We shouldn’t disparage the deceased, but K2’s recent faint-hearted attempts to make a willowy Frontside ski haven’t cut the mustard as true carving utensils. This year the brand stopped kidding around, cooking up a carbon-reinforced, wood-and-metal structure that behaves like a carving ski instead of an off-piste ski serving time for misbehavior on the groom.

Bob Gleason of Boot Doctors sensed the change in the new iKonic 84ti, calling it, “a new feel for K2, a true all mountain carver. The elongated sidecut connects immediately with substantial power. A top contender among all mountain carvers,” he concludes.

By “elongated sidecut,” Gleason is referring to the fact that the widest point in the iKonic 84ti’s forebody is up in the shovel, so the edge behind it provides a continuous rail all the way into the tail. In other words, neither tip nor tail is tapered as they would be on a Big Mountain model.

While the iKonic 84ti is a departure from earlier efforts at a Frontside ski, it hews to K2 tradition in their signature quality, forgiveness. Roll it gently up on edge and it will settle into whatever turn shape you care to scribe. “It’s easy, rhythmic, comfortable,” confirms Jan’s Jack Walzer.

The balance of Finesse and Power properties that the iKonic 84ti exhibits hits the target K2 was aiming at all along. It’s an ideal choice for the Finesse skier who wants a ski that will let him get better but won’t cramp his current style. For its way of making carving fun and effortless, we award the iKonic 84ti a Silver Skier Selection.