J Stone - K2 Snowboard Prototyping and Engineering

[@devinharwood6010]

This is some straight up nerd shit and I love it. Could’ve used another two hours of this in depth.

[@cristian-gabrielgaldamezbr3810]

Mark you're a top interviewer, your questions are always on point. Great journalism!

[@Charles-wz9sd]

I just got an Alchemist. Couldn't be more stoked with how it rides.

[@krazatos]

I scored an Alchemist in the offseason for a steal- This was sooooo cool, hearing from the engineer. This guy can have his own youtube channel!

[@gnar_tar]

The KZbin channel we needed but don't deserve ha! Love my Alchemist straight rocket ship. Would recommend if you like to scare yourself and up your freeride game, this board goes hard.

[@thisma98]

I have to admit that I rarely comment on videos, but it's really amazing to hear all the process and engineering that goes into creating a board, and for what purpose. I bought the Antidote a little while ago, so I'm even more excited to see what it's going to be like this winter. Greats contents on this channel !

[@tributeboardshop]

@@thisma98 thanks for the support 👊

[@DG-xj6zv]

J Stone’s next project should be a dedicated carver based on the Alchemist tech. High 160s length with a massive EE, 12-13 m sidecut.

[@jaybartlett2561]

Green one looks SICK!!! J Stone please add back a faster base option to the Excavator similar to the Niseko Pleasures! I love my K2 Niseko...

[@gboates]

I have two K2 Alchemists. They are both damp and smooth riding. And fast. Ripping quick, but I feel you are more than correct about the importance of a snowboard's base. My K2 Alchemist 160 from 2021 is a dream machine, comparable to my Kessler SL. After riding the 160 Alchemist for a few years, I wanted a similar but different experience so purchased a 2023 Alchemist 163. Out of the box the 163 takes a lot more energy to ride - a lot more. And I just can't shake the feeling that something's muted, not quite right. I see the nose has been 3D profiled and the space glass no longer in full view or is it missing. Maybe being new new - I did think the Alchemist 160 needed a break in period and hoping the 163 is not going to end up being more work than it's worth. Update: Alchemist 163 just broke in and it is now so awesome. Found a wax that works on the base and it seems we are open for business. I had an amazing day yesterday on the 160 and hope that beauty holds together for a few more years. Off the lift the 160's base just glides to the staging area. I would like to hear more tech about bases. It's our interface with the snow and ice. Good call re the base.

[@jaybartlett2561]

@@gboates it’s just frustrating when you know that they can make a faster better gliding base but they choose to go with something cheaper. Even more annoying that when the Excavator first came out it had the better base. Then they downgraded it.

[@timhunt7155]

I’ve moved to k2 boards over the last two seasons. I’m currently in Hokkaido at moment with the excavator and pleasures. Having much fun on them. Can we get back the carbon bases on the excavator and alchemist?

[@ayadal]

I love K2 boards. Strong work J Stone!!🙏🏾

[@finboyYYC]

Been a big fan of seeing J-stone around the snowboard podcast circuit and learning more about the product side of snowboarding. While nerdy, it’s good to know such a rider-focused approach is being taken on the engineering side. He is definitely opening up the hood and showing some inner workings that could help people who want to get into the industry know more alternate careers besides pro-rider or brand rep.

[@bagis9066]

I want 4 hour episode of this :D

[@tributeboardshop]

So Did we !! haha

[@hiennguyen-kp5cj]

That was awesome 👏. Learn so much from your Chanel. Alchemist 1 of the best boards.

[@yakked]

Feel free to nerd out all you want. I'm here for it.

[@aaronemmett3480]

Just picked up the K2 Niseko Pleasures this week - I can’t wait to get on that board

[@jaybartlett2561]

It’s awesome, super fun carving board. Best base glide of their whole collection. Solid float in pow.

[@Ven_RS]

This is an amazing interview, I've never thought about how much tech goes into snowboards and how complex of a process that can be.

[@chrispyg5879]

I've had a few K2 boards in my life. My first was a Fat Bob back in the 90's and absolutely loved it. Right now I'm riding the Passport 157. Great all mountain board.

[@paulramsay6589]

Bring back the overboard.. such a unique riding board, I luv it and need a new one. And u dudes are doin a great job!

[@tributeboardshop]

Thanks for the Support!

[@flemingg11]

I remember when K2 first started making snowboards. Holy-moly, have things evolved!

[@jakekeyte9320]

Love the tech talk boys! Pertty sure I will end up buying the alchemist, and hearing from the genies creature is amazing!

[@georgedanellis9488]

Great discussion. I got a Passport this season here in Steamboat and have been loving it. I'm almost 60 and have been riding for 35 years (skiing for 50) so having this slightly mellower Alchemist is the "wise" way to keep ripping without taking the kind of abuse I no longer need to put myself through. Ha ha I could be your pro senior rider!

