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2020 K2 Poacher: Mounting/Opinions/Advice

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erose
Posts: 7 - Karma: 18

I recently purchased the 2020 K2 poachers with Look SPX 12 Bindings. I’d like to start learning to ski park however I love to explore the mountain. Have always used shitty rental skis in the past on the east coast but now being on the west coast and with a season pass (squaw), I decided to finally invest in some skis. My main question is for somebody who is planning on spending time learning in the park but also on trails and in the woods, about 50/50, where should I mount my bindings? I was planning on mounting true center however, I have been advised doing this if I want to spend even an hour outside the park. Curious if anybody has the ski or can give some input. Maybe -1/-2? Would like to still get a playful and surfy feel. Thanks in advance!
Feb 7 2020 8:20PM
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ASAPCarter
Posts: 918 - Karma: 10,337
I’d say mount them dead center but that’s just my personal preference so take it for what it is.
Feb 7 2020 8:31PM
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abar.
Posts: 1062 - Karma: 6,888
-2.5, def don't do true center if you want to ski 50/50 and haven't skied park before
Feb 7 2020 8:55PM
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erose
Posts: 7 - Karma: 18
I get the idea on box and rails, but would it affect jumps and such other than just the difference in swing weight? Thanks again!
ASAPCarterI’d say mount them dead center but that’s just my personal preference so take it for what it is.
Feb 7 2020 9:09PM
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erose
Posts: 7 - Karma: 18
Don’t think it would have too much affect on rails? Thanks again!
abar.-2.5, def don't do true center if you want to ski 50/50 and haven't skied park before
Feb 7 2020 9:10PM
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ASAPCarter
Posts: 918 - Karma: 10,337
IMO you’ll feel a lot more balanced in the air with equal amount of ski in front and behind you. I ski trees and park all day and the only difference to me is my skis feel a lot more playful.
eroseI get the idea on box and rails, but would it affect jumps and such other than just the difference in swing weight? Thanks again!
Feb 7 2020 9:16PM
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abar.
Posts: 1062 - Karma: 6,888
eroseDon’t think it would have too much affect on rails? Thanks again!


I learned rails on a 108 mounted at -4.5, you'll be fine. I later got them remounted at -2.5 when I had too for new boots. I feel like weight makes more of a difference. You'll be fine for learning park. True center will definitely blow for trying to ski variable snow. Disclaimer: I've never skied true center, but I do just fine on rails a bit behind, unless you're doing crazy technical stuff you probs won't notice, but you'll def notice if you try and ski hard in some rough snow true center
Feb 7 2020 9:24PM
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Mr.Lumpyjumbles
Posts: 156 - Karma: 1,401
I mounted -2 on my chronics and wouldn't do it any other way. I'm in the park at least 50% of the time and I find that -2 is a good balance for park and all mountain skiing. I've never ridden center mounted so I really don't have anything to compare to, but I have no problems whatsoever with spinning or hitting rails at -2.
Feb 7 2020 9:45PM
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erose
Posts: 7 - Karma: 18
Did you have any trouble landing switch? At -2 I doubt it would affect anybody other than a serious freestyle skier. Just out of curiosity. Thanks again!
Mr.LumpyjumblesI mounted -2 on my chronics and wouldn't do it any other way. I'm in the park at least 50% of the time and I find that -2 is a good balance for park and all mountain skiing. I've never ridden center mounted so I really don't have anything to compare to, but I have no problems whatsoever with spinning or hitting rails at -2.
Feb 7 2020 10:28PM
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Adtmartens
Posts: 78 - Karma: 260
Ive skied park on -2 for a whole season and they were fine. This year i centre mounted my new skis which is great in the park but in any soft snow it really throws you forward. Thats why i got two pairs of skis but the sweet spot for having only one set of skis is definitely a little back from centre
Feb 7 2020 11:06PM
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erose
Posts: 7 - Karma: 18
Awesome, thanks for the info!
AdtmartensIve skied park on -2 for a whole season and they were fine. This year i centre mounted my new skis which is great in the park but in any soft snow it really throws you forward. Thats why i got two pairs of skis but the sweet spot for having only one set of skis is definitely a little back from centre
Feb 7 2020 11:14PM
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Mawbin
Posts: 82 - Karma: 382
Mount them bitches dead center you won’t regret it
Feb 7 2020 11:52PM
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erose
Posts: 7 - Karma: 18
Confidence is key right?
BibManMount them bitches dead center you won’t regret it
Feb 7 2020 11:53PM
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MoneyMakerMike
Posts: 1254 - Karma: 5,770
Where ever you choose to mount them is what you are going to get used to, so either way it doesnt matter. I ski center mounted park skis in pow all the time and its not even bad just because thats what im used too.
Feb 8 2020 1:29AM
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cndr
Posts: 135 - Karma: 686
No experience with the poachers, but I ski the Marksman and Catamaran both at "0" which I think is dead center or super close to it. No complaints on either, granted they are a bit wider than the Poacher for variable snow. I think all of the K2 "team" skis do best at core center, or "0" on the sidewall. Everyone I know on the Poacher skis them there.
Feb 8 2020 1:41AM
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erose
Posts: 7 - Karma: 18
Thank you!
cndrNo experience with the poachers, but I ski the Marksman and Catamaran both at "0" which I think is dead center or super close to it. No complaints on either, granted they are a bit wider than the Poacher for variable snow. I think all of the K2 "team" skis do best at core center, or "0" on the sidewall. Everyone I know on the Poacher skis them there.
Feb 8 2020 2:09AM
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SoVT
Posts: 118 - Karma: -13
I know this is going to get a fuck ton of down votes but... bro why don’t you mount them recommend point from the factory and learn how to actually ski on a ski that skis right. And the. Figure out where you want to mount in the future. This shit isn’t just a question you ask and there’s a right answer. It’s all personal preference and if you put you time in on the hill you will be able to answer it in the future. But unless the ski is a symmetrical ski or you are a jib king or land switch all the time, you should be mounting at recommended or a little in front. I read for hours about where to mount my black crow animas. Was set on mounting +1 from recommended... walked into the shop and my buddy goes “sweet, drill them at recommended right?” I hesitated and said yes. I’m glad I didn’t go +1, would of skied like shit I think. Tail is already long enough and going forward destroys float. But ya. So long story short. Learn to ski. Then fuck with your skis.
Feb 8 2020 6:28AM
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Mr.Lumpyjumbles
Posts: 156 - Karma: 1,401
eroseDid you have any trouble landing switch? At -2 I doubt it would affect anybody other than a serious freestyle skier. Just out of curiosity. Thanks again!


