Expert Comparison: Völkl Kenja 88 Skis · Women's · 2024 vs K2 Mindbender 89Ti W Skis · Women's · 2024
VS
Side by side comparison | Runner up | Runner up |
|---|---|---|
Price | $350.00 50% off | $419.97 40% off |
The Curated Take | Best for female skiers seeking a powerful frontside ski with versatility for all-mountain terrain, offering excellent edge grip and smooth carving. | Perfect for high-speed runs on groomed runs and hardpack performance. |
Ski type | All Mountain | Freeride, All Mountain |
Skill level | Intermediate, Advanced | Advanced, Expert |
Rocker profile | Rocker/Camber/Rocker | Rocker/Camber/Rocker |
Tail profile | Partial twin tip | Partial twin tip |
In the world of women's skis, the Völkl Kenja 88 and the K2 Mindbender 89Ti W are two standout options for the 2024 season. Both skis are designed for intermediate to advanced skiers and offer a blend of performance and versatility that can handle a variety of conditions. The Kenja 88 is a playful groomer ripper with a tailored Titanal frame that offers stiffness and stability, while the Mindbender 89Ti W is a responsive and stable ski that excels at high-speed runs. Both skis are great for carving and offer excellent edge hold, but the Kenja 88 is more suited for groomers and the Mindbender 89Ti W is more versatile for all-mountain terrain. In the end, the choice between these two skis will come down to your personal skiing style and the conditions you typically ski in.
The Völkl Kenja 88 Skis are designed for intermediate to advanced skiers who want a playful and responsive ski for groomers. The Kenja 88 features three primary changes this year: a tailored Titanal frame, a tailored carbon tip, and a shorter turn radius than previous models. The Titanal frame makes the skis stiffer and heavier than beginner options, making them ideal for intermediate to advanced skiers. The tailored Titanal frame reduces the amount of metal in each size of the ski, making them lighter and more nimble than expected.
The Kenja 88 excels in carving, with excellent edge hold and no chatter in any condition, thanks to the Titanal frame. The skis are also great at high speeds, offering control and stability. Despite their stiffness, the Kenja 88 skis are surprisingly playful and poppy, able to hop easily from edge to edge. However, they are not ideal for powder conditions and are best suited for groomers.
The Kenja 88 skis are recommended for intermediate to expert skiers who want a ski that rewards aggression and offers progression. They are not recommended for beginners or those who ski a lot of powder.
My overall impression was that this is a really playful directional. This is a really playful groomer ripper. My overall impression of the ski is that it's a really fun intermediate-to-advanced groomer ripper. These are reinforced with the Titanal frame, which means that these are going to be a bit stiffer than other groomer beginner-to-intermediate options.
My overall impression was that this is a really playful directional. This is a really playful groomer ripper. My overall impression of the ski is that it's a really fun intermediate-to-advanced groomer ripper. These are reinforced with the Titanal frame, which means that these are going to be a bit stiffer than other groomer beginner-to-intermediate options.
Völkl Kenja 88 Skis · Women's · 2024
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The K2 Mindbender 89Ti W Skis are designed for intermediate to advanced skiers who want a responsive and stable ski for high-speed runs. The Mindbender 89Ti W features a Titanal Y-Beam, which provides stiffness and stability, making it great for groomers and high-speed runs. The ski is fairly stiff compared to carbon versions, but it's not just a groomer-carving ski.
The Mindbender 89Ti W is easy to turn, with good stability and quick edge-to-edge transitions. It holds its edge well in chunky snow and is very stable in turns and at high speeds. Despite its stiffness, the ski is fairly poppy and playful, making it good for moguls and jumps. However, it's not ideal for deep powder or park skiing.
The Mindbender 89Ti W is recommended for intermediate to advanced skiers who want a ski that performs well on groomers and is starting to explore trees. It's not recommended for beginners, experts who want a ski for powder, or park skiers.
My overall impression of this was that it was a really good, really fun ski. As a former racer, I really enjoyed how stiff it was and how well it performed on groomers. It does have the Titanal Y-Beam in it, which is different from some of the others that K2 has with carbon, so it was a little bit stiffer. It was great on groomers, it was great in the trees, and it was great at speed.
My overall impression of this was that it was a really good, really fun ski. As a former racer, I really enjoyed how stiff it was and how well it performed on groomers. It does have the Titanal Y-Beam in it, which is different from some of the others that K2 has with carbon, so it was a little bit stiffer. It was great on groomers, it was great in the trees, and it was great at speed.
K2 Mindbender 89Ti W Skis · Women's · 2024
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Similarities
Both the Völkl Kenja 88 and the K2 Mindbender 89Ti W are designed for intermediate to advanced skiers and are built to perform well on groomers. They both feature a Titanal frame, which provides stiffness and stability, making them great for high-speed runs. Both skis are also quick edge-to-edge and offer excellent edge hold, making them great for carving. They are both playful and responsive, with the ability to make a variety of turn shapes with ease. Both skis are also not ideal for deep powder conditions and are best suited for groomers and firmer snow.
Differences and Who They're Good For
While both skis are designed for intermediate to advanced skiers and perform well on groomers, they cater to slightly different personas. The Völkl Kenja 88 is a playful groomer ripper that rewards aggression and offers progression. It's ideal for skiers who want a ski that's a bit stiffer and heavier than beginner options, but still performs well. It's not recommended for beginners or those who ski a lot of powder.
On the other hand, the K2 Mindbender 89Ti W is a responsive and stable ski that excels at high-speed runs. It's great for skiers who want a ski that's stiff and stable, but also offers easy turn initiation and enhanced power transfer. It's not recommended for beginners, experts who want a ski for powder, or park skiers.
Analysis on Who’s the Winner
When comparing the Völkl Kenja 88 and the K2 Mindbender 89Ti W, the winner will depend on the specific needs and preferences of the skier.
- Performance on Groomers: Both skis perform well on groomers, but the Völkl Kenja 88 is designed specifically as a groomer ripper, making it the winner in this category.
- Versatility: The K2 Mindbender 89Ti W offers more versatility with its ability to handle off-piste exploration and moguls, making it the winner in this category.
- Playfulness: Both skis are playful and responsive, but the Völkl Kenja 88 is described as a "playful groomer ripper," giving it the edge in this category.
- Progression: The Völkl Kenja 88 is designed to reward aggression and offer progression, making it the winner for skiers looking to improve their skills.
Conclusions
In conclusion, both the Völkl Kenja 88 and the K2 Mindbender 89Ti W are excellent choices for intermediate to advanced skiers looking for a ski that performs well on groomers. The Kenja 88 is a playful groomer ripper that rewards aggression and offers progression, making it a great choice for skiers who want to improve their skills. The Mindbender 89Ti W is a responsive and stable ski that excels at high-speed runs and offers more versatility for off-piste exploration. The choice between these two skis will ultimately come down to your personal skiing style and the conditions you typically ski in.