[@Diesel0807]

The excavator is one of the coolest boards ive ever ridden

[@therealchickentender]

Grew up on K2 skis - never had a K2 board. Clearly need to change that. This was awesome.

[@VKMP1234]

Love J Stone!

[@HunterGie]

This is by far my favorite interview that you guys have dropped. Inspiring and informative in equal parts. Thank you Fozzy and J Stone!

[@pholton3300]

Picked up k2 passport last year and i've been loving it.

[@Jrich509]

This was an awesome video. I got to ride my alchemist yesterday and everything J Stone was talking about with the design really does translate into the ride of this board. It tracks so well flat basing and when on a slight edge coming into jumps and side hits. This board really inspired confidence in my riding. I love that all the tech actually translates into the ride compared to other companies who are just throwing tech into their boards for the sake of adding tech or to just make a board extra light. If anyone is thinking about buying the alchemist, I wouldn’t think twice.

[@brianp9268]

There is so much good tech out there and so many great board engineers.

[@rutgerros]

Love my passport 62w and party platter 52. Really looking forward to reviews of the bond and edition bindings.

[@p.VAZ.]

I knew huge legends that came out of MiLO …. BUT DAMN… this man is Super Legit Inspirational LeGeND!!!!! So much Respect to you!!!! hope this makes it out to the youth of today!!!!!!!!

[@jpwookie22]

I thoroughly enjoy this type of content. It takes me back to the early days of product design while I was working for Salomon/Bonfire as a sales rep. We put most of our resources into tech back then. Thanks for making and publishing this video. PS I hope that K2 presses an extra wide 166-169 Alchemist in the future for us Yeti’s.

[@mikeloncar565]

Bought a 23 alchemist last year on sale. Rode it this season and was beyond impressed. K2 boards are seriously under-rated. Going to pick up a 24 antidote as well.

[@oliverinfante554]

So much info and I just bought a 2023 alchemist the blue one can't wait till it arrives it came from Canada shop too , mark your the shit love your show

[@mjnitro1]

Soooo interesting! i've owned a bunch of k2 boards and loved them all... they are tanks! i got the alchemist when it came out and man it was a charger, now i've been on the excavator for 2.5 years and it's been my daily driver ever since it came out... that board is just frinkin awsome!

[@DrCrimp-sg5pb]

ok you sold me. I have only Korua Boards but i'm getting an Alchemist for this next one 🤙

[@martinbailly573]

Great guess , great show ! Thanks !!!

[@16gkid]

Great video! k2 has been killing it for a bit, love my niseko pleasures and excavator

[@CristianBurr]

Would have loved to have them talk about more boards on the line, nevertheless, awesome to have him on there talking tech! Super cool!

[@TheDerekHyde]

Both of those prototypes looked interesting... there might be another K2 in my future!

[@BennyGogol]

Stoked to see mark at sun peaks

[@davidspear6682]

Intrigued with the Alchemist. What size for 170 lb all mountain rider, likes bumps and carving? I've seen mixed reviews, some saying it's a beast. Inam currently on an aging 162 Virus FLP, which has suited me very well.

[@TheDerekHyde]

I'd like that green prototype with a spoon nose!

[@MarkMc70]

That was the most interesting episode yet, imo. Very interesting stuff. I wonder if J Stone has input on K2s sister brand Ride? I remember reading somewhere that the Ride/K2 factory in China is right up there with Capita and GP87 in terms of technology.

[@blake2197]

Great vid. Love my Alchemist 164W but please, please, please make a a longerr size. 6'2" 220lbs and the Alchemist 164W is the best tree/tight terrain board I've ever ridden but it is begging for another 3 or 4CM's for wide open terrain charging. A 168W or 169W would be a game changer. My basis of comparison is riding the Salomon XV Wide from 2011 - 2020.

[@danielturczyn6773]

Awesome interview! Super interesting! Would love to talk to J stone about the quadratic side cuts. I’ve ridden a handful from Salomon, K2 and Ride. It might be personal preference but I just hate how they turn when getting them up to speed. I seem to like longer radius outside the bindings and tighter between the feet or progressive from nitro. It’s interesting because it’s such a trend these days. Maybe I just snowboard different but to me it feels like you get a quadratic side cut on edge and if you think about one point of snow getting cut by your edge, it would want to swing a tight turn, then have no side cut in between the feet to support it, and then hook up again in the tail after you washed out in between the feet. Again, maybe I snowboard wrong but in the pursuit of a great turn, I struggle to understand how tight-wide-tight side cut could really work. J Stone I’d love to hear about it. 100% respect what you do, thanks for a great interview guys!

[@zakaroonetwork777]

You Should build an angled shelf off the front of your bench so we can enjoy the profiles a little more.

