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Gear Reviews, Snowboard Reviews 27

The 2022 K2 Special Effects Snowboard Review

By Angrysnowboarder @angrysnowboard · On October 21, 2021

Board: K2 Special Effects

Size: 144

Camber Option: Directional rocker. Rocker in the nose and flat from just outside the front binding through to the tail.

Bindings: Rome Black Label

Stance: 21.5 Wide 15 Negative 12 Goofy

Boots: K2 Thraxis Size 10

My Weight: 200lbs

Resort: Arapahoe Basin

Conditions: Overcast skies with snow falling occasionally, warmer temps, humidity, heavy fresh pow all over the place, perfect creamy soft groomers, and push mounds plus chunder with death cookies.

Flex: This board has a fully directional freeride flex that comes in slightly around a middle of the road. If anything it’s a little bit softer than middle of the road. What you get is softer nose that progressively stiffens back up to the tail. There’s a fair amount of torsional give which lends itself to being playful.

Stability: The wider platform underfoot gives you stability while the rocker in the nose is softer and gets floppy at high speeds. In chop and chunder you notice the nose does get pushed around and seems to be less of something that plows through it and more or less skips and lands on top of it. The mid section when you’re back foot steering as you float on pow is what allows you to plow through this chop and stay on top of it.

Ollies/Pop: This board has a 100% skate like pop to it meaning you don’t have to load it up you just ride along and roll back on the tail and spring off whatever you’re on. It does a great job for its size to boost off rollers, cat track gaps, pillow poppers, and what not.

Butterability: While the nose has rocker it’s pointy and has a 3D shaping to it this makes it a bit more hooky when you pop a 180 and land on it. Be aware of this. Also be cognizant that while it is softer you do need to leverage your weight out over it to get it to engage. The tail is next to non existent so you will be doing high speed wheelies.

Carving: The 3D shaping in the nose coupled with the rocker changes the transition of how this board rolls from edge to edge. It has a smooth consistent transition from toe to heel but doesn’t seem nimble or precise, it’s more like a boat at high speed having the steering wheel cranked and planes through the turn. Once on edge though you drive it right outside the front foot and it steers more underfoot. I will say that to rail a hard carve you disengage the front foot and steer off the back foot and this is where the power comes from to push through a turn. It’s great for surf turns or if you need to setting an edge and laying it over. When you do lay it over it’s aggressive and powerful but you can keep the carve short and tight.

Rider in Mind: Volume shifted pow chasing freerider that carves.

Personal Thoughts: This board replaces the Cool Bean, a board I own and have a lot of experience on. I love that board. They’ve added a pointier shape and 3D shaping to it which helps with it plowing through powder but it loses some of its playful butterability, I’m fine with that. On edge it rails a turn and it’s torsionally softer than the Bean which changes the dynamic of how you steer it. Overall it’s a great change for the short wide that’s been a staple of their line.

Comparable Boards: Rossignol Sushi, Yes 420, Amplid Morning Glory

Recommended Bindings: K2 Lien AT, Now Brigade, Rome Vice

k2 snowboard reviewk2 special effectsreviewsnowboard review

Angrysnowboarder

More than likely he has pissed you off, shocked, amazed, or mortified you at some point with his ramblings. Yet, you still continue to read what he writes.

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27 Comments

  • Rebecca says: January 18, 2022 at 11:32 pm

    Hi there,
    I just bought this board but am now second guessing the size I bought. I bought the Special Effects 144 but am unsure if a 140 would fit me better. I’m 5′ 2″ and 135lbs. I ride a Jones Flagship 153 as my free ride board and my Jones Hovercraft 146 alternative free ride board when I want to play in the trees more. I’m an intermediate advanced rider that likes charging. I prefer going off and on piste and never do park.

    The Hovercraft’s width is 24.4cm (this board is closest to the Special Effects). The Special Effects 144’s width is 27.6cm and the 140’s is 26.8cm.

    This is my first wide and short board and I want it to be the specialty board in my quiver for surfing in fields of deep soft pow when it’s dumping. Is the 144 too big when this is meant to be a short and fat board? I watched your review and you used the 144 so I was originally thinking 140, however, I was nervous that the 140 may be too short and I won’t get the speed I want on it.

    Can you please help me understand what the pros and cons are between the 140 and 144? Is it truly preference or is there a strong recommendation between the 140 vs 144 based on my stats and riding preferences? Know any female riders who may have feedback on this?
    Thanks,
    Rebecca

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: January 19, 2022 at 10:26 am

      What’s your boot size?

