By Brand

K2 Apache Recon w/Marker MX 12 Skis

It is very difficult for a ski to stay at the top of the sales charts for a very long time. Yet, the K2 Apache Recon has managed to do just that. Each time I ski the Apache Recon, I am reminded of why this is. This is simply a high end ski that almost anyone can enjoy. The magic that makes this possible is a fairly soft flex to make the ski easy to turn, but it is combined with the patented "Mod" dampening structure which makes the ski quiet and smooth enough for more aggressive skiers. Historically, the K2 Recon has been fairly average on really hard snow but that has changed a bit. The new MX binding system uses a new Marker heelpiece that boasts a wider footprint on the ski and a tighter boot to ski coupling. This simple improvement has given the Recon better performance on hard snow than it has ever had in the past. The Apache Recon has reasonable edge grip but it is still a bit better in soft snow than on real ice. The Recon is so subtle and quiet, that you hardly feel rough snow or chattery hard stuff. This is the ultimate "Cadillac" ride among the 70/30 group. The soft flex makes this one of the easiest of the 70/30 skis in moguls. The K2 Apache Recon is moderately heavy and the weight compensates for the soft flex making it one of the best 70/30 skis in crud.