The Details:
The K2 CarveAir made quite a splash upon its release last year, and was singled out by our Test Team as one of the finest new sticks on the market. Realising that they’re on to a good thing, the folks at K2 have retained it for 2016/17, without changing what we – and just about everyone else who got on one – love about it.
It’s a gnarly-looking board, with a tip that looks like it could puncture tank armour, but in reality this is for fun rather than ferocity. Its short, stubby shape makes it nimble and reactive; essentially the opposite of oil tanker-esque freeride guns you see in Alaska. If your plan for the day’s riding doesn’t tend to stretch further than the very next thing that’s in front of you, then this is tailor-made for you.
For a short board it offers plenty of pop, with its stiff flex and mostly flat base elevated by rocker sections. On the days that you’d rather stick to ground level, the extra-wide waist means you can really dig a trench with the edge when conditions allow.
If you didn’t snap one of these up last year, 2016/17 has given you another chance. For almost any kind of rider, it’s an opportunity worth taking.
