K2

Clouds, clouds, Nicholas clouds! Powder runs that’ll make your knees go weak. A journey in search of that elusive flow state in the mountains, finding your own rhythm, and embracing a lifestyle built entirely around skiing. Could this be Paddy Graham’s last ski film? And if you’ve ever wondered why Chile should be on every skier’s bucket list, this film makes a pretty convincing case. But my personal favourite of the week is still the “Mindbender Live Score”: a custom music jam paired with some seriously stylish tricks.

Finally, more female-led segments this week! A podcast with Ella, the founder of the Swedish women’s magazine Grab, and a couloir ascent with Mali. Plus, there are two cool behind-the-scenes looks at snowboard and ski development—for all you gear fanatics! For all you style lovers, there’s Ryo Aizawa’s snowboarding and an all-time team-up of snowboard legends.

Last year there was already an article about the features of a splitboard boot compared to a normal snowboard soft boot. There are different lacing systems for both types and also combinations of the different systems. You can find out what the differences are and which system is right for you here.

This week's highlights: Max Palm's new short film, which impresses with its versatility and cinematic style. The K2 team trip to Japan takes us to endless powder slopes and stylish park moments. And the Five Blind Mice venture into the absolute wilderness while snow camping in Alaska - six days, two tents, pure thirst for adventure. Finally, the recap of the Jossi Wells Invitational is also out and brings the incomparable spirit of the park directly to the screens

Some beginners may be asking themselves: Do I really need new boots in addition to a spliboard, bindings, poles and skins to start touring? The answer to this question is clear: No! But what if the boots are already a few years old and a new purchase is due anyway, is it worth buying special (soft) boots, even if normal days in the resort are on the list alongside ski tours? Here too, the answer is clear: Yes!

Christmas and New Year are over - a wonderful time with family and friends is behind us, and there's still time for a few ski films in between. I hope most of you have had a good start into 2025 - on skis or boards - and feel like getting some inspiration for the coming week.

Since this winter, the Full Tillt Boot can be found with K2. Don't worry, it's not swallowed and gone, it's just getting a new name and has been reworked in collaboration with Tom Wallisch.

ISPO, an interesting but also very exhausting trade fair, has been postponed from January to autumn. However, we at PowderGuide are still doing our best to provide you with information about the material for the upcoming season.

Climbing skins allow us to hike up the mountains on skis. For a carefree touring experience, the skins should offer glide and grip. Hybrid climbing skins made of mohair and nylon are robust, water-repellent and make it more difficult for studs to form. The skins from K2 combine precisely these properties and cannot be broken.

The Covid season was a successful one for splitboard manufacturers, that much can be said for this winter. Due to the lifts being closed in many places, the run on splitboards was large and sustained. As a result, Amplid, for example, sold its splits like hot cakes and another production series has been added. Our partner store splitboards.eu also reports a similar run

As expected, there was little news presented at this year's online ISPO and at individual product presentations by manufacturers. Many retailers still have stock from 2020, which is why some model ranges are carry-overs for the coming season. This mainly affects the downhill-oriented models.

I was delighted when I received a replacement for my already very old ski poles from our partner K2. But I couldn't be satisfied with that! My long-serving poles needed to find a new home.