A lot of people have the mentality that ‘all skis are skis’ and that ski profiles don’t matter…they are the same people who complain that their new set of skis ‘aren’t riding as good as the last ones’.
Yep, that’s to be expected. When buying skis and snowboards you should always know what you’re buying. So if you’re in the store looking at models and hearing a bunch of terms like rocker, reverse camber and effective edge, and don’t know what they mean, educate yourself before jumping into an exxy investment.
So let’s fill you in. When it comes to ski profiles, what’s the difference? How will different shapes affect your riding? Do they matter? All questions we encounter first time buyers questioning before choosing their first set of planks.
And we have all those juicy answers that you’re seeking–but first things first, what is camber?
Short On Time? Skip Ahead Here:
What Is Camber?
Essentially, it’s the shape of your skis when you look them side on. Sometimes the camber might be hard to distinguish, other times you can’t help but not notice, but if you look at your skis, you’ll notice they’re not quite flat.
And no, we aren’t talking about the nose and tail (which obviously pop up), we’re talking about the actual base. As we said, sometimes it can be hard to tell, instead of looking completely flat and symmetrical, but if you put a marble on the base, it’s hard not to notice.
Ok, Got It – What Other Handy Lingo Should I Know?
Camber: The arch in the middle of your ski
Rocker: The dip in the ski (essentially the opposite of camber)
Sidecut: The Curve of the skis sidewalls
Stiffness: The overall flexibility of the skis
Waist Width: The width of the middle section of the ski
Types of Camber
Traditional Camber
Ski profiles have come alllllloooooonnnngggggg way over the past 50 years, but once upon a time, more or less every new whip manufactured fit the one standard ski mould.
Cue, the traditional camber. Essentially, traditional camber involves a camber that runs from the tip to the tail–similar to a very subtle bellcurve.
Best For: Carving
Pros
+ Traditional camber is typically good for ollies and jumps, providing a solid pop for riders looking to elevate off flat ground.
+ It also provides improved edge hold and maintains stability at high speeds.
+ Higher upturn of nose and tail decreases chances of catching snow
Cons
– Easier for beginners to catch an edge
– Harder to butter/press
– Heavier and provides less float in deep powder
– Less contact with the snow makes skis more agile and increase mobility
Camber with Front Rocker
Want to plow through pow like it’s absolutely nothing – like it’s powder– a camber with a front rocker will be your best bet.
Best For: Freeriding
Pros
+ Extra manoeuvrability in deep pow
+ Enhanced edge grip on groomed runs
+ Agile in busy treelines
Cons
– Less pop
– Harder to butter/press
– Harder for beginners to manoeuvre
Camber With Front and Tail Rocker
Better edge control, added floatation in deep pow and easier to release out of turns–a set of planks with both front and tail rocker is an awesome option for those looking for a more playful ski profile.
Best For: Freeriding, Powder
Pros
+ Easier turning capabilities
+ Enhanced edge control
+ Better Floatation in Pow
Cons
– Perfect for an all-mountain all rounder, but less specialised when it comes to more specific styles of riding
Continuous Rocker/Reverse Camber
Call it what you want – rocker, reverse camber, anti-camber, banana, continuous rocker– it’s up to you. When it comes to reverse camber, everyone calls it something different (normally a marketing ploy to distinguish models between brands), but fundamentally, continuous rocker/reverse camber will be the term that’ll best help you when visiting your local ski and snowboard store. Although, if you’re looking for an easy to remember term that’ll help you distinguish between ski profiles, reverse camber is one for the memory bank.
Why? Because reverse camber is literally the reverse of traditional camber. While traditional camber subtly bends upwards, reverse camber drops down – similar to a heavyset person sitting on a thin plank of wood. Or to make it even easier, a traditional camber is a smiley face, reverse camber is a frowning face.
Best For: Buttering, Pressing, Carving
Pros
+ Good for beginners due to its turning initiation coming more naturally
+ Less likely to catch an edge
+ Great for butters/presses
+ Floats well in powder
Cons
– Harder to control for beginners due to its looser feel
– Less pop
– Doesn’t hold an edge as well
– Harder to land big airs
Flat Camber
It’s all in the name: A flat camber is flat, it has no camber at all.
Best For: Powder
Pros
+ Provides a more stable ride
+ Better handling
+ Less aggressive than a reverse camber or traditional camber
+ Great for landing big air and hitting jibs
+ Quick from edge to edge and is great for riding trees
Cons
– A slower ride due to its constant contact with the ground
– Easier to catch an edge for beginners
– Harder for beginners to turn
– A more all-rounder, meaning they are not superior in any specific forms of skiing
Hybrid Models
Think of a hybrid’s like building a sandwich at Subway. No matter what you add to it, it’s still a sandwich, but the variations and combinations result in a a dramatically different product.
Unsure what we mean?
Most commonly, hybrid profiles are combinations of rocker, camber and rocker (hybrid camber), camber/rocker/camber (hybrid rocker) and rocker/flat/rocker (flat-to-rocker).
Types of Hybrid Profiles
Hybrid Camber (Rocker/Camber/Rocker)
While a ‘hybrid’ profile, hybrid camber skis are actually super common and are great for turning, floating in powder and providing increased edge control.
Best For: All-mountain
Pros
+ Added stability, pop and speed
+ Increased edge control
+ Good turn initiation and flat in powder
+ Great for freeriding
Cons
– Often directional skis, making it harder to ride switch
– Not suitable for beginners
Hybrid Rocker (Camber/Rocker/Camber)
Need a way to remember hybrid rocker? Think of it like an evil-villain mustache in a cartoon movie. With a squiggly shape (commonly called the ‘w’ camber) that rarely sits flat at all, Hybrid rockers are an awesome choice for those looking for added pop, a looser feel and good float in powder.
Best For: Freestyle
Pros
+ Better float in powder
+ Increased pop
+ Great for park and buttering
+ Quick edge-to-edge
Cons
– Slightly looser feel makes it harder for beginners to navigate
– More refined models suitable for specific purposes, making it harder to use as an all-mountain all rounder
Flat Rocker
By this stage in the article, you may be cluing on to the different buzzwords and what they mean, if you haven’t got a grasp yet, a flat rocker is going to be a flat middle base with more severe curves on both the tips and tails.
Best For: Freeriding and backcountry touring
Pros
+ Better float in powder
+ Easy to turn
+ Makes ski touring easier and more comfortable
Cons
– The tip of the ski is prone to vibrations (chatter) as you ski
– Skis don’t track as well on groomers and hardpack
– Reduces effective edge
Got the lingo locked in and now you want to get yourself that new setup you’ve been eyeing off? Why not take advantage of our ‘try before you buy’ offer and take them out for a spin before you lock in the purchase!
