Made'n AK?

easy · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 217 Location: Utah

Anyone Tele on 'em? I cant decide between them and the Hippies. I'm 5'10" 130lbs but I ski aggressively for my size. Any Comments? Suggestions? I also just heard that there is a tele version of them soon to come, does anybody know anything about this?

Kongen · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2 Location: Norway

Hi, I have been on the Made'n AK four days now. Had the 2004/2005 Seth Pistol last season, almost same as The Hippy. Made'n AK have softer flex better float easier to turn in almost any condition of snow. Not a ski for icy condition or hard groome.
I will not get on the Pistols again the Made'n AK gave me more fun and turnability among threes and in deep snow.
I have them in 179 length just because where i ski in Northern Norway there is a heck of a lot of threes. For big mountains I would prefer longer ones. My weight is 81kgs and even if the skis have a very soft flex I think they will carry more weight than the Pocket Rockets which I had for one season. The flex is in between the Pistols and the P.Rs.
I mounted them mid sole -2cm.
Linken bindings and T-1.
For K2 keep up the good work.
Laughing

easy · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 217 Location: Utah

Thnsks man, is that where you would recommend mounting them?

k2cruiser72 · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 53

Do you think the AKs are softer than the Pistols/Hippies? I skied 179 Hippies for the first time this weekend at Targhee, and LOVED THEM! They busted crud like no other....like setting a Cadilac on cruise control. I was however very surprised at how well they turned on the firm snow. Held an edge very well and no chatter what-so-ever. I got the 179, am 5'10" 200lbs. I was looking at the AKs, but, no one could get them here, so I went Hippy.

easy · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 217 Location: Utah

I've flexed the AKs in the store and they seemed just as soft or softer than the Hippies. But I've heard that both are stiff torsionally.

Kongen · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2 Location: Norway

The AK are a little softer than the pistols they also are thinner be aware of this when mounting bindings, long screws make humps in the sole or go srtaight through.
When I mount skis like this I measure the length of the bootsole divide wth 2, eg my soles are 31 cm which gives mounting point 15.5 cm in front of mid sole mark on the ski. Then you pull the mounting point (balance point, 3-pin point) 2 cm backwards or even up to 5 cm depending on what you prefer and the length of the skis. This to avoid diving in real deep powder. Remember the longer backwards you place the mounting point the harderit will be to make the ski turn on the hardgroomed or ice.
I prefer an all twin tip skis I have had to mount just a little like 2 -5 cm back. Hope this info was useful.

easy · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 217 Location: Utah

Thank you very much for your help my friend, I appreciate it. If anybody else has any experience with either the Made'ns or the hippies, let me know!

k2cruiser72 · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 53

Yet another reason to go with the Hippies. I spent a total of 5 mins mounting the bindings. IMO, the inserts are priceless! A little lock-tite, a #5 allen key and some Miller High Life, and you are set! 5 minutes of work, and the rest of the night to admire them.

easy · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 217 Location: Utah

Yeah, that is a good reason, I have a pair of O2s that I will be using so that would work out great. Crap, what to do? Anyone else have an opinion, I'm torn.

Berko · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 1536 Location: Fort Front Range

Another vote for the hippies here.

I'm 150# and ski the 179. I have never loved a ski as much as these.

Suprisingly versatile, too. They do reasonable well in hardpack and even in the bumps (at lest better than you would expect.)

Flex for the hippies is torsionally stiff but soft longitudinally especially in the shovel. Tail is stiff enough to lean on when you need to.

Plus the graphics are every bit as ugly as the made'n.

YMMV
_________________
Something's got a hold on me, and I don't know what .

easy · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 217 Location: Utah

Yeah I think I'm set on the hippies, thanks for everybodys opinions, I knew I could count on Ttips to help me out!

GloryAndConsequence · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 149

Do you really only way 130 lbs? How do you through Landy around so well? Just had to ask my wise tele friend.
_________________
"Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free, Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands, With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves, Let me forget about today until tomorrow."
-Bob Dylan-

easy · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 217 Location: Utah

Thats 130 naked by the way Very Happy

. The Landy is not such a heavyweight herself, I think we go together nicely.

eagalbraith · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 7

I just ordered hippys from backcountry.com. Do they come with hardware for those inserts? Where do you get em?

nogood · Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 147 Location: Mission Ridge WA

all the k2 tele skis come with the hard ware, or at least the one's we bought for my shops demo fleet did.

Later
Matt