      Reply
      • Rebecca says: January 25, 2022 at 12:58 am

        I’m a size 7 DC Mora step-on boots.

        Reply
        • Angrysnowboarder says: January 25, 2022 at 6:16 pm

          Your feet are so small you’ll struggle getting it edge to edge.

          Reply
    • Steve says: January 20, 2022 at 11:49 am

      The jones hovercraft is way better board I love mine in all type of conditions!!!

      Reply
      • Angrysnowboarder says: January 21, 2022 at 3:44 pm

        And how many boards have you owned/ridden Steven?

        Reply
      • Shreddy Mcnasty says: February 23, 2022 at 3:18 pm

        Okay Steven!! Hovercraft rides 100% different from this board. It’s almost double the sidecut radius. Ex. Long drawn out turns vs. Quick surfy slashes. Tree runs vs wide open pow fields.

        Reply
  • Sam says: January 19, 2022 at 1:15 pm

    Hi
    Between the special effect and the party wave plus, which one got your preferences for carving and pow?
    Thanks
    Sam

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: January 21, 2022 at 9:23 am

      Special Effects.

      Reply
      • Sam says: January 22, 2022 at 2:36 pm

        Thanks. The cool bean was super fun for pow and slashy snow but too stiff and wide for good carving, the special effect looks better. I should try it.

        Reply
  • Shreddy Mcnasty says: February 23, 2022 at 3:11 pm

    Nice review!! Board looks dope. I own the Rome stalefish 148 & nitro fintwin 149. Wanted to add a shorter special effects for tighter thicker glades and quicker surfy turns. I can’t decide on 140cm or 144cm special effects.

    It’s tricky because I have a 8.5 boot but my weight is 180lbs.

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: February 25, 2022 at 1:36 pm

      The 40 might work for what you want, but I’d think the 44 is probably where you should be.

      Reply
  • Zurab says: April 28, 2022 at 9:51 am

    Hello, I’m 170lbs 5’8 and wear us8.5 boots.Could you please tell me
    what size shall I grab 144 or 148?

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: April 29, 2022 at 12:20 am

      44

      Reply
  • Jay says: June 23, 2022 at 5:49 am

    Would this compare to the Amplid Aloha Vibes?

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: June 23, 2022 at 8:34 am

      Little different turn initiation due to the lack of 3D shaping in the nose and it’s a little stiffer torsionally.

      Reply
      • Jay says: June 23, 2022 at 10:58 pm

        Would the stiffness and camber in the AV give it the edge over the SE for carving?

        Reply
        • Angrysnowboarder says: June 24, 2022 at 6:56 am

          They’re about the same if you’re looking for something to carve on that’s volume shifted I’d look elsewhere.

          Reply
          • Jay says: June 26, 2022 at 5:57 am

            Thanks – any thoughts on more suitable options?

            I’m 225lbs, 6’2″ with a 11.5 boot. I did consider the the XL Super pig and the 157 K2 PP as I was looking for 27.5cm (or more) waist width, but I don’t really ride switch so the twin-ish shape isn’t needed. A party or freeride board that carves well enough and can surf/float the powder – anything out there like a Dancehall but a bit wider?

          • Angrysnowboarder says: June 26, 2022 at 8:14 am

            Sounds like you want a Telos Backslash maybe that Superpig but you’d want the 54 not the 58. The Bataleon Camel Two is also an option.

  • Jay says: June 26, 2022 at 8:57 am

    Just watched your review of the Backslash and sounds like a good fit. Preferable to the Party Wave / Party Wave+ ?

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: June 26, 2022 at 9:13 am

      100%

      Reply
      • Jay says: June 26, 2022 at 11:33 pm

        Much appreciated – 153 Backslash it is. (subscribed to the channel and also to the VIP/Patreon)

        Reply
      • Jay says: June 29, 2022 at 1:34 am

        PS Should I consider the carbon version?

        Reply
        • Angrysnowboarder says: June 29, 2022 at 1:05 pm

          I haven’t ridden it yet so it’s your call on that. It’ll definitely have more snap but will be a more lively ride too.

          Reply
  • Jonny says: July 25, 2022 at 11:28 pm

    Hey Avran I’m 6’3 195 lbs size 11 boots 144 or 148 K2 Special Effects?

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: July 26, 2022 at 7:15 am

      Dealers choice.

      Reply

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