ALPINE HYBRID

摘要

Ski lifts are for squares. Real out-of-bounds adventurers use splitboards. The two halves work as skis so you can shimmy uphill; join them together at the top and snowboard down. Split-boards are clever, but they're usually heavy and fussy-especially when you're struggling with bindings at the summit while your gloveless fingers go numb. K2's new Kwicker system is not only light-the board-boots-bindings combo weighs less than a standard snowboard setup -but also user-friendly. The design ditches traditional strap-in bindings for two metal plates that do double duty as both snowboard and ski bindings. Match them with a pair of K2's superstiff Stark boots and just change the position of the plates when it's time to switch modes. It takes less than 30 seconds, and you can manage the conversion without removing your gloves. Sure, sweating up a hill on skis is tough work. But a long ride down through untouched off-piste powder? There is no sweeter reward.