Snowboard Review: 09-10 K2 Eco Pop

This review was done at the Transworld Good Wood test as I tagged along with the test and tried out boards.

Location: Breckenridge, Colorado

Snow Conditions: Overcast with hardpacked groomers to icy groomers.

Setup: I rode the K2 Eco Pop with Union Force’s and my Rome Vamps size 8.

First Impression: Super light board and the topsheet is like a pillow under the feet when skating down to the chairlift.

Size: 155cm

Weight: lighter than average

Flex: The most noticeable thing upfront is no camber/no reverse camber, it’s flatline technology and flexing flatline technology on the eco pop is mid-stiff, not an overly stiff board but not a softer park board either, definitely rated for the all mountain riding from freeriding and handling for pipe riding. It’s a tad stiffer under the bindings with a softer flex between the bindings which gives it the torsional flex that you can turn on a dime with it.

Turning: The Eco pop with the lightness factor was really easy to get quick response out of it as you went from toe to heelside turns. The hyper progressive sidecut is always a favorite to ride from K2 because it’s ideal for turning, easy to get into and out of turns but once in the carve, you can really hold it and draw it out.

Stable: On the icy spots the Eco pop didn’t hold an edge as well as the other boards I rode that day (yes w/ultimate grip and smokin vixen w/mtx) but I can see why since the others have an upper hand. When cruising on the groomers, it handled very well and despite the lightness of the board it was very stable when riding.

Pop: The eco pop definitely deserves the pop in it’s name, super poppy board and really fun to ride. It was great in the halfpipe and a little more than expected on how it would ride there. In terms of being butterable, it depends on the rider it doesn’t make it easy to butter like a reverse camber would but it’s not impossible just more determined on the riders skill.

Switch: It’s a tad setback but it’s still rideable switch without any adjustment, I made a couple laps on it and it was as smooth switch as it was regular when carving.

Overall Impression: It’s flat and while it has a good broken in board feel to it, the K2 Torsion Forks really give it some life to how it rides. The board was impressive all around on the mountain, from freeriding to good pop in the park and in the halfpipe where it was easy to maneuver with the lighter swing weight. Pull a 180 and get a 360 kind of ride.

In terms of what board it’s replacing, it’s been said to replace the mix which is Gretchen’s 08-09 board, but comparing the catalog, the construction matches the Duchess and the Mix matches the Airdu but the pro riders names to each board are different. I’ve never rode the mix but I can see the eco pop being the duchess replacement, same shape, same core and with a new lighter, still all mountain ride everywhere style of ride.

Shay’s Honesty Box: K2 surprised me at SIA, I was expecting more rocker and they came out with flatline technology and I questioned it at the time. Now after riding the Eco Pop, there’s no question on why K2 did this and I really liked how it rode. For me it’s a good medium between camber and reverse camber but with K2’s signature style. It’s the first eco friendly board that I would actually purchase based off how it rode.

*This Review was done in April 2009, please be aware that products may change.

Ready to buy? Head over to evo for the 2011 version of the K2 Eco Pop or shop their full line of K2 snowboards