K2 Apache Pontoon Alpine Ski

If you tend to spend a good deal of time on groomers (either getting to/from backcountry runs, or because some of your buddies ski groomers, whatever), but you love to ski deep powder 12"+, you may want to consider a superfat but conventionally-shaped ski like the Line Prophet 130. I am a tele skier and had a blast on the Prophets skiing in the Canadian Rockies (pics of me armpit deep are on youtube). They are quick in trees and provide incredible float, enabling you to turn when and wherever you want. Most notably, most of the guides at the cat ski lodge where we stayed ski on Pontoons. But the only "groomers" they ski are short runs down cat tracks. I also skied the Prophets at Mt Baker, WA on a combo of powder, groomed and chop. They are a great ski for Mt Baker (world record snowfall), where on some days you need a beacon and buddy in-bounds on some chairs. The Prophets absolutely railed the groomers (18m turning radius), but, as others have said about the Pontoons, they can be hell in chop. My shins took a beating in the heavy Pacific NW snow. So, bottom line, if you spend a lot of time skiing deep powder, the Pontoons are great. If you mix your time between groomers and powder, the Prophets might be a more practical ski for you. If you tele ski, set the toe piece so you are about even with chord center. Most tele'ers nowadays set their bindings ~3 cm ahead (some even more), but I found it to be too front-heavy, even on the 130's. BTW, the main skis in my quiver are the Line Prophet 100 and K2 Work Stinx, the Prophet being better in crud and deeper snow, and the Stinx better in bumps and groomers.

I used this ski on probably the worst day you can ski on them. They chatter a little bit, but mostly in the tip, which is rockered anyway, so it doesn't matter, because you don't feel it. On super icy steeps they don't handle well at all, but on groomers and crud they handle great. They felt like a pretty playful ski, but in powder that would probably be more apparent. I rode the 189, but at my size the 179 would be a little better. They were a really heavy ski, I am used to skiing a 185 Rossignol Scratch Steeze, but the Pontoon just felt super heavy.

When you have the pontoons in their element (untracked bottomless pow) I don't think there is a better ski made. The combination of the fat rockered tip and the turned up tapered tale is just perfect. You find yourself taking each powder turn a little fast, then a little fast, then a little faster, until you are screaming down the run. Once you get these skis off the groomed and into the pow, they do anything, pivot, smear, carve (yes carve powder) I found myself seeking out little spines and rollovers and throwing up huge snowboarder style slashed. They also save your legs since you can stand centered on these skis. Once the powder gets tracked up the skis still handle fine, but riding through heavy chop, is exactly like water skiing through rough water, not all that enjoyable for me. The skis are soft and I felt like I was overpowering them in crud. They are more than manageable on groomers, and can even carve. If you are a charger and already savy to the rockered revolution I would look elsewhere(ARG, Lotus, Rocker), but if you are still rocking tradition shaped skis these would be a great introduction to the new style of skiing. You really can't go wrong. Get them. You know you want to.

I had the chance to try the 189's out in 15 inches of new snow at Solitude here in Utah. They were amazing. Not only was I able to ski faster than I ever have in powder, I was also able to turn these more easily in powder. As long as you don't mind watching the tips flutter nonstop of the groomers, they're not too bad. Let's face it, though, you're not buying these to ski hardpack.

Got a pair of 179 Pontoon last month (5'9" - 175 lbs)(usually ski on 168 Rossi B3), and skied a week in Japan famous Niseko pow. In the backbowls of the backcountry this skis were awesome. They just floated and the energy needed to ski deep powder was minimal. I was concerned about their handling in the trees, but had no problems with quick, accurate turns. Going back to the resort via the groomers was more of challenge, not very comfortable, and the knees and legs took a beating. A small price to pay for the best rides I ever had in Pow. For someone spending less than 90% skiing backcountry, I would suggest they look a another ski, for the other, enjoy the ride!

I took a pair out at Snowbird a few days ago late in the afternoon and pointed em towards all the lousy snow I could find. Duh they're good in pow, but what else? I'm surprised to say that they rally pretty much everything in front of you. Nasty chopped up traverses, funky cut up crud, mis-shaped bumps, and even groomers were fun. I was hating on these all year last season just on their looks but admit to being wrong now. The only thing is you have to be comfy standing in the center of your skis on the groomed as there isn't much contact with the flat snow. As a former East Coast Ice Jibber, I'm "lucky" enough to be okay while skiing around kinda upright. Off trail though, just point em! Seriously. I think I'll wax up a pair cuz it's gonna nuke this week. See ya at the bottom!

After hanging out with too many "spat heads" who rocked their spatulas in everything under the sun I decided to buy this ski at the end of last season. I ended up skiing 19 of my last 20 days of the season (march and april) on the 'toons and never once regretted having them on my feet. The one day I didn't use them I demoed a pair of Dynastar Legend Pros which are a great ski but I was wishing for the reverse camber fun of my new favorite ski. Conditions were powder, tracked powder, soft corn and soft manmade. Everything is fun with these skis! I love throwing the tails out and getting jibby. You have to be comfortable carving on your inside edge (of your uphill ski) occasionally as the odd shape of these skis will force you to throw out everything you know about conventional 'form.' People who call these skis quiver or specialty skis are not opening their minds to new ways of skiing.

These skies are a wild ride on all but the fluffiest pow. However, If you get the chance to ride them in a deep light day the ride is one you will not soon forget. Super playful and fun. Point these in any direction and your heading there on a pillow of shear bliss. The Pontoon is a quintessential quiver ski and only for people that live in areas that receive huge dumps.