Summary: The Shuksan returns unchanged from last year as a light-weight yet extremely capable AT ski. Designed for the ski mountaineer who places an importance on tourability and appreciates stability during the descent, this ski will perform extremely well in a variety of conditions but will really shine in firm snow and spring corn conditions. At 78mm at the waist, this ski will hold a solid edge in steep terrain, and it's light swing weight will make sure you can turn it around where it counts. This ski has all the elements of this years K2 AT line including a powder tip, tip and tail holes for emergency sled construction, colorful graphics to see your ski in flat light or snow debris, notched tails for skin clips, and straight tails for anchoring.
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Developed in conjunction with Swiss guide and Pro Guiding Service owner Martin Volken as a high-performance mountaineering ski, the Shuksan returns as the staple of the AT line. It still incorporates two sheets of metal, a stout flex, and versatile 16.0 sidecut, but we've updated the tip for better edge hold and quicker initiation. Light enough for multi day tours; it's overriding quality is confidence instilling performance when conditions or terrain won't forgive a mistake.
Conditions:
50% hard snow / 50% soft snow
Sidecut:
119-78-105/16.0
Weight:7lbs/pair
All of 07/08 K2's AT skis feature a powder tip (less hooky), tip and tail holes for quick construction of a rescue sled, colorful graphics, progressive sidecut, skin clip arc, and straight tails. |
Backcountry magazine: "Easy turning cruiser. Good
carver, and easy to transition from one turn to another.
Swings easily into the fall line, so you get it on edge
pretty well. For their thinner width, they floated well
in powder and crud - very responsive."
Couloir: "K2's Shuksan keeps the focus on fun with a big, easy-to-find sweet spot and a responsive character that pumps out whatever radius turn you desire. With a soft tip it floated well in powder...Overall, the Shuksan garnered universal praise for versatility. At speed it felt damp and refused to chatter, and on icy snow it held its own admirably."
Off-Piste: "The Shuksan is an AT ski with a well defined personality; it is a versatile tool for the mountains intended for folks who tour for their turns. Short to medium radius turns are its forte. If you are looking for a dedicated touring board that will adapt to the variety of conditions found in a typical day or week of touring, this is the ski. You can get a better ski for big boot ripping and resort based skiing, but if touring is your game, few other skis will cover the range of conditions with the ease of the Shuksan."
Skiing magazine:
"The Shuksan, which has a new tip this year, remains a staple for ski mountaineers. A responsive, formidable ally in crappy conditions, it's damp and predictable for such a light ski. Gripes: Hard to drive in manky snow. Props:Great edge hold at all speeds; easy to vary the turn shape."
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