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Rocker, Camber, and everything in between

275K views 448 replies 130 participants last post by  16gkid 
#1 · (Edited)
Looking around at all of the current board designs at the SIA show in Denver a couple of weeks ago was cool as always, but also dizzying. Board profiles (camber, rocker, etc.) were still the top story, with every booth showing off their favorite flavor (or in most cases flavors). It made me think how confusing it would be for a newer rider to make a board choice in the current market and how hard it would be to feel confident in their selection. There are now so many varieties out there that it is hard to stay on top of them all.

I thought it might be helpful to start a thread here that showed the basic profile types all in one place without the marketing spin. There are definately many sub categories of each, but these are the broad strokes.




Traditional Camber

Pros - Tried and true performance. Great rebound which helps transition from edge to edge and also adds to pop for ollies etc. Longer running surface means good speed and edge bite in carves. Boards can be ridden shorter than some other designs without sacrificing running surface.

Cons - The contact points of the effective edge (roughly the boards wide points) are in constant contact with the snow. That can mean caught edges and some hard take downs.

Rocker

Pros - Easy turn initiation. Lifted wide points even when weighted means less caught edges. There are many varieties of this design which include various degrees of rocker, asymmetrical rocker (nose lifted more than tail, rocker center point shifted more towards tail, etc.) and multi-stage rocker.

Cons - Lost running surface, lost rebound, lost edge grip (many rocker designs get around this by using other design elements to add grip back in).

Flat

Pros - Maximum Stability. Longer running surface. Boards can be ridden shorter.

Cons - No inherent rebound. Without additional measures these boards tend to feel less lively. The contact points of the effective edge (roughly the boards wide points) are in constant contact with the snow. That can mean caught edges and some hard take downs.

Camber-Rocker-Camber

Pros - Reestablishes much of the lost running surface inherent to camber and some of the rebound. There are many different varieties of this design which alter the placement of the camber and rocker elements as well as the dimensions of those elements.

Cons - Potential for more catchy spots due to the multi stage profile.

Rocker-Camber-Rocker

Pros - Reduces the issue mentioned above from traditional camber where the wide points create catch spots. Good rebound.

Cons - less running surface than conventional camber.

Flat with lifted contact points

Pros - Reduces the issue mentioned above from Flat where the wide points create catch spots. There are many variations of this design. Some have so long a flat spot that they are very close to flat. Others have so little flat spot that they might better be called "Rocker with a little flat spot".

Cons - less running surface than Flat.

Flat-Rocker-Flat

Pros - Reestablishes much of the lost running surface inherent to camber and some of the rebound. This design has a little smoother weighted profile than Camber-Rocker-Camber...

Cons - ...but a bit less rebound and pop.
 
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#82 ·
Great,

A few notes.

The RX is a directional twin while Park Pickle and Carbon Credit are true twins. That is a noticeable difference and we should find out a little more about the riding that you want to do.

Rocker boards have less contact length that cambered boards of the same length. To many, they already feel "shorter" than a similar cambered board in the same length.

PS: You are looking at an amazing group of decks so all we need to do is narrow down to the best model for your specific needs and choose the perfect size.

STOKED!
 
#83 ·
Thank you Wiredsport!...I appreciate all your input. i think I'm going for the arbor element rx 155 cm..and paired with a union contact pro bindings. Based on my understanding of your post, contact points on the rockers are decreased compared to the regular cambers and with that in mind, a 155cm rocketed board will be a good choice for me. This choice of board will probably be perfect for my weight and size, and still be able to achieve my need of manuevarbility and control, speed and lightness and stability of ride....I hope i'm making sense and hopefully i'm right with my analysis and decision.

thank you very much again!
 
#84 ·
....I hope i'm making sense and hopefully i'm right with my analysis and decision.
QUOTE]

That is a great do it all board for your specs. Your understanding of the reduced contact length on rocker boards is correct. Have a great time on your new ride.
 
