Video Transcript

My name's Leo, I'm a curated.com Ski Expert and today we're talking about the K2 Mindbender 99Ti versus the Salomon Stance 96. Both of which are great all-mountain hard chargers designed for advanced to expert skiers who are looking to bust crud, carve, and handle a variety of terrain.

K2 Mindbender 99Ti Skis

The Mindbender 99Ti is a killer ski, arguably the best ski K2 has ever made, and that's amazing. This ski is 99 underfoot, making it super all-mountain. It has a Y-shaped sheet of metal in the core that lets you transfer your power edge-to-edge. You really feel that response under you; it's burly. But when you find yourself in the back seat with a little off technique, the ski will kind of tell you that and remind you of that, but it won't punish you for it. It'll help you get back on the front of your ski, initiate those turns from the front, and really just ski your best out there.

It's got great camber underfoot with just enough rocker in the tail to get you out of those turns when you lay it up on the edge, it's going to carve. I just can't say enough good things about it. That's why I have a pair in my own personal quiver. I'm a big fan.

Salomon Stance 96 Skis

But jumping over here to the Salomon 96, this ski has gotten a fantastic update. This ski has always been popular for its two sheets of metal. And now they've blended the core to make it both popular and kuruba, which is a very lightweight one. So they've kind of made this ski a little bit more approachable without sacrificing the dampness, the power, or the stability that the ski is known for. In the tip here too, it's got a nice little cut away.

This helps keep the swing weight just a little bit lighter, but you still get that full reinforcement in the tip. I demoed it recently and I've made some other video reviews about it. Overall, I just can't say enough good enough things about it. This ski has really taken a nice step to the next level in its performance.

Similarities and Differences

So if you are an advanced to expert all-mountain charger, east to west, looking for that ski that's going to be really stable on cross, the yard back, and ski all mountain for you really well, either one of these two could be a great choice. But if you're not sure which one is right for you, if you want to get a little insight, click over here to chat with your expert. We'll get you dialed into that perfect pair of skis.

Comparison Table