2023 K2 Mindbender 99Ti Men's and Women's Ski Review with SkiEssentials.com
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ก.ค. 2024
- Jeff and Emily chat about the 2023 K2 Mindbender 99Ti and 99Ti W skis! Similar changes as Jeff and Bob discussed with the Mindbender 89Ti, but different perspective after Emily took a pair out to Big Sky!
0:00 - Intro
1:40 - Construction
3:45 - Shape
5:20 - Emily's Stowe Review
9:50 - Emily's Big Ski Review
14:10 - Weight Comparison & Quickness
17:10 - Jeff's Thoughts
Written Article: www.skiessentials.com/Chairli...
Demoed the 2023 184cm Mindbender 99ti the past couple days in Red River, NM. Not much open other than groomers and one thinly covered “chute”. But I loved this ski- I’m 6’5” and pretty slight at 180lb, advanced skier but probably not expert, and I was SHOCKED at how easy this ski was to maneuver in what tight spaces I could find to get into. Much easier than a 177cm M5 Mantra I demoed last year at Taos. (I guess I was just expecting it to be a ton of ski to handle after reading the last generation MB99 review.)
And of course the stability and grip at speed were fantastic, tho I top out about 45 mph. (Although I’d say it was maybe a tiny bit behind that M5 in that regard, but worth it because of how much easier it was to ski for the power you still get. Being able to actually bend the shovels a bit was nice, not sure I could even get the Mantra to budge 😂 )
Great review as always guys! If I were in the market for a pair of 2022-23 ~100mm skis, it’d be these. They made me feel like a better skier than I really am for sure
Good stuff, thanks for the feedback!
Very good stuff, folks. Can't wait to hear about the 108. I bought and skied the 108 last year based on your recommendations but based on what you both said about the new version.... dang. I think this year's ski construction sounds a little bit more suited to what I'm really looking for. I do like the previous version on groomers or a few days after a storm to crush the crud. They also make surprisingly quick turns for having a longer turn radius, but I already decided I want a different ski for true powder days out here in the Tahoe area. Bring on the 108...
We'll definitely chat about the 108 in the future! I had a blast testing the ski you own when it first came out. It was easily one of the gems of the Mindbender collection, and still is.
@@SkiEssentials It definitely is still a gem of a ski. It's perfect on some days. K2 has been doing great stuff. I've been skiing on Lines and K2 for about 10 years.
Great show. Best evening entertaiment with a coctail. Thou I do WNDR Intention and Aluflex custom mono. I cant stop watching. Please just goo on.
Thanks Sven! Appreciate it.
Oh boy is this great !!
Thanks you verry much
I follow your vidéo and i bought a pair of K2 99 TI
Just came out of the slope one Word
Magneficient on Ice and on the corduroy
And on the 4" of fresh
They are awesome skis! Love the updates K2 made to them. Just as strong as the previous version, but more playful and better in soft snow.
I tested the 99ti and the 96 Elan Ripstick black edition in Taos, nm last month. Coming from Black crows atris and anima. I was surprised how I was able to open those ski up being more directional. Nice bit pop also hoping off small jumps. They both did great in all conditions. Powder, the steeps, the bumps the very few groomers I took the get to the chairs. I agree with in the tress they are a little heavy, I liked the Ripsticks a little better in the tight stuff. Hard choice. But I took home the K2.
The smoothness and stability of that ski has always stood out to me. Have a great time on it!
You beginners do not know!
I like hearing both perspectives. I guess this is a unique ski where the mens and womens is the same. Good video
That's pretty common actually, a lot of brands offer a women's topsheet version of their unisex skis for marketing purposes. A good ski is a good ski regardless of who's skiing it
@@src248 Thanks, makes sense as it costs them a lot less to just change the top sheet
Thanks for the feedback!
Great review guys. Could you give me a brief comparison with the Black Crows Justis? ie. powder performance, piste carving, crud busting etc. Thanks and keep up the great work!
The K2 is creeping closer to the Justis in terms of a smoother and longer rocker profile, but it's not quite there yet. The Justis is still a better pure floater, while the K2 is a stronger carver from tip to tail, and I'd also say it's a better choice in crud, chop, and broken snow. Nothing wrong with either ski at all, though, with that Justis being one of the most well-rounded performers I've been on. Have fun!
SE
@@SkiEssentials Thanks for that. They sound so close - a demo on each is the go!
Another excellent review! I want to buy me finally a new pair of ski, in direction of a one quiver ski. A bit torn between Völkl Mantra M6 and K2 Mindbender 99Ti.
What lenght would you recommend for K2 Mindbender 99Ti? Former race skier (as a teen), nowadays with 46yrs still love to carve on groomers but also would like to have a ski that works ok in the deeper snow, crud, bumbs etc. I am 172cm and about 78kg. I ski approx 70% on groomers and 30% Off-Piste, maybe will go more Off-Piste with a suitable ski. I tested last year the K2 Mindbender 90C and the Distrubtion 78. Liked both of them very much.. (the disruption was soo cool, felt from start as if I would have been skiing this thing for my whole life). I was skiing the last couple of years a 2013 Line Blend (170cm) that I got from my brother. So, almost everything will be an upgrade.. (it‘s a fantastic ski, but not suitable anymore for me).😊 Greetings from Switzerland 🇨🇭 eagerly waiting for some snow
I'd go with the Mindbender 99 in the 166 just to give you a bit more versatility and maneuverability. Have fun!