#88 ·
We greatly prefer to suggest specific models as there are exceptions to this but there are awesome boards for you in all three of the following profiles:

  • Camber Rocker Camber (EC2, Mustache, Gullwing, etc)
  • Rocker Camber Rocker (Pop Cam, Camber with lifted contact points)
  • Camber
 
#92 ·
Hi, hopefully you guys could give some assistance on a good type of board as I have no idea what to get when it comes to rocker/camber.

I am 6'5", ~180 lbs and a size 13 boot.

I mainly ride groomers with some park and powder mixed in. Looking for a board that can do it all.

I currently ride a Nitro Voltage 163.

Thanks
 
#95 ·
That will depend entirely on the model that you are considering. Tip to tip cm length is a poor indicator of performance aor intended rider range. Were there any specific models that you were considering? I will be very happy to help you with those.
 
#100 ·
Hello guys,

I have been riding classic camber boards for the last 20 years.
My main strength is groomers: I know how to handle speed, carve, do quick turns, etc. My weakness: jumps! I catch edges a lot when landing so I am pretty much scarred of doing jumps.

I want to improve my jump skills, and this is where i have discovered that hybrid cambers could help me. But I have also discovered that there were 2 kind of cambers:
- A: camber-rocker-camber, like the Lib Tech Jamie Lynn
- B: rocker-camber-rocker, like the Jones Mountain Twin

I know those 2 boards handle very well speed on groomers, which is of course my MAIN concern, but which one of those 2 will help me improve my jump skills and be the most "catch-free" on landings?

Thanks,
JT
 
#101 ·
Hi JT,

This will depend a bit on the model that you are considering. Both profiles are much more catch free (landings and otherwise) than traditional camber. You will find options that will be incredible for you in both styles.
 
#105 ·
Hi Jean,

The C2 Jamie Lynn is a great board for you. the Jones spec shows camber limited to inside the inserts. If correct, it can not do much there. Most boards that show that design actually have the camber extending well outside of the inserts. I am unsure if that is the case with the Jones. If it is you may want to revisit that one. Possibly another user who has that deck will be able to psot up some pics of its profile.
 
#110 ·
Hi guys. I do mostly freeriding. I want to go fast with good control on my turns. I'm 5'7 140 lbs . My regular shoe size is 9.5 . Which profile board would be best for my requirements? And if you could recommend specific models, that would be great. Thanks in advance.
 
#111 · (Edited)
I have only been riding for 4 seasons no expert on the subject. But I like Hybrid Rocker with + camber under foot & rockered nose opposed to traditional cambered board.
I ride in the north east (upstate NY) conditions I ride in are mostly hard pack, PP, LG but we get occassional powder dumps now and then of several inches to 2+ feet of snow per event thanks to lake effect. been riding trad camber until week ago. huge difference for the better w/+ camber underfoot to tail & rockered nose (very popularfree ride shape now find it on the Burton baracuda & many freeride boards now) board very easy & quick to turn flys over bumps & tracked out pow where Trad camber tends to dig in superior float in the pow & can ride with more upright stance all this and near equal if not equal edge hold (I got 2012 Atomic Banger 162 I'm 5'8" 140)

board in action http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ9QZ3VxZ48
 
#117 ·
Poutanen, which board do you have?

Wiredsport, could you recommend specific boards for both rocker-camber-rocker and camber with a lifted nose.
Those are actually two ways of describing the same profile.

Rome is one of those companies that still does a lot of camber. From the Crossrocket which is an all mountain board with Rocker Camber Rocker and No Hang ups to full on Camber models like the Reverb with Stay Positive camber (which is a mind blowing board).
 
#120 ·
Strong carves and catch free spins pull you towards opposite ends of the design spectrum. Carving favors a lot of planted edge on the snow while catch free spinning prefers at least the contact points lifted and possibly more. Boxes prefer boards that you have very little edge down.

Because you want to carve, spin and hit park features on one deck (and many riders do that) you want to shoot right up the middle in terms of design. There are boards in the shorter camber section Rocker Camber Rocker category that will be awesome. Same is true of Camber Rocker Rocker. TBT is a contender as well.
 
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