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Camber vs. Rocker
For beginner skiers and snowboarders, it can feel like a lot of information is being dropped on you at once. One decision you’ll have to make is what kind of board to buy. When looking at ski and snowboard options, you’ll probably come across the terms camber and rocker and wonder “what the heck is that?”
The simplest answer is that cambered boards are arched in the center, while rocker boards have their lowest point in the center and are more raised at the front and back. Both styles have advantages and disadvantages depending on the type of riding you’ll be doing.
Camber
If you placed a traditional camber board on a flat surface with no weight applied, you would see that it curves up at the midsection and contacts the ground at the tail and nose. Once weighed down by a rider, a cambered board flattens, creating a longer area of contact with the snow.
Because they arch up against the weight of the rider’s feet, camber boards are described as putting springiness into the board. The longer contact area gives camber boards and skis more stability and better hold when turning. Better control and grip also means camber designs are often used for travelling at high speed.
Rocker
A rocker board or ski is curved in the opposite direction as a camber. When placed unweighted on a flat surface, a rocker arches down at the midsection and curves up at the front and back. The design takes its name from a rocking chair.
A rocker design’s lifted tip and back make it less likely to catch on edges or hidden objects and give you more “float” on soft powder. Rocker boards also give the rider good control and help you quickly initiate turns.
Should I Choose Camber or Rocker?
There’s no definitive answer for which type is best. The answer will depend on your skill level, the type of terrain you’re riding and other factors.
Since rocker designs were first introduced in the 2000s, boards and skis have developed to incorporate elements of both styles. This means in addition to full camber and rocker, there are a variety of hybrids like tip rocker, tip and tail rocker for skis and flat, camber/rocker, and flat/rocker for snowboards.
Often beginners will want to choose a rocker or rocker dominant snowboard or ski. More experienced riders will usually fine-tune their riding experience with a design that features a more nuanced blend of rocker and camber.
When to Use Camber and Rocker Boards or Skis
Groomed Slopes
On maintained mountain slopes a camber design is usually the most popular. Cambered boards and skis give you better control and stability when riding at high speeds. However, combinations rocker and camber designs will probably work almost as well. Rocker designs may work on groomed slopes but become less reliable if the surface is icy or choppy.
All-mountain
If you’re planning to ride in a combination or groomed slopes and backcountry areas, a rocker or combination of rocker and camber is usually the best choice. This applies whether you’re skiing or snowboarding. For skiing in varied terrain, one popular design is a rocker tip, cambered or flat midsection, and tapered or flat tail.
Powder
Powder or fresh undisturbed snow is the environment where rocker boards most readily outperform the competition. The curved front and back on rocker boards and skis gives you superior float and in the case of rocker snowboards will reduce your fatigue on long rides.
Park and Pipe
The stability and springiness of camber skis and snowboards can be beneficial for jumps in parks. However, rocker designs make the transition from tip to tail easier and faster. For grinding rails, rocker designs are better since they’re less likely to get caught on an edge.
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