SE
Awesome review! I've been looking at these, the Nordica Enforcer's, and the Volkl M6 Mantra's. What would you say the most noticeable differences are between these 3 pairs? I'm an advanced/expert skier and ski aggressively, all mountain, steep terrain, and like speed.
Hi Brent!
The Mantra is the most precise and the best carver of the three. The K2 and the Enforcer are quite similar in terms of shape and rocker profile, but the Enforcer is a little bit more high-performance. I'd rather ski either the K2 in bumps and trees, the Enforcer in powder, and the Mantra on groomers.
I thought I was hallucinating but I did see someone shirtless hiking up the hill at 17:30. I also do like the different perspective. Having a playful ski that can land a jump is a nice thing to hear.
You can imagine how I felt when I came around that corner and almost ran into a shirtless guy going uphill!
I got these for my wife for Christmas. She has been on an old pair of Atomic Century 100’s from 2012. The model with tip rocker and no tail rocker and no metal. The K2 is 4 cm shorter and 130 grams lighter. I’m hoping she loves them. We will find out in Banff in 2 weeks. I think she will like them a lot more on groomers and will find them quicker with the shorter turn radius.
I have a pair of 2023 Enforcer 100’s and these seem like a quicker more forgiving version version of those.
I agree with your analysis. While the K2 certainly shares some stability and power with a ski like the Enforcer, it's still more eager and easy to turn than the Nordica.
@@SkiEssentials Well, after two days at Sunshine in Banff, my wife is absolutely in love with the K2 Mindbender 99tiW. Her description, whatever I want them to do they do. So the line in the review about them being very intuitive and having no speed limit is absolutely true. These are her first skis with tail rocker and she couldn’t believe how they just launch you into your next turn and you can slarve them to get out of trouble. 5 stars from Mrs. Comfort who is an expert skier.
Awesome review as usual! Just wondering if you could review any of the freeride skis that Wedze by Decathlon put out this year? I just want to know if either the Wedze Patrol FR500 or the Wedze Slash FR500 are worth buying and what you guys think of the quality of these more affordable skis?
Hi Alfonso!
They seem like regular skis, I can't imagine that they're terrible, we just don't have any experience with them on snow. maybe this year!
SE
Great review! My favorite skis that got even better. I feel they lost a little high speed stability but definitely gained more versatility. I remember when Emily brought those back to the K2 truck from testing and was so stoked about them. Glad her “demands “ worked out.
Thanks, Quenten!
I was always pretty darn impressed with the Cadillac-style of the older 99--longer effective edge made them so smooth. New 99 is likely better for more skiers, including Emily, I'd guess. Talk soon!
SE
Hi y'all. Asked this question on the 2023 Mindbender 89ti review (still waiting for reply) but thought I'd repeat it here to get more perspectives. Trying to decide between this and the MB 99Ti. California based (Mammoth), but make it out to Jackson, Copper, Vail, and up to Bachelor every season. Expert, fit, aggressive, technical skier (former racer) but "compact" of stature (5'5" 140lbs). Looking for an all-mountain daily driver to ski the whole mountain and to replace my Enforcer 100s (that have been feeling increasingly tank-like to me). These will complement my front side rec carvers (Blizzard T-bird R15 WB) and my deeper/softer-snow 50/50 in/out bounds ski (Majesty Havoc Carbons with Duke PTs). Just can't decide between the 89Ti and 99Ti. So tough! Also, length recs would be much appreciated. I'm thinking 172/170? (Enforcers are 177s, but have always felt their just a tad too long) Thanks!
I think I responded on the other thread. I would say the 89 will provide ample performance fror what you're looking to do. I'd go 172 in that ski.
Have you guys ever been on the Faction Prodigy 2? I am curious at how the Mindbenders compare to the Prodigy 2.
Yup! Similar shape, but lighter construction and softer flex. Prodigy feels more playful. Much better in the park, of course, and also just more playful around the rest of the mountain. It doesn't, however, have the same stability at speed or edge grip as the Mindbenders.
Very interesting. What's the difference between this and a Blackops Sender TI other than width?
The K2 has metal that extends to the tips and tails, while the Sender has metal underfoot. Additionally, the K2 has more rocker in the tail while the Rossignol is pretty darn flat back there leading to a smooth and strong directional stance in the crud and chop. If you're looking for high-speed performance through manky snow, the Rossignol may have the K2 by a bit, but I like the Minbender's on-trail performance more--the width does have a lot to do with it.
I had a old pair of SETHS 95mm WAIST been to whistler to kicking horse
if your a good skier in pow 99mm is plenty may be longer
You mentioned it has a little more tail rocker. How would you say this compares to the black crows Justis?
