KD Krypton Fusion - first ride 28/32/35 at 34 mph

[Horton]

Mid-range skis are a hard to define category of slalom skis. They are a version of the highest possible performing ski with extra stability added in. The KD Krypton Fusion provides surprising performance for a ski in this category.

I had no idea what to expect for my first ride on the KD Krypton Fusion. I started at 30 MPH and 28 off. Six passes later I ran a relatively routine feeling 34 mph 35 off pass. The ski is great through 35. Maybe 35 is pushing the limit for this design but not by much.

Is it a ski that I think I should try to run 38 off on? No. I have run plenty of 38s on the KD Titanium. For skiing at 38 or shorter, the Titanium is the right ski.

The video is from my first ride with bone stock settings. You will see a few bobbles but for a first ride this is sort of bonkers. This ski is really really good.

https://kdskisusa.com/

[6balls]

So that looked pretty good out of the box.  I haven't had a ride on something less than what was thought to be a top tourney ski since I was a teen.  With that--what about it makes you say no to 38?  More specifically what does it's tool box lack for shortline?  

It seemed to be maybe you were down course a bit, the ski had a larger turning radius but was very smooth.  Could it be dialed thru settings?  Might it be better than a higher end ski for certain skiers challenging 35/38 who are not top-shelf amateur level in their technique?

No skepticism, just honest questions.  That was a pretty good first ride, especially early season.  

[Cooper_Trelawney]

I honestly don't know how you can ski so consistently on all sorts of different skis.  I will say you always seem to get a good, smooth, tight turn on 3 or 5 when you need it.  If only your ON side was as ON as your OFF side!

[Horton]

@6balls

Wider skis make a little less speed into the wakes, slow down a little slower, don’t get quite as wide, and turn slower than real top-of-the-line skis. In exchange for all that they are more stable and easier to ride. The slow turns you see in the video are evidence that I am riding this ski near its logical limit. (Yes, I know some pro skier cold ride could run 39 on it but that is every ski.) On a Titanium, the path would be wider and the turns would be sharper.

I guess I could spend time adjusting how I ski on it and then tweak the fin and bindings. It is fun and easy to ride but I can not imagine that after 35 off a high-end ski like the Titanium would be clearly better.

All that said, this $750 ski really is as good or better than a lot of $1,800 skis I have ridden over the years.

 

@Cooper_Trelawney

Riding all sorts of skis is my one and only talent. I have learned a lot over the years but suspect I have lost some balls along the way.

[6balls]

@horton thanks sounds like a cool ski.  Would it be better for the 15-32 off crowd than a high-end tourney ski in terms of their progress and ability to handle certain ski characteristics (until they progress beyond and need that high end ski?).

[Horton]

@6balls Yes that is the idea. It is really ideal for 15 to 28 off. At 32 off it is about time to get off a mid range ski. 

[BGrow76]

How wide is the Krypton Fusion? How does the width compare to other wider skis (Goode Wide Ride, HO Omega Max, D3 NRG, Lapoint, ...) on the market? 

[Horton]

I'm not sure about the Wide Ride width at the bindings. The KD is certainly wider than the other skis you mentioned

[Ali]

@Horton close to a D3 Quest 45? Sorry to ask you to drag back into your memory about that ski 🙂

[Horton]

@Ali

roughly a quarter inch wider at your front toes. 1/4-in in water ski width language translates to "$h*t-ton" wider in English

 

[RickFSU1]

Come out and ride a KD Ski at Lake 38

[6balls]

@horton so how to market that to an intermediate skier.  Hey this will not be as fast, won't get you as wide and won't turn as tight, but it's the right ski for you at this time in your progression?

I've got a few nephews that only began course skiing recently and are running 32/15, 34/15, some 34/22.  Are these guys better off on a ride like the Krypton Fusion?  I sold 'em both Vapor Lithiums when I was done with them.  Price was right.  

[Horton]

@6balls do you put a rookie driver in a GT2 or something less radical? The Fusion is less radical but still really good. Choose the right tool for the job.

Everything is a trade off. Personally I like stable skis but you can't have a ski that is super fast, turns super hard and is super stable. 

For the cost this ski is hard to beat.

[GregHind]

@Hortonfor a minute can we put price aside and compare again. My PB is 3@28 off at 36mph 20 years ago now I occasionally get close to running 34/22 or some 36/22. I ski on a 2014 prophecy and enjoy a fast ski. I was on the first f1 then the 08 and 12 prophecy’s. 
 

so if price as aside would I do better on a midrange ski like this KD or say a c85? Which would help me progress more. Would I ski better on this Kd than my prophecy? 

[Horton]

@GregHind

I haven't seen you ski on your ski and I avoid direct comparisons to other brands but the likelihood that you would do better on a mid-ride ski is high.

A well designed wider ski is going to be less reactive in a number of positive ways.

The skis that you've been skiing on have more a tendency to go from hard edge to heart edge. That makes it harder for you to keep your hips over your feet and control what's happening. Those kinds of skis often put skiers in a defensive posture. A wider, less aggressive ski allows the skier to stay centered and more in control, especially through edge change and into pre-turn.

[Horton]

Is anyone riding this ski at 32 mph? I am thinking of loaning mine to a skier who just went from 34 to 32 mph and runs into 38.

[BS74]

@Horton Could you tell me what size fusion you tried, couldn't find the size in any of the discussions.  Also, how did it feel at 30mph.  Did you only try 28 off at 30 or shorter lengths?  Lastly, do you know if it's a wider ski that a Senate, also your weight.

[Horton]

I was on a 66

I weigh 180 -185

I did not ( or don't remember ) skiing at 32 or 30

It is similar size as Senate 

[BS74]

@Horton I mentioned 30mph because you said in the second paragrph under the video that you started 30mph@28 off.  Maybe you meant 34.   

[Horton]

@BS74 no that makes sense. I'm sure I did go out at 30. I just forgot.

[Mose]

Horton haven't always said to by the ski with the best materials that U can afford not the cheaper ski with the PU core

[Horton]

@Mose

100% always go for the highest spec materials that you can afford. The difference is unquestionable ( should be unquestionable but I'm sure some knucklehead it's going to disagree )

 

[BS74]

@Horton Just got a fusion to demo (66 IN).   Website has no info on binding or fin.

Do you have your begining settings on binding and fin ?

Thanks

[Mose]

Looking forward to seeing the unboxing video

[Horton]

[BS74]

@Horton  Thank you.  I couldn't find your chart any where on their KD USA site.  I took a set yesterday and  couldn't make it work at all.  Not knowing where to start, I set binding at 29 in, close to the Platinum setting. Driver thought the water was breaking way back on the ski.  You said you used stock so I assume 29 3/4.   I'll go way forward on next set and see what happens.   I found  the Europe chart,  not sure why the chart settings are so different.  

 KD Europe: 2023 Krypton Fusion

KD KRYPTON CARBON & KD KRYPTON - FACTORY SETTINGS SIZE BINDINGS FIN LENGTH FIN DEPTH FIN DFT WING 66” 29 1/4” 6.800 2.495 0.78      

[Horton]

@BS74 guessing those old European settings are for older versions of the ski ?

[BS74]

@Horton  It said 2023, no matter, I'll go to your setting and hope I don't go out the 

front!  LOL  

[Horton]

bump

[TMay]

@BS74 any update on your demo of this ski? Curious what your thoughts are. Now that the Goode Ventura has been announced, seems like another similar mid level ski albeit at a higher price.