k2 Alchemist
Shape/setback/taper
Directional - 1.9cm(0.75in) Setback - 6mm Taper
Flex rating BY MFR.
Directional Flex: 9 out of 10
Profile
Directional Camber (with slight nose rocker)
Riding Style
Freeride
Recommended Skill Level
Advanced
spec sheet
Recommended sites for purchase:
Overview
With the tagline, “Turns everything into gold!” you know you’re in for a treat with the K2 Alchemist. This board is literally packed full of tech from the materials to the construction method. Truly setting this board apart as one of the market’s top freeride snowboards. The directional camber profile, mild early-rise nose rocker, and 6mm taper towards the shortened tail delivers exceptional powder float, carving capability, and maneuverability in variable terrain.
The Alchemist boasts a stiff directional flex pattern that increases stability and power in and out of turns. The Spectral Braid technology, an advanced variable weave of individual carbon fibers, allows the midsection to have more torsional flex for easier board control while preserving rigidity in the nose & tail. Space Glass™ is also incorporated into the nose of the core to reduce swing weight & chatter for dynamic, all-mountain freestyle charging.
Lastly, the S1 Core features Aspen & Bamboo placed at mirrored 30-degree angles under each foot to maximize power transfer from your bindings to the edges. The overall result is a powerful charger that can carve, jump, drop, and haul ass. Don’t skip leg day before riding this one.
PROFILE
-
Wax Infused Sintered 4001 Base - The hardest and fastest Sintered base material on the market from Crown, the Wax-Infused Sintered 4001 holds wax longer for a smoother glide, longer.
-
2 x 4 Inserts
-
Quadratic Sidecut - A tighter radius towards the nose, a larger radius at the waist, and an even tighter radius towards the tail. Enabling easier entry into turns, straighter riding when flat-basing, and the ability to exit turns quickly when needed.
-
S1 Core - The smooth-flexing cousin to the A1 core, the S1 Core is designed to be damp underfoot and strong as sh!t. Constructed from Bamboo, Aspen, and Paulownia, the S1 Core allows each wood to do what it’s best at. Tip-to-tail Bamboo stringers add snap, durability, and damping underfoot and are balanced out by lightweight Paulownia in the midbody, tip, and tail to help reduce swingweight. Underfoot, Aspen and Bamboo are placed at 30 ° angles to increase strength, edge-to-edge response, and pressure distribution along the edge.
Recess 3D - Material in low-stress zones are cut down to reduce swingweight, while also reducing chatter in the tip and tail without sacrificing strength.
-
Spectral Braid - An integrated carbon weave that runs the entire length of the board, intersecting at 90º angles in the tip and tail, adding torsional rigidity and responsiveness. A more relaxed angle is weaved between the inserts to increase torsional flex. Improving handling and maneuverability.
SpaceGlass™ - An American-made Aerospace grade precured fiberglass core insert. The SpaceGlass provides exceptional structural performance at reduced weight. SpaceGlassTM inserts also increase edge hold along contact points, reduce chatter, and provide increased durability.
Carbon Power ForkTM - Pre-cambered Carbon Power ForkTM additives that are strategically shaped to offer greater response and energy return by increasing the width toward the tail - engaging more material, and allowing more energy to be created the harder the tail is flexed. Adds snap to ollies, increases edge pressure, and gives rebound energy in and out of turns.
-
Sno-phobic Topsheet - A top sheet material that sheds unwanted snow build-up, thus keeping your snowboard light and dynamic.
k2 alchemist Tech Breakdown by K2 Engineer J Stone
Watch on Youtube from the Tribute Boardshop here.
k2 alchemist in action
Watch on Youtube from Monster Energy here.
Rider review
I rode the 2024/2025 K2 Alchemist and the first thing that stood out to me was the rigidity. This deck is stiff tip-to-tail with a bit more flex in the nose and minimal torsional flex. I personally had to think about the torsional flex while riding to notice it, but once I got moving, I didn’t want to stop. This board wants to go fast and ride like a missile. When I engaged a turn I could feel the edge bite in strong and the tail support me in & out of long drawn-out carves as well as short, tight turns.
For a stability test, I straight-lined into some icy chunder with my knees bent and felt like I was simply cruising over the top with mild bumps and vibrations; definitely one of the most stable boards I’ve ever ridden. I then dipped over into some steeper, mogul-y terrain, which was a workout. It took more effort than normal to manipulate the Alchemist quickly between the burms due to its stiffer flex, but I made it through and was able to ride away with a healthy workout. The Alchemist is a little stiff for tight trees, but if you are moving fast it makes it easier to maneuver quickly. I’d try and plan 2 to 3 turns ahead with this one.
Solid pop is definitely there but I needed to be a bit more calculated when ollieing to access it, but when timed right I was able to boost sidehits and rollers. The boards stability also made it easy to send it off drops and stomp landings with confidence. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to test this board in deeper snow, but I was able to slash through some softer snow and I don’t foresee any float issues with this deck. Overall, I really enjoyed the Alchemist as a fast, hard-charging freeride option that can handle drops, jumps, and landings. I personally would only recommend this board to advanced riders and up as it is a precise and aggressive whip. The kind where, if you don’t ride it, then it will ride you.
tREES
5/10
AVERAGE
Drops
9/10
A TOP PERFORMER
Jumps
8/10
SOLID PERFORMANCE
POW
8/10
SOLID PERFORMANCE
Carving
9/10
A TOP PERFORMER
Stability
10/10
BEST IN CLASS
Versatility
3/10
HAS A MAIN FOCUS ON FREERIDE
Similar Boards:
Capita Black Snowboard of Death (slightly less directional), Ride Mountain Pig (more carve-y), Jones Aviator 2.0 (more freestyle friendly), Arbor A-Frame (less aggressive), Jones Stratos (more forgiving & pop).
Wondering if this board is right for you?
Head over to our Gear Advice page for personal assistance!
