Curated Ski Expert Rob G. got his hands on the 2023 K2 Mindbender 99Ti this spring and put it to the test at Powder Mountain in Utah. Check out how it performed in the carving and freeride categories, but consider the fact that each and every skier is different. If you have any questions about the Mindbender 99Ti or need recommendations on which ski would be best for you, reach out to a Ski Expert here on Curated.

One final point before we dive in: It's worth noting that Curated Experts are not sponsored by any brands. All of these reviews are completely unbiased.

Brand Claims

What does K2 claim about this ski? K2 calls this ski a directional ski with a little bit of playfulness in it. They really play up the fact that there's a Y-beam of Titanal here that helps with turn initiation.

Overall Impressions

What is your overall impression of this ski? I was amazed at how well this ski initiated a carve turn for a 99mm wasted ski. I'm used to skiing back East on skis that are much narrower. This ski would be a fantastic ski for sort of a mid-fat Western all-mountain. It would be a great ski to start out an Eastern powder day and then finish off with a mix of groomers and snow. I was amazed at how playful it was for a ski that held an edge and a carve of turn, and I had a lot of fun skiing on it.

Carving

How is the shape of the ski and the ski profile? It has a turn radius that is a little under 20 meters; I think this one is about 18. It doesn’t have a super aggressive tip rocker but a nice tip rocker line at the nose. And the bottom is going to aid with float and soft snow. I didn't get too much of that just now, but I would be excited to ski this in some soft snow and see how that works.

What is the edge hold like? The edge hold was fantastic for a 99mm wasted ski. I was able to carve turns really nicely on pretty firm snow.

What about dampness? Any chatter in the ski? I'd say it has a significant Titanal layer in there. It's fairly damp. I was skiing on pretty hard snow over pretty firm groomers, and I wasn't feeling a whole lot of vibration.

How does it perform at speed? This is not a GS race carving ski, but on groom terrain or in variable terrain, I would feel comfortable going fast on the ski.

Freeride

How would it be in powder? So, it's not a dedicated powder ski. For that, you'd want something that's significantly wider. But for a resort stay that's going to see a mix of powder and variable terrain, and maybe some groomed snow, this would be a great ski.

All-Mountain Performance

What kind of terrain would it perform well on? I'd say this is a true all-mountain ski that would be good on just about any terrain. It felt very maneuverable for the edge hold that it had, so I would feel very comfortable taking this into tight trees or skiing it in the bumps. It also felt great holding an edge on groom terrain.

What kind of terrain would it not perform as well on? So, there are some skis that are specialist skis that I wouldn't take in powder or on hard pack. This ski is not something I would use in a GS course or in a slalom course but for all-mountain skiing. I would take it anywhere on the hill.

Recommendations

Who would you recommend this ski to? I'd recommend these skis to strong intermediate-to-advanced skiers who want a ski that's both maneuverable and has strong edge hold.

Who should avoid this ski, there are other better options for them out there? If you're just getting started skiing, this is may be a little bit too much ski for you. As maneuverable as these are, if you're a beginner or early intermediate skier spending all of your time on easier groomers, you're going to be better off with a narrower ski that's a little softer and a little bit easier for turn initiation.

Also, I'm 6’2”, 210 pounds. I think if you weigh about 120 to 130 pounds, if you're super light, this is probably not the ski for you. Anywhere 165 or 170 pounds up, you're going to appreciate the ski.

Skis work differently for different types of skiers and it can be tough to figure out which skis work best for your needs. That's where Curated Experts come in handy. Talk to Rob or any other Ski Expert here on Curated. They’ll help you find the right skis for you.