Get ready to experience skiing like never before with K2’s latest Dispatch ski range. Using Bcomp’s proprietary flax fibre technology, ampliTex™ has been integrated into the ski’s construction, providing added reinforcement and improved suspension compared to a conventional high-end composite layup. This addition allows the skis to track in variable terrain with improved damping and composure for ultimate performance and comfort.
K2 first began working with sustainable lightweighting specialists Bcomp around 2013 to integrate bCores™ – the lightest high-end wood cores – and flax hybrid tapes into their skis. Three years ago, the K2 team approached Bcomp to expand the use of the flax fibre within its skis. With many Bcomp engineers sharing the deep passion for skiing and snowsports, there was a perfect understanding of K2’s requirements and a strong drive to find the best natural fibre solution.
Bcomp’s ampliTex™ is a specifically designed flax reinforcement that boasts excellent mechanical properties, such as high stiffness, low weight, resistance to breakage, torsion and compression by harnessing the natural properties of flax fibres. It’s no wonder that ampliTex™ is used in everything from high-end sporting equipment to motorsport bodywork, making it the perfect choice for a more sustainable alternative to carbon fibre or fibreglass in snowsports.
Working collaboratively, K2 and Bcomp engineers have been able to optimise the benefits and performance from ampliTex™ for high-performance freetouring skis. The ski’s construction includes a full layer of flax fibre, providing both composure and extra damping to ensure your skis track smoothly in even the most variable terrain.
The project was not without its challenges, but the success of Bcomp’s flax technology in the Dispatch range has led K2 to also integrate ampliTex™ into the upcoming refresh of another flagship line. The use of natural fibre composites in highly demanding snowsport applications is a significant step towards more sustainable solutions within the sports industry, something that has been integral to Bcomp’s work from the very beginning.
Jed Yeiser, Ski Product Director at Elevate Outdoor Collective, commented: “A large part of innovation in ski technology is in material research, particularly composites. So, to find a like-minded business focused on harnessing flax fibres in a unique way that aligned with our engineering efforts has been fantastic – it definitely helps that the Bcomp team are just as passionate about skiing as we are!”
Patrick Vuagnat, Manager Sports at Bcomp, added: “Working alongside the team at K2 has been a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate that our ampliTex™ technical fabric can offer critical performance and comfort benefits in sports equipment applications. Many of the engineering benefits that ampliTex™ delivers in the K2 Dispatch range we have already leveraged in other sports equipment, from tennis racquets to watercraft paddles, surfboards and snowboards.”
Learn more about the K2 Dispatch range directly from K2 or BLISTER Review.
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