I haven't had any problems landing switch at -2 on the biggest jumps my mountain has to offer. If you were throwing 12s and 16s on an 80 foot booter it might be a different story and you'd probably want a centered platform, but I think for what most people do -2 is fine. Of course I've never skied center mounted so maybe I'm missing out and if I remounted at center I would suddenly turn into a god at landing switch, but more likely there's no significant difference up to a level of skiing that I'll never hit.
Feb 8 2020 8:02AM
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NPCPLUS
Posts: 162 - Karma: -155
what is it with people mounting a non symmetrical ski dfc? mount it recommended unless you have experience with the ski at a different mounting point.

btw this ski is a lot stiffer than you would expect and will most likely kick your ass. get your vishnus, pivot 18's that you will only ride at 8 anyways, mount em center with your over-sized stock boot and call it day.
Feb 8 2020 11:20AM
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cndr
Posts: 135 - Karma: 686
collin.zecherI know this is going to get a fuck ton of down votes but... bro why don’t you mount them recommend point from the factory and learn how to actually ski on a ski that skis right. And the. Figure out where you want to mount in the future. This shit isn’t just a question you ask and there’s a right answer. It’s all personal preference and if you put you time in on the hill you will be able to answer it in the future. But unless the ski is a symmetrical ski or you are a jib king or land switch all the time, you should be mounting at recommended or a little in front. I read for hours about where to mount my black crow animas. Was set on mounting +1 from recommended... walked into the shop and my buddy goes “sweet, drill them at recommended right?” I hesitated and said yes. I’m glad I didn’t go +1, would of skied like shit I think. Tail is already long enough and going forward destroys float. But ya. So long story short. Learn to ski. Then fuck with your skis.


There is a good point here, but OP for the record K2s are very traditionally (back) marked as far as recommended mount point goes. I'd go "on the line" with just about every other ski, but on K2s I think core is the way to go.

EDIT: plus not taking anything away from the poacher, but it's a park ski at heart. If you're in Squaw, you'll probably end up wanting another stick for bigger/deeper/all mtn days.

**This post was edited on Feb 9th 2020 at 2:16:46am
Feb 9 2020 2:11AM
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