[@thewraithize]

Gonna have to try a K2 board next season

[@brianp9268]

This was really cool.

[@martinseanhunt]

I’m so tempted to try one of these but the only thing holding me back is the waist width. They seem incredibly narrow (250mm for the 157). Is there anything I’m not understanding about the quadratic sidecut that means it would be wider than usual underfoot? Or is it just a relatively narrow board? (The wide version is definitely too wide for me)

[@charlesstuchel6966]

The interviews with designers /riders are great. Have you looked up Rob Dow at Wired?

[@tributeboardshop]

For sure , we know Rob well! He has made split boards for the shop in the past also- im sure we will get him on soon 🤘

[@j-fgagnon125]

What’s the difference besides the graphic between the 2023 model and the 2024 ?

[@garrettbodrogi5860]

Man this was awesome to watch. My number one question for J-Stone is why are you guys discontinuing the party platter? Is there another board that will fill its spot?

[@jiblyjably]

Id have liked to hear him talk more about his split designs

[@tributeboardshop]

@@jiblyjably we plan on having him back this coming season ! 🫡

[@jiblyjably]

@@tributeboardshop it seems like their split line is pretty behind the rest of their boards

[@tributeboardshop]

@@jiblyjably Agreed !

[@Big_Baby_Jesus22]

This should have been 5 hours long. 😂

[@tributeboardshop]

Part 2 will be!! haha

[@havoctrainingmethods]

Man i really want this board but a 9/10 stiffness? i had a salomon assassin pro version and that thing felt like a wooden plank. would this feel similar to that? I'm an intermediate looking to advance and start riding more aggressively all around the mountain but I want something good in pow too.

[@Diesel0807]

The current alchemist isn't as stiff as the first year,

[@Jrich509]

I’m an intermediate rider and just picked up the alchemist and rode it today. This is currently my favorite board I’ve ridden. It tracks extremely well into jumps and side hits and you can really get this board on edge and it feels so comfortable in all conditions. It is stiff but it didn’t feel like a dead plank at all.

[@havoctrainingmethods]

@@Jrich509 thanks for the response. How would you say the turn initiation is? Is it super demanding or can I be mellow when I want to be?

[@Jrich509]

@@havoctrainingmethods you can mellow out and cruise on this. I was following my wife around while she was learning and it never felt catchy or twitchy and was easy to get on edge. Skidding turns is fairly easy as well, but takes more work. I would make sure to pay attention to sizing on this since it has a slimmer waist width. I’m 6ft 175lbs 10.5 US boot and the 159w is the perfect size for me

[@Jrich509]

@@havoctrainingmethods if you want something a little more playful but still is still damp, can charge, and lay a trench, the K2 excavator is another good choice. I also have that board as well and love it. K2 is doing some amazing work with their boards and have completely won me over. I will probably sell the rest of my quiver because I probably won’t ride any other boards anytime soon.

[@Fishtank186k]

Sold

[@codysho5746]

Snowboarder and engineer, like Craig Kelly. CK Vibes

[@spirited1puppetmastered917]

Love that tune at the intro!! What is it?

[@tributeboardshop]

Shane's Band - its unreleased but will be out soon!

[@spirited1puppetmastered917]

@@tributeboardshop And what is Shanes band called? That song is in my head all the time cause its soo good and that i brainwash myself with your show, on a regular basis. (I miss BC/DC ) Now if I can learn how to rail corners like Fozzy I will be grinning ear to ear. Just got the 160W Capita Merc thanks to you guys and am trying to nail the setup. It is much softer than my 163W K2. I find the tail tends to wash on heel turns and noticed how easily it is to twist the core so im learning to adjust toe and heel inputs. How do I stop chatter on heel turns? (reduce lean angle on my rear binding?). I definately like riding surf style (set further back) so turning is super fast at Icy-Apex. Keep up the great vids! You Guys ROCK!. May the snow gods return !

[@tributeboardshop]

@@spirited1puppetmastered917 The Revverie! here is a link to the first single we have out! the-revverie.bandcamp.com/track/silence-radio-edit

[@boriscima8134]

Hi , do you know a splitboard that ride like an alchemist

[@tributeboardshop]

Maybe a Korua Transition Finder Split ? Thats has some similar spec.

[@saddam.212]

the first board was remind me of gentemstick mantaray 🤔

[@stevenwhatup]

I love this shit

[@yukiotokosama]

Need more of this. That first proto is almost a copy of a Gentem Giant Mantaray. Not a bad thing or the first to copy it. Cough Jones Cough

[@FazeredTube]

Looks like someone has been copying the Stranda Biru’s homework with the first green board!

[@TwistedAnkles]

Rode some Ultra Dreams when they came out and loved them but K2’s move to Chinese manufacturing totally turned me off the brand.