Board Exam: 2012/2013 K2 Ultra Dream Snowboard Review

What the Rep Said: I honestly don't remember, my phone destroyed the notes from this review. We're relying on my memory from a year ago here. I'm guessing he said something about how much he liked the board as the demo was his personal stick.

First Impressions: I wasn't sold on the Turbo Dream, but I hear this is new and improved. It is Ultra, after all.

No photos survived from my phone, I stole this one from the internets. 

Stats/Setup: I'm 6'1" and about 162 pounds as of this demo. I rode the K2 Ultra Dream 161 with Salomon Dialogue boots (men's 9.5) and Union Force SL bindings at Mt. Bachelor.

Conditions: A powder board in powder conditions!? Boot-top to knee-deep in places.

The Ride: It was dumping all day and this was the last couple runs I got. They were great. This board shone in the powder as expected. The combo of short running length and tight sidecut really works for me. Tight turns and great float. Slashes got slashed. Pow butters for sure. The long, rockered tail might not be ideal for really big landings, but I was at a resort with a bunch of three-to-five-foot natural poppers, so it was super fun. Oh yeah, the glades got runnered, too. Glade Runner? Blade Runner?? Anyone? Whatever. Powder + Trees + This Board = Good Times.

Bottom Line: Resort pow bows down before this board. If you want a longer running length, buy a bigger board! Check K2's site for the whole deal.

Similar Boards: Capita Charlie Slasher

SIA Day 1: Brain Rush

Just a giant blue bear looking in. Act natural. Check out my wares.

This is the first year I've ever attended the monstrous snowsports industry trade show known as SIA. It's intense. Not a great time for my wi-fi and phone to be flaking out because there are so many pictures to share, but I guess they'll have to come over a longer period of time. Follow me on twitter (@boredyak) and instagram (boredyak) if you want the up to the second updates. Here are some themes popping up this year.

Backcountry safety. Several different groups are getting out the message that we need to do more on this front. I'm fully backing AIARE's Project Zero. The goal: reduce avalanche fatalities to zero. The process: cohesive messaging across the industry with all stakeholders involved. This is nothing short of a full commitment by the entire industry to save lives. The process will be long, but nothing is more important. To that end everyone from Jeremy Jones to Glen Plake to Dean Cummings came out to speak at the specially constructed backcountry experience booth.   The message: get educated and be good stewards of the backcountry. Take responsibility and take care.

Board shapes. It's so refreshing to come out and see all the brands, big and small, toying and tinkering with different shapes. Base beveling is spreading. Think Bataleon's Triple Base. Here's a tiny - yet not so tiny - taste.

The limited run, noboard-only, Johan Olofsson-designed Venture Powder Pig.

There's too much to list it all right now. Name a brand and they have new shit. That's just what happens. Every year. Jones has a carbon Hovercraft splitboard. You have to hold it to understand how light it is. A new backpack manufacturer called Orion Packs is entering the space with a line of minimalist backcountry packs and big plans to expand. Another 'new exhibitor,' Adidas Snowboarding. Giro is debuting an innovative line of multiple-impact helmets. Everywhere you turn there's a new camber profile. Still. K2's Lifted line has my attention. Oh, and the graphics. Here's one that stopped me in my spot, speaking of K2.

The whole Happy Hour line has photo bases with incredible depth.

Like I said, though, lots of material and long hours/days. Check twit-stagram for the hyper-news and check back here for the details as the show goes on and beyond. Don't forget at the end of it all, we get two days of on-snow time to demolish the new gear. Any requests? Just leave them in the comments.

Isenseven Premiere TONIGHT!

Who wouldn't want to use a product called Crack Grease?

That poster really says it all, doesn't it? Well, I have a little bit to add. SOS Outreach is a wonderful organization that provides outdoor adventure to at-risk youth. It's similar to a group I volunteer for called Snowdays. Put simply, we all know how expensive snowboarding is, but we all know how much fun it is and how rewarding it is, too. That's what groups like SOS and Snowdays are for, bridging the expense gap to provide the rewards. Rewards to deserving folks who might never get that chance otherwise.

The tricky part is raising the money. Enter Isenseven and Crack Grease and the movie premiere format. You donate $10 to SOS (or $5 and a useable pair of goggles) and you get to see some good snowboard movies at a theater with 100 of your closest friends. Throw in product tosses (look at all those sponsors), raffles and beer and you've got a solid Thursday night's entertainment. Get there. And don't forget K2uesday next Tuesday benefitting Snowdays.

Meadows Demo Day Sunday

Ever wonder how I ride all the latest snowboards before they're even on store shelves? Seriously!? It's all about demo days at my local resorts. These days you can try out boards as fast as you can switch your bindings. All for free! This Sunday (3/18) the Northwest Demo Tour hits Mt. Hood Meadows. Get there by 9am for first shot at more boards than a lumber yard. Rapid fire you're way through a dozen boards or pick one and give it a good thrashing. Reps will be on hand from K2, Capita, Never Summer, Lib Tech, Gnu, Arbor and maybe some more if you're lucky. Be sure to bring your own boots, though. Full details at Mt. Hood Meadows' site.

Board Exam: 2011/2012 K2 Turbo Dream Snowboard Review

What the rep said: The Turbo Dream is flat between the feet with an early rise nose and tail (slightly higher nose), Harshmellow dampens vibration underfoot, Carbon web stringers will pop your socks off.

Stats/Setup: I'm checking in at 6'1" and 170#. I rode the Turbo Dream in a 159 with Salomon Dialogue Boots (size 9.5) and K2 Formula Bindings at Mt. Bachelor, Oregon.

Conditions: Hardpack, ice, some slush

First impression: Some bright-ass bindings, but nothing else out of the ordinary.

The Ride: Right off the lift all systems were go. The board went edge to edge just fine on slow, short-radius turns. Pop was OK, probably due to its stiffness and carbon webbing and in spite of its reverse camber profile. Stability at speed and on landings was a high point. Nothing bothered the Dream on that front. Again, this board is pretty stiff longitudinally, maybe a little less so torsionally. Also not a board you'll be pressing too much.

Then, it came time to crank a turn. Higher speed carving was a sore spot as the board wanted to wash or rotate a little. I would attribute this to the camber profile and traditional sidecut. Reverse camber boards that carve best have some sidecut augmentation, whether it's magne-traction, grip tech, vario power grip or what have you.

Stolen from K2's 2011/2012 site. Check it while you can.

Bottom Line: I was disappointed in this board. It might serve well as a pow board, but I can't see riding it in all-around resort conditions. The stability was there, but the sidecut didn't lock on like some of the alternative sidecuts that are available leading to a looser turn than I'd like. Overall, I think this board might work better with regular camber.

I have a buddy who has an older model of this board, maybe I can get him to weigh in on it in the comments.

Similar Boards: Bataleon Omni