21/22 Gear Rumors

**123ski** · 01-26-2021, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by buttahflake

K2 forgot how to make skis that don’t suck
It’s such a sad thing. Mindbenders blow

Mindbender 99ti is the best ski that K2 has made in a long time, and it far from blows or sucks.

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**buttahflake** · 01-26-2021, 02:03 PM

Sez the guy that owns a pair.
Take a lap

**XavierD** · 01-26-2021, 02:08 PM

Mindbenders, Reckoners, and Visions are all solid skis.
I could care less what a dude who doesn’t think you need to flex your boots thinks.

**buttahflake** · 01-26-2021, 02:21 PM

Say what?

**westoxified** · 01-26-2021, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by nickwm21

A few months ago there was some social media with Solly athletes on a modern model with a classic yellow 1080 graphic. I really hope all brands embrace the retro theme!

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this is how you know the industry is out of ideas.

**123ski** · 01-26-2021, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by buttahflake

Sez the guy that owns a pair.
Take a lap

I didn’t pay for my pair, nor do I have a relationship with K2 that obligate me in any way to say anything positive or negative about their skis. If I didn’t like them, I’d have given them away.

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**Judo Chop!** · 01-26-2021, 03:03 PM

for what it's worth, I really like my 99ti's.
I can push really hard on them without them failing, and I'm very big.

**ZomblibulaX** · 01-26-2021, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by 123ski

Mindbender 99ti is one of the best skis that K2 has made in a long time, and that’s not saying much.

FIFY.

**waxoff** · 01-26-2021, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by nickwm21

A few months ago there was some social media with Solly athletes on a modern model with a classic yellow 1080 graphic. I really hope all brands embrace the retro theme!

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Nahhh, retro is so 2020. What is obvious is that topsheets nowadays need to be offered in multiple colorways!

**XavierD** · 01-26-2021, 05:37 PM

Most graphics are so subdued and tame now anyway. Marketing teams need to grow a pair and let their artists do something. Early 2010s were great from this regard.

**KRAW** · 01-26-2021, 08:13 PM

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when the graphics had the flavor

**chicken feathers** · 01-26-2021, 08:44 PM

^ yuck. flavor of an ed hardy store maybe...

I liked the Volkl Kendo/Mantra/Katana graphics of that era though.

**westoxified** · 01-26-2021, 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by KRAW

when the graphics had the flavor

I’ll take the rocker2 and the sickle. You can have the rest.

**TAFKALVS** · 01-26-2021, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by been in it

^ yuck. flavor of an ed hardy store maybe...

I liked the Volkl Kendo/Mantra/Katana graphics of that era though.

Agree, just give me a clean simple graphic.

**onenerdykid** · 01-27-2021, 05:30 AM

Originally Posted by KRAW

when the graphics had the flavor

I have an original Automatic 193 prototype with the Blog graphic (center pic) on it. It was made so Sage & Dana could test it without drawing too much attention to it. Probably one of my favorite skis I've held on to over the years.

**Lord Thomas** · 01-27-2021, 07:32 AM

My favorite had to be the 13/14? dragon volkl's - matched the personality of that generation of mantras and katanas.

**123ski** · 01-27-2021, 08:30 AM

My favorite graphics of skis I’ve actually owned:

And this is my favorite ski graphic I’ve never owned:

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**burrito** · 01-27-2021, 12:03 PM

Graphics are super tough. As a brand and product designer, part of me sees the value in consistent artwork. Everyone recognizes a Black Crows or an Icelantic the second the see it. At some point, though, that consistent look will almost inevitably become stale, and it is nearly impossible to differentiate one product from another. You have brand recognition, strong as it may be, that will eventually fade and nonexistent product recognition.

The flip side is something akin the J Skis model. Go wide. Go fun. Consistency be damned. Individual graphics will probably end up as individuals' all-time favorites, but you're hard-pressed to pick a J Skis out on the mountain by just a glance.