It's definitely getting closer to Justis shape compared to the previous version, but I still think the Justis takes it to another level. There's even more tail rocker in the Justis, almost like an elongated twin tip shape, which, IMO, makes it lean even further along the "freeride" spectrum, if that makes sense.
Hi, what is the difference between the Mindbender 99Ti and the Atomic Maverick 100Ti. for a 155-pound skier advanced 70% on the piste?
Weight is a big factor here. The Maverick is lighter than the K2, which is impressive because it still has two sheets of metal in it. While the power and stability is still all there with the Mav, the K2 takes the dampness and strength to the next level. For on--piste for lighter skiers, I'd think the Maverick would stand out.
How do you compare new K2 Mindbender 99 TI with the Salomon Stance 96 ? Thank you .
Mindbender feels like it has more freeride influence, especially in this new version. The amount of tail rocker would align better with the Stance 102, but those skis feel a lot different too. Similar capabilities between Stance 96 and MB 99. Both strong, powerful skis with a lot of versatility, MB is just going to give you more soft snow performance and easier edge release, at the cost of some precision found in the Stance. Hope that helps!
Hello there. Please be so kind recomend freeride ski for my wife. Thinking about those or Volkl Blaze. We ski in Europe (I think snow similar to East Coast). Maybe other model if you recomend.
The K2 is significantly more demanding, sturdy, and heavy than the Blaze. It depends on what you're looking for in a ski. While the Blaze is quicker and more agile, the K2 is strong, damp, and stable at speed. Something in the middle, check out Black Crows Camox Birdie or Salomon QST Lumen 98 for a good mix of the two on your list. Hope that helps!
SE
Great review thanks, how would you compare K2 minbender99 vs. Faction dancer 2 96 cm?
….9,6
The tail rocker that they added to the new Mindbender skis gives them more maneuverability than the Dancer. Similar levels of stability, vibration damping, etc, but you can release the tail edge on the MB more easily. Hope that helps!
How does the Mindbender 99 compare to the Scott Slight 100 from a couple of years ago?
The Mindbender is considerably damper and more powerful. The Slight was stiff and reactive, but the K2 is stable and smooth. Now the K2 has more rocker, so it's a bit more freeride-oriented and better in softer snow.
Can Emily talk about why she likes the ski with a bit more length? If she has already done this please point me to the info. Thanks.
Hi Pat!
From skiing with Emily the past few years, it's easy to see why she likes a longer ski--it's for stability at speed. She's not a big skier by any means, but loves to let them run. She's very consistent in her preference for longer lengths, and a lot of it has to do with the longer turn shape she makes. Hope that helps!
SE
Would you ever own both this AND the Mantra 102 (latest version), or are they too similar?
I mean you could, but there's a lot of overlap. Mantra is heavier duty, but not by a whole lot.
2023 K2 Mindbender 99Ti stiffer than 2023 K2 Mindbender 99Ti?
2023 Mindbender 99Ti stiffer Salomon QST 98, Elan Ripstick 96?
I'd say the K2 is the stiffest of those skis on your list, with the QST next. I'd put the 2024 Rustler 9 on the more flexible side, even than the Ripstick.
It's weird how K2's graphics department is totally undermining the company's skis. Like the Mindbenders are incredible in almost every way, the Poacher is one of the best freestyle skis...but they are going to lose so many sales because of how insane the skis look. If you swapped the new Fischer Ranger graphics onto these skis, I bet they'd be the top selling all-mountain ski or near it. But, just like the last iteration of the Mindbenders, they will likely be an "also ran."
HI Greg!
While I am not a personal fan of the Ranger graphics either, I also agree on the K2, although I will say that the new 99 and 108 look way better than the 89. Personally, I don't care what they look like, but I do not like it when a potential customer avoids what may be a great ski choice because of graphics. It would be very interesting to see how a MB 99 would sell in Ranger 102 Cerise.
SE
Graphics totally matter! It’s like shoes. Could be pretty comfortable but if I don’t want to look at them I won’t buy them. I will say it would have to be pretty bad for the graphics to be the deciding factor on a pair of skis though.
Oh and she is definitely in the top two skiers filmed for your videos. Sorry Jeff! Ha ha!
Who cares how they look.
I'm not a girl, but I think it's great to get a girl's perspective, along with a medium size guy (Jeff) and a larger guy (Bob). I also wish manufacturer's would stop saying "women's ski" when all that is different is color and shorter size options. Just make two color options, and don't call it men's/women's. There are times I prefer the coloring on the "women's" ski, but don't want a "W" on the back of my ski.
We mainly agree, all skis are basically unisex. People still seem to shop by gender though, and that is likely the cause for manufacturers to still market and produce their products in this way.
im gonna need a bailout from the government to ever be able to afford some skis and a lift ticket.
Hi Ryan!
You would not be alone--a lot of skiers definitely used their stimulus checks on skis and passes!
SE
Is it just me ... or has Bob changed his appearence somewhat ......?🤣
People change, maybe he's just going through a phase. ;)