K2 AK Launcher

Review Date
May 19, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: SquawRipper(Unregistered User) ,  Skier

Price Paid:  $257.00 at eBay

Summary:
Good powder ski and good in anything SOFT (powder, corn, mashed potatoes, boot-deep-slurpies). The soft shovel makes these skis surprisingly good in the bumps for a ski of this width. However, these skis is too soft for ultra high speed bombing on crud, chop, or anything firm or icy. Nor does it provide much edge hold on ice. There's not much sidecut, so it's not a carver on the goomers. But that's not what this ski was designed for.

Buy this ski if you want a powder ski that will work well even as the powder gets skied up, and/or the sun turns it to sludge, and/or you want a wider ski for that late spring corn. Do not buy this ski if you expect to charge at light speed through crud or anything firm. You'll want something stiffer... but then you won't float as nicely on the powder or be able to handle the moguls. There are always tradeoffs.

For calibration: I am an extremely aggressive (40+ day/year) Squaw Valley season pass holder. 5' 6" 150 lbs. I like bombing the steeps and dicing up the moguls. I ski in whatever conditions are available on weekends. I have 181cm AK Launchers, which are a good size for me. These are my powder skis. I ski K2 Enemy's as my all-mountain ski (which is truly an extraordinarily versatile all mountain ski).

Review Date
January 27, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 3 votes

Reviewed by: Richard Greenlee(Unregistered User) ,  Skier , from Wintergreen, VA

Price Paid:  $350.00 at Summer

Summary:
I was hesitant to try these skis since I also purchased the Volkl Superstar but one day got light snow and took these out. They are damp, quick for their width and ski well on ice too. Of course, they worked best in the snow and softer conditions and worked best as riding the skis. These skis would serve anyone, as an all around ski, living in an area with consistant soft snow. I cann't wait to take them west. I am 6 foot and 170 & got 180s.

Customer Service:
Had some difficulty getting the wide skis mounted.

Similar Products Used:
Volkl Vertigo G20s and T50 Superstars