Neither is right or wrong as long as it carries a consistent tone and the right value with your consumer. A perfect example is the difference between the Bent Chetlers and every other Atomic ski. Atomic is ostensibly a race brand, and their graphics reflect that...except for the Chetlers. They have consistently stood apart from the rest of the Atomic line, and for good reason. The Bent Chetler consumer doesn't give a shit about looking fast or techy, and the race consumer doesn't care about being artsy and mellow. Despite being so different, both sides of the Atomic graphic spectrum have been consistent over the years.

All of this is a long-winded way of saying that I believe as long as a brand's graphics have a consistent vibe that's right for their consumer, they'll have legs. It's when brands take wild swings from year to year, seemingly without rhyme or reason, that they dilute their brand. Sure there might be some random gems in there, but without a consistent tone and vision they'll be the one-off hit in a sea of misses.

**123ski** · 01-27-2021, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by burrito

Graphics are super tough. As a brand and product designer, part of me sees the value in consistent artwork. Everyone recognizes a Black Crows or an Icelantic the second the see it. At some point, though, that consistent look will almost inevitably become stale, and it is nearly impossible to differentiate one product from another. You have brand recognition, strong as it may be, that will eventually fade and nonexistent product recognition.

The flip side is something akin the J Skis model. Go wide. Go fun. Consistency be damned. Individual graphics will probably end up as individuals' all-time favorites, but you're hard-pressed to pick a J Skis out on the mountain by just a glance.

Neither is right or wrong as long as it carries a consistent tone and the right value with your consumer. A perfect example is the difference between the Bent Chetlers and every other Atomic ski. Atomic is ostensibly a race brand, and their graphics reflect that...except for the Chetlers. They have consistently stood apart from the rest of the Atomic line, and for good reason. The Bent Chetler consumer doesn't give a shit about looking fast or techy, and the race consumer doesn't care about being artsy and mellow. Despite being so different, both sides of the Atomic graphic spectrum have been consistent over the years.

All of this is a long-winded way of saying that I believe as long as a brand's graphics have a consistent vibe that's right for their consumer, they'll have legs. It's when brands take wild swings from year to year, seemingly without rhyme or reason, that they dilute their brand. Sure there might be some random gems in there, but without a consistent tone and vision they'll be the one-off hit in a sea of misses.

I like the strategy of ON3P as of late where every ski model has the same base, and every topsheet says ON3P on the tip of the right ski, and otherwise the graphics get as wild or as tame as you want.

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**jacob_dbu** · 01-27-2021, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by 123ski

I like the strategy of ON3P as of late where every ski model has the same base, and every topsheet says ON3P on the tip of the right ski, and otherwise the graphics get as wild or as tame as you want.

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I actually dislike the ON3P graphics as of late. I really liked the BG with the Mt. Hood topo topsheet.

Moment does a great job of having fun graphics while maintaining brand identity. Like the Wildcats having the astronaut / astro vibe.

**jacob_dbu** · 01-27-2021, 01:00 PM

Also @gregL when you get on the Quantum Free's I want to hear all about it! It looks like a direct competitor to the La Sportiva Skorpius which has a finicky tongue that I'd rather avoid.

**Sessiøn** · 01-27-2021, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by thejongiest

I actually dislike the ON3P graphics as of late. I really liked the BG with the Mt. Hood topo topsheet.

Moment does a great job of having fun graphics while maintaining brand identity. Like the Wildcats having the astronaut / astro vibe.

While you may not LIKE certain graphics. ON3P has stayed real consistent along models lines with the overall theme. Along with providing a ton of custom options. They went brand identity with their flo-green base, and consistent brand placement on the top.

**burrito** · 01-27-2021, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by thejongiest

Moment does a great job of having fun graphics while maintaining brand identity. Like the Wildcats having the astronaut / astro vibe.

Moment also has the advantage of sticking with their squared-off tip and tail shapes. You could put anything you want on their skis and still know its a Moment with just a glance.