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- K2 WayBack Alpine Ski - 2010
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K2 WayBack Alpine Ski - 2010 BCS
Available Colors / Styles
If your touring tales include the number of peaks you bagged and the intimate details of multiple hut accommodations, the K2 WayBack wants to come along. This carbon-infused mid-fat downs long approaches like a champion eater crushing corn dogs, then munches the descent for dessert thanks to Torsion Box construction and a light but beefy wood-and-bamboo core. Shallow progressive sidecut and tip rocker make short work of sketchy lines and ever-changing conditions.
- Aspen/paulownia/bamboo core for wicked lightness
- All-Terrain Rocker for stability and maneuverability
- Snowphobic topsheet to shed weight on the way up
- Removable tip and tail rivets accept K2 custom pre-cut skins (sold separately)
Bottom Line: Go further, ski longer, grin like an idiot.
Talk shop with all the gear freaks out there: ask 'em questions, upload/browse photos, and give your 2¢.
I'm an aggressive beginner looking for my first set of skis.
I'm an aggressive beginner looking for my first set of skis. I live in New England so they will be used for White Mountains CCC trails, touring, and Mt Washington. I'm considering BD Prime boots and Dynafit ST bindings. Skis I'm looking at now are Manaslus, BD Aspect, K2 Wayback and Backlash. The only skis I've demoed were 176cm BD Stigmas which I hated/couldn't handle. I'm 5'10" and 175 lbs. I want something easy and fun to ski in most NE conditions. Model and size suggestions would be great.
By: mik4235750
March 16, 2011
Fantastic BC Classic
By:
Andrew McLean
January 30, 2011
The Wayback is the latest incarnation of the Mount Baker Superlight, which was/is a very popular ski for the Wasatch backcountry. The update includes a wee bit of rocker, but not enough to make it a seem weird or super-specialized. To me, the rocker acts a bit like a shock absorber - you can see some manky coming up and instead of the ski getting violently knocked around, it has a mellower feel as it rides through it.I'm 5,10", 145 lbs and ski the 167cm version. This length has enough float and stability for me and also makes quick hop turns if you are skiing tight chutes. One of the main attributes of K2 skis is that they are very well made, which means that you can get quite a few seasons out of them, or not worry about breaking a ski on an expedition.I haven't compared the Wayback to other skis (Dynafit, BD, etc.) but in the K2 line-up, I'd describe it as an ideal soft-snow ski mountaineering ski. The Backout is a bit better in firm snow and the Coomback is a bit floatier for fast powder surfing, but the Wayback does a great job covering a wide variety of conditions.It would be fine in the resorts, but it really shines in the backcountry as it is light, versatile and fun.
By: Cbern
February 11, 2011
Great, thanks for the input on my question below. I decided on the waybacks and hope to get out in the mountains as soon as their mounted. By the way, Andrew, I also race out here in Colorado and at a camp a few months ago I mentioned your name in a conversation (probably something about your backcountry magazine column I religiously read) and our club director, Deb Armstrong, said that you two raced together in Washington growing up. Small world eh?
K2 Wayback
By: Andrew McLean
June 27, 2011
A report from the field on my ski of choice for the backcountry - the K2 Wayback. It was windy, so subtitles were added.
Does anyone happen to know the factory base and side edge bevels
Does anyone happen to know the factory base and side edge bevels for this ski?
By: mjmaguire0769553
February 26, 2011
Thanks for the reply Will. Not a materials question. Was actually asking what is the angle that the metal edges are tuned to. One degree, two degree, etc
By: mjmaguire0769553
February 26, 2011
i don't know what the base is but it feels kind of rubbery. these are cap construction and the have metal edges.
By: Will Guru
February 26, 2011
Found out the answer on K2's website..."Our skis come from the factory with a hot wax. They arrive tuned with a 1 degree base edge and 1.5 degree side edge bevel."
