K2 Axis X skis, anyone ever try them
 

I just picked up a pair of 03/04 K2 Axis X in 167 length new and unmounted for $149.00. Retail in 04 was $499.00, so I could not pass this deal up. I finally decided to get on the shaped ski bandwagon this year and abandon my old early '90 s 200cm SL skis.

I was hunting for Volkl Supersport 5 stars in 168 length or Atomic SX11's in 170cm, but stumbled upon these. I ski aggressive on all terrain mostly in the east/midwest and I still love moguls, yet I only spend 10% of a ski day in the bumps due to the "getting older" thing.

From the little bit I have found on the K2's on the web, it sounds like they will be a decent ski for what I intend to do with them. Anyone ever try them? Any comments?

Tim---damn those are the exact boards I was looking at!

I have always been a K2 loyalist--and a shape hold-out. Last year I was going to buy those--in that length, but I bought a new snowboard instead, since 90% of my friends board only.

Anyways, my skiing is the same as you describe--very aggressive-all terrain, mostly in the East with the occasional romp out West--my bump skiing has statistically decreased every year I get older--from a high of about 85% -90% bump skiing to a current level of 10-20%--my lower back and knees aren't what they used to be--anyways my current planks are traditional-straight cut 200cm, so I am definately interested in your feedback on these K2s.

Where did you find this deal, if I may ask? That is a great price--one thing I learned from my days in the industry was the incredible mark-up on equipment.

I have the Axis XT 174 cm. I think they are a great all mountain ski. Im sure the X is similar. I ski mostly the east with an every other year jaunt out to Jackson Hole, or Sun Valley.

Ive been skiing for almost forty years, and have been a owned mostly K2s. My skiing style has gotten a bit less agressive since the aches and pains dont go away as quickly as they used to. Though I still love a romp on any of the front 4 at Stowe!


My last boards were 207cm K2 MSL..

Eric, I may not get out till X-mas to try them. If I think of it I will let you know how I like them though. I stopped at MC Sporting goods on the way home from work yesterday just for yucks. In college I, worked
at a specialty ski shop mounting and tuning skis, so I used to get top end skis for cheap from the reps. MC typically carries low end skis but occasionally they will have an occasional advanced/expert ski. The ones I got were leftovers from the 03/04 season and were the only pair. They got into the stores computer system and said no other MC's at least within our area had any more of these so I snatched them up!

I had to laugh when I asked the rapper looking salesperson what he knew about them! Eventually their ski tech came out and said he could not believe the low price and that they were the best ski that they carried two years prior.

Many of the other skis I have been researching, are typically rated as awesome EXCEPT for moguls. I actually found some reviews on the web that claimed these shaped skis do "pretty good" in the bumps. I have been told that the new style slalom skis totally SUCK for bumps. Back in the day, that is all I ever used for bumps, so this is all definitely new to me. I skied nothing but bumps when I was younger and I truly love a fast hard run smashing the tops, but the muscles in my thighs, @ss and back, ache horribly if I spend too much time in them anymore!

I do know that the occasional helicopter will be much easier with these shorter skis (I always have to attempt a couple to prove to my teen daughters that I am not quite an old fart yet!).

TimT, I have never been to Stowe but heard it is awesome. I have skied Killington (Bear Claw run?) VT, Vail CO, Copper CO(my favorite), Breckenridge CO, Holiday Valley NY, both Boynes MI(the mountain usually has bumps, the highlands does not) and some other small places in southern Michigan. Nowadays, we usually do a family and friend trip to Holiday Valley along with a few trips to the small southern Michigan places each year. Someday I hope to have the time and money to start going out west again on a regular basis.:)

Tim,

Sweet deal. It does seem odd that the shaped slalom boards typically do not perform well in the moguls. I remember when Glen Plake started getting big--he would ski on 207 GS boards during the old bump competitions.


Holiday Valley is a favorite of mine--I worked up there the winter of 96-97, I skied up at Boyne 2 years ago--I was surprised, although not a real big resort, the terrain was nice. Probably the only trip I will be making this year(besides 7 Springs) is to Snowshoe--had a nice 4-day weekend there last Feb and am planning on doing the same this year.

Let me know how the skiis work out for you.:)

A college buddy of mine still has his Dynastars that Glen Plake signed for him back in the late 80's or early 90's. We were stopped midway down on a icy bump run at Holiday Valley on on cold January night and we heard a hard thumping noise coming from above us. We looked up in time to see someone coming full blast skimming the tops of these poorly spaced and rock hard big bumps. A couple runs later we coincided at the base of the lift and low and behold, it was Plake! My buddy had him sign his skis. It was kind of funny to see him with his mohawk not standing at attention! I thought I was fairly proficient at bumps at the time, but this guy was just HAMMERING the nastiest worst sections of these bumps. It was an incredible sight to see!