In the world of women's skis, the K2 Mindbender 99Ti and the Head Kore 97 W are two top contenders for the 2023 season. Both skis are designed for advanced skiers and offer a blend of power, stability, and versatility. The K2 Mindbender 99Ti is a powerhouse, perfect for hard-charging skiers who want a ski that can handle all conditions. It's not a playful ski, but it's very directional and stiff, making it ideal for those who can drive them. On the other hand, the Head Kore 97 W is a featherweight ski that's capable of tackling the entire mountain. It's ideal for skiers who want quick cutting turns through moguls and trees, crisp carves, and plenty of float for powder days. However, it can feel bouncy at times on skied out crud due to its Graphene core material. Both skis have their strengths and weaknesses, but they're both excellent choices for advanced skiers looking for a versatile, high-performance ski.

K2 Mindbender 99Ti Skis · Women's · 2023 summary

The K2 Mindbender 99Ti is a versatile all-mountain ski that's designed for the hard-charging skier. It's a powerful ski that delivers just enough forgiveness to make it fun in any conditions. The special sauce of this ski is the Y-shaped sheet of titinal, which gives it a superb grip and responsiveness when transferring edge to edge. This, combined with just enough rocker in the profile, leaves the tips and tails with a lighter swing weight and more forgiving turn initiation and release.

However, the K2 Mindbender 99Ti is not a playful ski. It's very directional and stiff, and it prefers to be skied by someone who can drive them. This is not the ski for someone who's just getting their technical legs or for loosey goosey smearing around the mountain. The outstanding graphics on the top sheet really take these to the next level. You should like the way your skis look and you should get excited every time you look at them.

This ski is very stable at high speeds with good dampening, versatile to all mountain and a variety of conditions from hard pack to powder, and has a quick turning radius that's really fun to lay over and carve. However, it's geared towards advanced skiers, and progressing beginners and intermediates may feel overpowered.

Head Kore 97 W Skis · Women's · 2023 summary

The 2023 Kore 97 W is a featherweight ski that's capable of tackling the entire mountain. It's ideal for the intermediate, advanced, and expert skier who wants to be able to make quick cutting turns through moguls and trees, lay down crisp carves, and still have plenty of float for the powder days.

What really sets the Head Kore 97 W apart from any other ski on the market is the Graphene core material. Graphene is a one-atom-thick layer of carbon that is the building blocks of graphite. It's flexible, light, and incredibly strong, giving the ski a unique backbone and performance. However, Graphene for all of its benefits lacks dampening so it can feel bouncy at times on skied out crud. That lack of dampening doesn't encourage a lot of trick throwing either. The short turn radius that makes it easy to whip around, can lack stability for long drawn out high speed GS style turns.

Despite these small drawbacks, the Kore 97 W is a ski that many skiers would be happy to ski any day of the week. For the right skiers, for the right reasons, it's a great pick for a one ski quiver.

Similarities

Both the K2 Mindbender 99Ti and the Head Kore 97 W are designed for advanced skiers who demand a high-performance ski that can handle a variety of conditions. They both offer a blend of power, stability, and versatility, making them ideal for all-mountain skiing. Both skis are also designed with unique technologies that enhance their performance. The K2 Mindbender 99Ti features a Y-shaped sheet of titinal for superb grip and responsiveness, while the Head Kore 97 W uses Graphene, a one-atom-thick layer of carbon, for a unique backbone and performance. Both skis are also not ideal for beginners or those who prefer a more playful, freestyle ski.

Differences and Who They're Good For

While both skis are designed for advanced skiers, they cater to slightly different personas. The K2 Mindbender 99Ti is a powerhouse, perfect for hard-charging skiers who want a ski that can handle all conditions. It's very directional and stiff, making it ideal for those who can drive them. This is not the ski for someone who's just getting their technical legs or for loosey goosey smearing around the mountain.

On the other hand, the Head Kore 97 W is a featherweight ski that's capable of tackling the entire mountain. It's ideal for skiers who want quick cutting turns through moguls and trees, crisp carves, and plenty of float for powder days. However, it can feel bouncy at times on skied out crud due to its Graphene core material. This ski is perfect for intermediate to advanced skiers who value agility and lightness in their skis.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

When it comes to power and stability, the K2 Mindbender 99Ti takes the crown. Its Y-shaped sheet of titinal delivers superb grip and responsiveness, making it a powerhouse on the slopes. For versatility, both skis perform well, but the Head Kore 97 W's ability to make quick cutting turns through moguls and trees, lay down crisp carves, and still have plenty of float for powder days gives it a slight edge. In terms of weight, the Head Kore 97 W, with its Graphene core material, is the clear winner, offering a shockingly lightweight all-mountain ski. Finally, for aesthetics, the K2 Mindbender 99Ti's outstanding graphics on the top sheet really take it to the next level, making it the winner in this category.

Conclusions

In conclusion, both the K2 Mindbender 99Ti and the Head Kore 97 W are excellent choices for advanced skiers looking for a versatile, high-performance ski. The K2 Mindbender 99Ti is a powerhouse, perfect for hard-charging skiers who want a ski that can handle all conditions. On the other hand, the Head Kore 97 W is a featherweight ski that's capable of tackling the entire mountain. It's ideal for skiers who want quick cutting turns through moguls and trees, crisp carves, and plenty of float for powder days. Both skis have their strengths and weaknesses, but they're both excellent choices for advanced skiers looking for a versatile, high-performance ski. So, whether you're a hard-charging skier or someone who values agility and lightness in their skis, there's a ski for you in this comparison. Happy skiing!