It’s interesting to see a K2 on a list of Recommended Technical skis, as the brand devotes most of its energy to off-trail, freeride models. But the Luv Machine is the real deal, a carving utensil with a deep commitment to laying down ruts in groomage. It all starts in the shovel, which in contrast to the usual rockered and tapered K2 tip, connects quickly to the snow. The deep (12.5m @ 160cm) sidecut runs past the forward contact point, so if you’re tipping, you’re carving.
The guiding principle of Head’s Joy collection can be succinctly stated: make light right. In the case of the latest addition to the Joy family, Wild Joy, this means applying the same ultralight carbon/Koroyd/Graphene construction used in the 85mm Total Joy to a 90mm footprint. Not lost in this translation is the typically deep sidecut favored by Head engineers, imparting a predilection for precise, carved turns on freshly tilled slopes.
There are plenty of choices in the market for skiers who want a shorter camber zone, something easier to swivel, maybe a little fatter so it will float better. The MX84 is the antidote to all that. Its absurdly high Finesse score isn’t because it’s easy for anyone to ski; it’s because the experts who tested it fell in love with its line-hugging power and imperturbable calm. This is why testers who rarely write comments start decorating their test cards with hearts.
The OoolaLuv gets its determination to excel from a Titanal laminate that significantly augments both edge hold on hard snow and stability in choppy off-road conditions. Its All-Terrain Rocker is tuned to tackle whatever you find off-trail and K2’s signature, ginormous sweet spot helps keep the pilot centered in the turbulence encountered in crud. When the skier breaks back out on the well-traveled trail, the OoolaLuv’s substantial sidecut (14.6m) takes over, linking long, medium and short turns on demand.
Meet Ms. Mid, aka the K2 Luv Sick 80ti. Her waist width is in the middle of the Frontside bell curve. Her tapered tip and tail and all-terrain rocker gently disengage her extremities so she can concentrate her efforts on the middle. While her sidecut is capable of making a tight radius arc, she’d rather ride at a lower edge angle and peel off medium-radius turns to keep her speed – you guessed it – moderate.