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K2 Joy Driver 2018-2019 Splitboard Review

Thanks to the increasing popularity of splitboarding, as well as advances in board tech, there is a wider variety of models out there that we would ever have thought possible even just a decade ago. If you like your backcountry vessel to be an old-school charger, though, then the K2 Joy Driver splitboard is one to check out.

This thing is a beast; aided by triax fibreglass and carbon additives, the guys at K2 have given this a super stiff flex. At high speeds it’ll remain solid as a rock, although your own riding needs to be able to keep up.

“The sintered base and powerful, slightly setback camber make this ideal for charging”

[monetizer101 search=’k2 joy driver split’]

Tame it, and it’ll deliver; the sintered base and powerful, slightly setback camber make this ideal for charging. The carbon runs from the inserts out to the contact points to increase response, and the three-wood core is built to take a beating. There’s no need to hold back with this one.

Convenience fans will appreciate the fact that the K2 Joy Driver splitboard comes as a complete package, including skins and pucks. The made-to-measures skins can be attached to the board through the holes in the nose and tail, making it so easy to get set up for touring.

Essentially the polar opposite of the K2 Split Bean, K2 Joy Driver’s ‘ain’t broke, don’t fix’ approach is admirable. Aggressive freeriders everywhere would be wise to take a closer look.

Tester’s Verdict

Sam McMahonwhitelines.com

“Having not much liked the K2 Split Bean, the Joy Driver was off to a bit of an unfair advantage when it came to showing me what it was about. Happily, however, it manages to fix a lot of what isn’t so great with its little brother, giving you a stomping platform for both ascending and descending most of the terrain you’re likely to come across in the true alpine, rather than the rolling powder fields of Oregon or Japan. Not that it wouldn’t shine in these parts too!

“I’m happy to confirm that that the split version is every bit as solid for all round off-piste riding as the original”

K2’s tip and tail grommets for their custom skins are, hands down, the easiest way to get skins on and off your board, doing away with any alignment issues and having to stretch it over and off the tails. Pure genius. It would be perfect if the skins tapered later to give a bit more surface area, especially at the contact points, but now we’re splitting hairs (badum tsch).

As mentioned above, going up has no issues – there’s plenty of length to give you the right purchase, and for coming back down… well, it’s a Joy Driver. Not for nothing has it been a staple in K2’s line up for years now, and I’m happy to confirm that that the split version is every bit as solid for all round off-piste riding as the original, even though it’s been re-engineered from the inside out to accommodate the split.

It holds an edge, turns on a dime and doesn’t buck you when the going gets bumpy. Reliable and dependable, it’s the ol’ faithful made splittable!”

[monetizer101 search=’k2 joy driver split’]

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