K2 Special Effects 2021-2022 Snowboard Review - Whitelines Snowboarding

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K2 Special Effects 2021-2022 Snowboard Review

Tested and selected for our top 100 snowboard products of the year: the K2 Special Effects

  • Price: £520 / €580 / $600
  • Category: Freeride + Powder
  • Sizes: 140, 144, 148, 152
  • Flex: 7/10
  • Shape: Directional
  • Profile: Flat / Rocker
  • 3D: Yes
  • Base: Sintered

Why we chose the K2 Special Effects Snowboard: Have you seen that nose? It’s the best nose job we’ve ever seen! 8mm contour between the two edges deflects snow away for the ultimate power riding experience. This snowboard is leading the field in performance focused freeride boards.

Welcoming to the stage for their first ever appearance, K2 brings you the Special Effects snowboard. Built for boarders to want to adventure into the unknow and untouched snow, this board lets glide over snow, bounce down pillows and makes predictable turn imitations.

The performance of this board is so unique, if you filmed yourself riding down the mountain outsiders might think you were using special effects to create the footage. 3D contour on the nose makes this board a top contender for the best freeride/ powder board on the market.
The unique shape of the Special Effect snowboard through the backcountry into your very own playground.

“This snowboard is leading the field in performance focused freeride boards”

MORE INFO:
K2.COM

Who Is The K2 Special Effects For?

If you’re bored of just going up the chairlift to just come down the piste alongside everyone else, then it’s time to move on and experience freeride boarding with the Special Effects board. Suitable for intermediate to expert boarders who are ready to up their game on the mountain, equipped with a Carbon Glass it’s responsive and less forgiving so you need to know what you’re doing.

Shape, Profile and Sidecut

Snowboards don’t get much more directional than this, it literally looks like an arrow. The directional shape is created with a tapered swallow tail, 0.72” setback, rocker in the nose and 3D contouring.

The swallow tail sinks into deep snow adding lift in the nose, created specifically for riding in power. The cut out reduces weight whilst elongating the contact length adding stability and power. Your weight is shifted towards the tail due to a 0.75” setback, as a result, you don’t have to lean back as much.

Flat between your inserts with rocker at the nose creates a super stable board with increased float over power. This profile performs in the power and on the groomers.

3D contour on the nose is the standout feature of this board, 8mm contour between the edges deflects snow so you glide without drag. On any terrain the 3D shaping helps to make predictable turn initiations.

“The swallow tail sinks into deep snow adding lift in the nose, created specifically for riding in power”

Construction and Materials

Starting with a sustainably source Bambooyah Core made with a blend of bamboo, aspen and paulownia. This core is responsive yet absorbs vibrations for a damp feel. K2 believe in this core so much that they whacked a 5-year warranty on it.

The response of the core is enhanced with a biaxal fiberglass layer plus woven carbon stringers. This layer increases the pop, durability and playfulness of the board, thanks to the position of the carbon stringers the board retains its torsional flex.

K2 know that boards get knocked around on the mountain, so they have equipped the Special Effects board with durable Hybritech sidewalls and a tough sintered 4000 base. Ensuring that the board is longer lasting and fast.

“Flat between your inserts with rocker at the nose creates a super stable board with increased float over power”

Roundup

The Special Effects is a little shorter and wider so you can downsize by 4 – 10cm whilst retaining the float of a longer board. Easy to manoeuvre on any terrain you will really see the benefits of the unique shape when exploring the backcountry.

The Special Effects is a go to board for people who want a high performance freeride snowboard that gives you power, stability and durability wrapped up in one package. Don’t miss the fun base that varies in colour with each size.

Trade Secrets

Jonny Russell

“The evolution of the cult favourite cool bean. New shaped spoon nose to improve flow from edge to edge. Makes it glide super fast in pow. We added 10 carbon stringers to increase the pop and maintain the life of this board for years to come.”

Sponsored by

Topics:

Buyers Guide 2021/22 Buyers Guide Snowboards 2021/22 K2 Reviews 2021/22 The Whitelines 100 2021/22 The Whitelines 100 Snowboards 2021/22

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