K2 Parkstar - 2010
Summary:
Everything you loved about the Darkstar get’s rockered for the ultimate versatile high performance freestyle board. An extremely easy to ride, but progressive snowboard that encourages buttery spins and offers forgiving landings… snowboarding made easy.
Manufacturer's Description:
Some say if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – so we didn’t, we just took the legendary freestyle performance of the Darkstar and added a super playful Jib Rocker to the design and, voila, the Parkstar is born. It’s twin tip design and medium flex defines true freestyle versatility. Touting the same hyper progressive sidecut and centered stance for precise response and easy maneuverability, the Parkstar’s genius lies in it’s ability to dominate the peak, get to the park and lay waist on everything in between.
Year: 2010
Available Lengths (cm): 149, 152, 155, 157, 159, 154W, 157W, 160W, 163W
Riding Style: Freestyle/Park
Specifications:
Hybritaper (cap/sidewall hybid with tapered tip & tail to reduce weight)
Twin Tip Hyper Progressive shape
Centered stance
W2 core (3species of wood)
Triax top & Biax base
Carbon Matrix I torsion forks
4000 grade sintered base
1 degree edge bevel
Similar boards:
Lib Tech Skate Banana BTX - 2010
Salomon Salvatore Sanchez - 2010
What we reckon:
Read our pro guide to buying a park snowboard.
Read our pro guide to buying a rails snowboard.
Review of K2 Parkstar:
Don’t let the name deceive you, the K2 Parkstar is not a one trick pony. The Parkstar is more than just a park board, it’s tons of fun all over the mountain. Spinning off cat-tracks into deeper snow, straight-lining red runs and carving all over the mountain are great fun on the Parkstar. I really enjoyed the buttery feel that the rocker profile lends the Parkstar off kickers, popping frontside spins was just effortless. Rocker boards also benefit from a less catchy toe-side initiation into backside spins, and don’t tend to dig in too hard on slushy kickers. Again like most of the rocker boards I rode, landings were extremely forgiving, giving you confidence to go for a 540 instead of a 360. When you get to the boxes and rails, the slightly softer than medium torsional flex meant that catching edges wasn’t a worry, and the rockered profile meant the K2 Parkstar was easy to press at the nose and the tail. Beginners through to advanced park riders will really enjoy the Parkstar.
User Reviews
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Hi I bought a K2 parkstar after believing the hype and its rubbish. he board rides dead it’s got no pop and you constantly catch an edge if you get it flat. There’s no such thing as a board for every purpose and this board may well be excellent for rails and low speed jibs. but it totally useless for tearing round and spinning off stuff. sorry guys but stop saying its great for everything because it’s not and rocker is more hype than its worth.
I’m not sure about the Parkstar but Rich really enjoyed it; I can assure you that he was tearing around and boosting off everything. I know because I was riding with him. Having ridden well over 200 boards in his time he’s probably quite qualified to make those statements. Obviously every individual is different and what works for one person won’t necessarily agree with another persons style of riding, our reviews are merely a guideline, not gospel. Transworld just gave the Parkstar the Goodwood award so Rich can’t be too far off the mark. With regards to your statement on their not being a board that does everything….I completely disagree. If you buy a twin or directional twin which is slightly more rigid between the feet, longitudinally, isn’t too soft torsionally, isn’t too short and has carbon stringers for added pop then you’ll be able to ride everything. I’ve been riding the 2010 K2 Believer for the past 10 weeks in Argentina and it was great fun in all conditions and for all types of riding. It sounds to me that you’re looking for a board with more guts than the Parkstar, have a look at the Stepchild JP Walker….it’s got much bigger balls than I expected.
Tom
I kind of agree with you to a certain extent. I wouldn’t want to ride the parkstar in an icy pipe, off big highspeed jumps or on hard moguled blacks, but for the majority of boarders who cruise around the whole mountain hitting little jibs, riding through the park and spinning off cat tracks into powder landings it’s a great laugh. As far as catching edges I found the parkstar super loose and playful and wasn’t worried about catching an edge at any point. So essentially the Parkstar is a great board for having a laugh on the hill and lapping the middle line in the park, but it’s not an all mountain snowboard, it’s freestyle though and through. I just thought it was versatile for what many people might think is a jib specific board.
According to K2 website the Parkstar has a softer flex than the Believer. Does it really feel softer? I’ve ridden the Believer and want to know how Parkstar feels.
It’s the rocker in the Parkstar that makes it feel softer.. the Believer has zero camber. What kind of riding are you doing?
I mostly ride park hitting small jumps, buttering, just shredding for fun. Want to upgrade to medium jumps. Love to ride powder if I can find any, so want a board that could handle that with ease. Appreciate any advice.
Hit the forum dude, you’re not gonna get a lot of eyes posting here.
Drew, the Parkstar is perfect for what you are looking to ride. if you want something with a little bit more pop then you should look at the Ride DH2 which is similar but has a bit extra carbon and of course slimewalls or the Gnu Danny kass which I rode in a 155 and was a delight. But yeah Parkstar is ideal… Marshall good call on the forum… appreciated.
thanks, Rich, really helped me make up my mind! Great site btw
Finally tried it out! Great board, really lives up to my expectations - very playful, light, buttery, super fast and catch-free ride. Haven’t tried it in powder yet, hope it will float well.
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