K2 went back to the drawing board with the new Pinnacle 95. It didn't fix what wasn't broken but evolved a few things by modifying the construction and extending the wheelbase. Both changes make the skis more stable -- err, serious -- without losing any of the fun. Why do I keep emphasizing the words "serious" and "fun"? Well, K2's current tag line is #seriousfun, and all of its skis have a balance of those two words, maybe 70:30, 50:50, 20:80 depending on the ski. The Pinnacle 95's serious:fun ratio has moved from 10:90 closer to 20:80. The longer wheelbase does make the ski a bit more stable on the groomers and firmer snow, achieving what K2 set out to do.
I like playful skis, skis that don't always demand your attention but if you need them to perform at their maximum, they don't fight back; the Pinnacle 95 is just that ski. Don't expect it to be an ice pick, but as long as you get it up on edge, it will hold the turn that you want. But that's not where it shines: the 95, and the Pinnacle shape in general, is more off-piste-oriented, which is where the fun comes into play. And play, it does. Trees, bumps, 3D snow, and fluff are the conditions in which I most enjoy skiing it. The low-angle trees on Northstar's backside are a blast on the 95s with their pivoty feel and lively personality.
On a purely aesthetic view, returning to my Cage Match Comparison: It Ain't Easy Being Green, K2 has darkened the graphics, going from green with some black to primarily black with green accents and the return of the K2 tire track logo, which looks great.
I like playful skis, skis that don't always demand your attention but if you need them to perform at their maximum, they don't fight back; the Pinnacle 95 is just that ski. Don't expect it to be an ice pick, but as long as you get it up on edge, it will hold the turn that you want. But that's not where it shines: the 95, and the Pinnacle shape in general, is more off-piste-oriented, which is where the fun comes into play. And play, it does. Trees, bumps, 3D snow, and fluff are the conditions in which I most enjoy skiing it. The low-angle trees on Northstar's backside are a blast on the 95s with their pivoty feel and lively personality.
On a purely aesthetic view, returning to my Cage Match Comparison: It Ain't Easy Being Green, K2 has darkened the graphics, going from green with some black to primarily black with green accents and the return of the K2 tire track logo, which looks great.
- Who is it for? Yes, the Pinnacle is easy, and that is a good thing.
- Who is it not for? 11/10th skiers can overpower it; hard-snow skiers should look elsewhere.
- Insider tip: In the words of the immortal Frankie, Relax. This ski is serious FUN, don't overthink it. Stronger skiers still will want to size up.
But seriously, these are fun. 
