If you are browsing skis and snowboards or discussing technical performance, the terms ‘camber’ and ‘rocker’ will pop up repeatedly. They simply refer to the side profile of a ski or snowboard based on its contact with the ground.

The amount of camber or rocker determines the performance of the equipment in different snow conditions. The part which touches the ground when carving a turn is called the effective edge and its length varies depending on the camber or rocker. This article will describe the functionality of both technical features and explain how to use them to your advantage.

What is Camber?

Camber is the slight arch between the points where the tip and tail of the ski touch the ground. When a ski or snowboard is placed on a flat surface and the mid-section is raised, it has camber. Without the weight of the skier, equipment with camber has two visible contact points with the snow at the tip and tail. Body weight flattens the ski, creating continuous contact with the snow.

With a cambered ski, the effective edge is longer which gives better stability and edge hold. This is particularly beneficial on hard snow such as groomed pistes, where a good grip makes skiing safer at high speeds.

Camber can be utilised in different ways for different disciplines. For example, the enhanced precision and responsiveness of skis with camber are favoured by racers. On the other hand, the shape gives a springiness and ‘pop’ to freestylers in the park. Until the early 2000s, snowsports equipment only used camber until the concept of rocker came along and changed the game.

What is Rocker?

Rocker or ‘early rise’ is the curved shape at the tip or tail of a ski and snowboard. The name is based on the shape of a rocking chair which moves back and forward due to the curve of its supporting ‘rockers’. In snowsports, rockers make floating over soft snow easier, since the tips are less likely to dig in.

The curved tips and tails keep the skis above powder and make manoeuvring easier. With weight directly below the rider and less contact with the ground, skis with rocker tend to be responsive and help to move easier through varied terrain.

Rocker is also known as reverse camber, negative camber or alternate camber. For a ski with only rocker and no camber, the effective edge is small which makes carving very difficult. Skis and snowboards can feature a front rocker only with a flat tip or rockers on both ends. Any combination is possible!

What is best for you?

So how do you choose which style of ski or snowboard is best? That depends on your level of expertise and the terrain you like to ride. Equipment can feature any level of camber and rocker, or both, so it’s a question of doing the research to find out what features will help you ski your best.

Beginner or Intermediate on piste

Skiers and snowboarders learn the ropes on the piste and stability is very important. Having a longer effective edge increases stability, so beginners benefit from a cambered ski. On groomed slopes, edge control is important, so cambered skis and snowboards are well-suited for piste skiing.

For intermediate or advanced skiers who love charging the corduroy, contact with the snow helps to carve and a cambered ski will give the grip and turning precision to ski fast and smooth. A small amount of rocker helps to ski over chopped snow and crud in resorts but a large rocker is not necessary for piste skiing. Additionally, a large rocker on piste may rattle or ‘chatter’ at high speeds.

Powder and All Mountain

Rockers were designed for the purpose of keeping skis above soft snow. This type of ski is best for powder since it allows the rider to float above the snow without the tips dipping too far in. Deep snow can be unpredictable and rockered skis have less grip which makes them responsive to movement.

Skis and snowboards which have a combination of both rocker and camber bring some welcome bounce off piste. All mountain skis which have a combination of both rocker and camber offer a longer effective edge for grip on piste plus manoeuvrability through mixed terrain. A flat tail is popular in all-mountain skis since it helps skiers to hold speed.

Freestyle

Snowparks are the places to play around on jumps, rails and boxes but the right skis and snowboards can double the fun and even make it safer. Rockered tips and tails make it easier to spin around and ski backwards, known as riding switch. On rails, rockers can help to avoid catching an edge and having a nasty fall, although that also depends on the skill of the rider.

Unlike a ski with camber, pressing into the rail is easier with a rocker design which is one continuous arc shape. However, camber does have its advantages in the park. For jumps, designs with camber give springiness and ‘pop’ which freestylers use to launch into the air. Skis with rockered tips and tails are also known as twin-tips.

Snowboarders

Just like skis, snowboards with large rockers are best suited to the soft snow found off piste since the shape improves flotation. With a shorter effective edge, rockered snowboards can respond quickly to directional change which is important when riding through trees or in varied backcountry terrain. The weight of the snowboarder is over the centre in a rockered board which helps to reduce the burn on the back leg. Snowboarders can also opt for a combination of rocker and camber for varied conditions such as all-mountain riding.

Cambered boards give a better grip with more effective edge for carving, and some rocker helps to tackle powder and mixed terrain. Experienced snowboarders with a need for speed will benefit from cambered boards which provide stability while accelerating. On the other side of the spectrum, rockered boards have a reduced effective edge on piste which can make navigating ice a challenge.

Ski technology is continuously evolving to help riders thrive in every type of winter terrain. Designers are constantly updating and tweaking camber and rocker to create equipment that matches the environment. It’s not necessary to choose between camber and rocker, it’s simply a question of finding the right combination for you.