Nowadays just about every ski brand out there—mainstream and boutique—is getting on the rocking horse. Are you drinking the reverso-rocker grape drink? Just like with OJ, soda, and purple stuff—everyone has their own personal preference. If you’re into railing cords and frontside hardpack like Bode is, then a traditional shape and camber is your ticket. However, if floating on powder as well as being agile and nimble in the deeps and the cruddy chops is your flavor, and if you enjoy quick pivot stops, snowboard-like speed checks and smearable, slarvable dynamics in even relatively soft snow—then maybe you should try a sip of the reverse camber-rocker grape drink.
Rocker in Powder Skis:
Once you’ve decided whether rocker is for you, you can move on to translating the lexicon that has become the new standard within the ski industry. You’ll come across three general ‘shapes’ in the reverso-rocker world—but Lord knows there’ll be more to come. The original foray into rocker—stemming from Shane McConkey’s Volant Spatula (Spat for the initiated)—is the full-on reverse camber, reverse sidecut shape.
Skiers most often employ this shape on the deepest days—a full reverse camber ski owns the fluffy stuff, but because of the continuous rocker shape, it won’t track well on firm or icy snowpack. Instead, this shape allows you to slarve (slide + carve) and surf above the pow—based on the idea that it’s more enjoyable to float on top of the deeps rather than trudge down in them.
The benefits of the full reverse-camber/sidecut shape: float, ability to quickly ditch speed, lightning quick turn-initiation in trees and tight spots, and low swing weight. See some required reading for full reverse-camber, reverse-sidecut pow skis here. A full reverse camber shape can be combined with a traditional sidecut to create an easy-landing backcountry jib ski as well—but these beasts are made for landing switch in the deep pow, not sessioning the park.
Check out the skis:
Rocker in Big Mountain Skis
Next up is what most industry peeps commonly refer to as a ‘rockered’ ski: an upturned (reverse-camber) shovel with a flat or traditionally cambered underfoot, and a flat tail. This is the shape you will most often see in true big mountain skis. This shape caters to those looking for the float of a big, surfy shovel, minus the potential squirrelly-ness and wheelie-prone nature of a fully rockered tail when stomping airs and coming out hot on firm snow.
Since many don’t enjoy the flavor of full-on reverse camber and sidecut, this hybrid shape offers the stable, carve-able dependability of a traditional sidecut, while maintaining rocker’s new wave of float and ease. Fleaze!
Check out the skis:
Rocker in an Everyday Ski:
On the next step of our reverso-rocker journey, we venture into somewhere not unlike Dr. Frankenstein’s lab. What do you do if you want the floaty benefits of reverse camber in the tip and tail, the dependable carve-abilty of some traditional camber underfoot, and everything else your heart desires? Well, then you make something like Rossignol’s S7 or Armada’s JJ.
If you spend the majority of your time in soft snow and you want a one-ski quiver, then these amalgamations are your ticket. These hybrid options are also great for a skier who can’t afford a full quiver—ski at Mt. Hood, but need some more float for your March trip to UT? These guys wanna join you:
Check out the skis:
- Armada JJ
- 4FRNT CRJ
- Rossignol S7
- Volkl Chopstick
- Atomic Bent Chetler
- Moment Night Train
- Moment Bibby Pro 190cm
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Tags: reverse-sidecut, rocker, skiing, technology
I still have no idea what you are referring to by the term “Rocker”. Thought this article might shed some light on that. Guess not.
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That is seriously one of the most annoying, least informative articles I have read in a long time. Hip and groovy, to be sure, but not helpful for “learning the lexicon.”
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great explanation of the range of rockers. now to demo a few pairs and see for myself.
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wheres the photo credit and skier name for the top pic?
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Don’t forget to check out DPS skis…
enjoy those Lotuses all you die hards!!!
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check out the lib techs, they come in both rockered and cambered shape in one together. calling it recurve i’d say that thing works pretty good in any condition.
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Why does that lumberjack keep calling snowboards “skis” ?!!?!
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Could you translate this into English for a newbe to the sport?
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So, I am hearing that tele skiers aren’t sold on rocker. Tip dive of rear ski, since not enough “push back” from shovel during turn. So, knee-droppers, who has used these, and what do you think? Or are there technique changes that adapt?
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I am with “hellgoat”…love the LibTechs. Those guys have dialied it in with their own proprietary design and materials and seem to have figured it out. Not too hot … not too cold, just right!
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smart and informative.
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[...] is the one to watch, widening to 117mm underfoot with extended Powder Rocker in the nose and lower All-Terrain Rocker in a stiffened tail. Big lines, deep powder, and massive 160-foot front flips are all huddled [...]
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