpose, K2 has evolved the rivets and plates into stylized components.

K2 men’s All-Mountain models use fir and aspen for their inherent strength, durability and energy. The new Adventure Series skis use an Aspen and Paulownia blend. All women's skis use a combination of fir and spruce in a unique Bioflex core process. Spruce is used as a lighter weight alternative to solid fir. The Bioflex and Aspen/Paulownia cores also feature a bamboo stinger for additional strength without adding weight to the ski.

Torsion Box construction is the foundation for the widest range of skis designed by K2. Depending on the dimensions of a ski, and the amount of flex and torsion designed into it, one model of a Torsion Box ski can differ greatly from another. The versatility in the construction enables us to build everything from entry-level through expert skis. While there will be significant differences between a DarkSide and a MissConduct, they do share the common traits of ease, forgiveness, responsiveness, and energy that can be found in all Torsion Box skis.

When twin tips were first being developed; the tails were designed totally different than the tips. The tails were shorter, lower and often had an abrupt curvature. These tails worked then but as the sport rapidly progresses, skiers are attempting to ski any terrain backwards and demands have changed. The tails on our newest skis are balanced in the length, height and curvature of our tips for optimal riding in both directions.

“Cap” skis are built with a sophisticated molding process that envelops the core and internal materials with the top layer of the ski. Capped skis share the common characteristics of being very durable and lightweight. The construction process is nearly identical for an entry and expert level ski. What determines the characteristics of the ski are the variations in the layers of the core materials. For this reason, cap skis can be used for just about any type of skiing and performance level.