By: mjmaguire0769553
March 11, 2011
A good ski just became great
By:
Evan Stevens
September 23, 2010
Now that this ski has a rocker profile, it is an amazing, light weight, powder ski, for those big vert days. Soft and light, but an even flex keeps it predictable and consistent. I would choose this ski over the Manaslu or equivalent BD ski any day. Add the flat tails and tip/tail holes and you have a very capable backcountry skiing tool as well.
K2 Waybacks in Mineral Fork, UT
By: Andrew McLean
December 2, 2010
This was my second run on the 2011 Waybacks and I was psyched! The snow was punchy and the slight amount of rocker acted like a shock absorber in it. Very nice.
3 Comments Last Comment: January 30, 2011 by: Andrew McLean
By: RH
December 11, 2010
Why are you skiing with two Whippets? If you go to seriously self arrest with one, the other will flop around your wrist and probably stab you in the gut.
By: Tom Farella
January 11, 2011
dude oughta know. he designed the whippet and is a pro alpinist. I use just 1 myself and can't understand why everyone doesn't use them when things are firm. Slide for life is a bad way to end your day. My only complaint is BD changed the diameter of the newer flicklock poles so my older whippet doesn't fit my newer poles. Whaa?
By: Andrew McLean
January 30, 2011
Yep, two Whippets and I still have my intestines. ;)
Getting ready to harvest 2k of corn with Waybacks
By: Andrew McLean
January 30, 2011
I'm looking for a versitile ski for ski mountaineering out
I'm looking for a versitile ski for ski mountaineering out here in the colorado rockies, I'm broken between the K2 Coombacks and these. I ski a Scarpa Spirit 4 on dynafits and am a pretty average sized guy. Any thoughts?
By: Cbern
December 11, 2010
the coombacks will float much better making them more versatile skis. both skis will be great for ski mountaineering and they are both lightweight. the major difference aside from the with is the durability. I'm not saying the way back is not durable I just think the way back is more of a fragile lightweight AT ski and the coomback is a go anywhere do anything ski. If your not dropping any huge cliffs get the wayback. For ski mountaineering I'd imagine you want to be carrying as little weight as possible so I'd go with the wayback and mount it with some dynafits.
By: Will Guru
December 12, 2010
Both skis are versatile, but I think the Waybacks do a little better in ALL conditions, where the Coombacks really shine in soft snow. It is splitting hairs between these two and really depends on your skiing style - the Coomback is a bit heavier and wider, so it handles better at speed and in powder. The Wayback is more nibble, but gets thrown around a bit more.
By: Andrew McLean
January 30, 2011
How will these perform in the pist? Are they similar to the Line
How will these perform in the pist?
Are they similar to the Line Prophet 90?
By: Amund
October 11, 2010
They will be OK on piste, but they were really designed for backcountry usage, so they might be a little light and fragile for really pounding bumps, cliffs or other resort usage. They would be a good choice if you are doing mostly backcountry skiing with a few days of resort skiing thrown in, but there are probably better (more durable) resort skis. I'm not familiar with the Line Prophet 90, so I can't speak to that part of the question.
By: Andrew McLean
November 11, 2010
Change me.
Out of Stock
2010 Model No Longer Available
But don't stress, we have the latest model in stock.
K2 WayBack Ski
K2 WayBack SkiResearch other out-of-stock versions:
Fantastic BC Classic
The Wayback is the latest incarnation of the Mount Baker Superlight, which was/is a very popular ski for the Wasatch backcountry. The update includes more...
A good ski just became great
Now that this ski has a rocker profile, it is an amazing, light weight, powder ski, for those big vert days. Soft and light, but an even flex keeps it more...
- Length:
- 160 cm, 167 cm, 174 cm, 181 cm
- Dimensions:
- 124 / 88 / 108 mm
- Turn Radius:
- (174cm) 22 m
- Construction:
- torsion box
- Core:
- aspen, paulownia, bamboo
- Tail:
- flat, notched for skins
- Weight:
- (174cm) 1550 g
- Recommended Use:
- backcountry touring, telemark, AT, randonnee
- Manufacturer Warranty:
- 1 year