Board: K2 Excavator

Size: 158

Camber Option: Directional camber. Rocker in the nose then camber throughout.

Bindings: Rome Black Labels

Stance: 21.5 Wide 15 Negative 12 Goofy

Boots: K2 Thraxis Size 10

My Weight: 200lbs

Resort: Arapahoe Basin

Conditions: Overcast skies, average temps, some snow falling at times, 4 to 6 inches of light pow turning to heavy pow, chunder groomers, hero corduroy, a little ice in spots, and some crust underneath the fresh snow.

Flex: While this is a stiffer board it never feels like a plank or overly stiff. You have a full directional flex meaning softer nose to stiffer tail with it progressively stiffening up the whole way. The torsional flex is there but never seems overly abundant or under performing.

Stability: This board is super smooth and stable. It cuts through chop with ease and barely lets you notice its there. What little flap and chatter you get in the nose is almost completely gone by the time it reverberates through the tip to the front insert pack. Underfoot in rutted out terrain you may feel big hard body jarring hits, but those aren’t even that bad.

Ollies/Pop: With the camber being set back you get a more ample load from the tail and that gives you solid predictable snap. While you do have to load this board up to get it to engage it doesn’t fight you nor does it feel like you’re aggressively loading it up. It just feels so smooth and consistent with the load you don’t realize you’re doing.

Butterability: With the stiffer flex it does take a bit more to butter it. Even with the nose having rocker I found that I had to put a bit more effort into it to get it to press and when I did the camber would fight me a bit. The tail is even more assertive so you really find yourself sitting on it. What I can recommend is go fast and wheelie with the tail while sitting in the backseat and with the nose find some fresh pow on a steeper incline and pop into it.

Carving: The edge to edge transmission is super fluid and smooth with this board while retaining a refined nimbleness. You want to get on edge, you are on edge and then you’re steering underfoot with simple ankle motions to drive the apex of the carve. When you push into this board it can leave a trench with ease and doesn’t allow you to second guess on whether it can handle it. Mellow set up turns to deep hard aggressive carves it has you covered. If you want to turn, then turn!

Rider in Mind: Resort ripping powder chaser.

Personal Thoughts: When you get on a board and you don’t want to get off it, that’s a hallmark of a super solid deck. This was that board for me. It rides smaller than it is, it’s not as stiff as you would think because the flex points are so dialed in to the shape, camber, and sidecut of this board it just feels locked in. Don’t sleep on this new deck if you’re looking for a powder resort ripper because it’s just that good!

Comparable Boards: Amplid Morning Glory, Rome Ravine Select, Niche Maelstrom

Recommended Bindings: Rome Katana, K2 Lien AT, Nitro Phantom