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Wtf!

3K views 21 replies 13 participants last post by  skunkworks_ 
#1 ·
I am a beginner so keep that in mind. So I learned on an Arbor Cascade (rocker) thought I knew what I was doing until I bought an Arbor Element CX (directional slight set back camber) and got some speed and working on nice thin line carving. I am getting there but need improvement anyway,... last night I finally tried to get back on my rocker and WTF! :icon_scratch: Not sure if I like rocker for other than learning jumps and ground tricks. Don't see much Pow on the East Coast but I bet it would be awesome for that. So anyway now I understand what people are talking about when they talk about the performance levels of each type. So weird....
 
#4 ·
Oh yeah I am not putting it down. Just weird trying to switch (for me a new rider) from one riding style to another. I do like how catch free it is and the confidence it gives me to take some jumps, press, and try nose to tail rolls. I think my issue is that all season I was only riding my camber board and focusing on carving and speed (which was my goal so it isn't a bad thing). Then I jumped on the rocker and I could not do the same. Just threw my senses off. I knew this about the different boards but to actually feel it is a new sensation to me. Before this I really didn't understand the different feeling it really gives.
I guess long story short. I didn't expect the ride to be that different.
 
#5 ·
Its a huge difference hey. I love the high speed stability of camber, you can back yourself in situations you would never dream of on a rocker board.
Rocker inside the feet is good but it has to be camber under and outside the feet for me.
 
#7 ·
Not sure if I like rocker for other than learning jumps and ground tricks. Don't see much Pow on the East Coast but I bet it would be awesome for that. So anyway now I understand what people are talking about when they talk about the performance levels of each type. So weird....
So I got to ride my rocker in some real powder this season, and fell back in love. I also notice that it preforms great in spring conditions when the snow is slightly soft from the melt. I do see in improvement in my riding from using a traditional camber but now can appreciate the rocker for own riding style. Guess I just needed to take it out some more.
 
#8 ·
I still consider myself a Super NooB! I was worried about the same thing after I got my Garage Rocker. It rode so differently than my cambered Arbor Roundhouse, actually it was WAY easier to ride! (Heel to Toe transitions were fast & effortless, also WAY softer flex!) The situation became even more pronounced when I bought my used NS Proto CT. Both of these are regular width, short, (...by comparison,) boards. 159 / 157 respectively! The Arbor is 163!! I was concerned that I would lose a lot of the skills I gained learning to ride on the Wide Arbor!

My solution is to take both boards (...or even all three!) with me, check them and switch them out during the day so that I don't lose the feel for riding any of them, especially my Arbor!

BTW, I just became an "Official" POW initiate this weekend!!!! Boyne Highland's, in the ULP of MI, got over two feet of Fresh this week! In the two years I've been riding, this is the most AWESOME snow I've ridden!! It was knee deep all over the resort, and In some places it was up to my THIGHS!!!
I had to learn how to ride all over again!! Fuckin' amazing conditions!!! :yahoo::yahoo: (...I rode all three boards in this and LOVED 'EM ALL!!) :thumbsup:

{edit}
...on my way out for day 41!!!!! :yahoo:
 
#12 ·
I rode a flat board with rocker outside the bindings last sunday and thought it was an excellent compromise. I always rode all mountain with a large full cambered board but ended up one weekend on a soft rocker and HATED it. Wouldnt even hold turns on steeper blues. That I just cant deal with.
 
#17 ·
Glad I am not the only one who hates it. I learned on a rocker which was probably the best choice for me and then I switched over to a trad camber and a much stiffer board and instantly my riding improved. My turns were sharper, I felt more stable at high speeds, overall I felt more in control. I tried to hop back on my old rocker and I felt more out of control, and I was trying to hit some chutes. I was able to do it just fine, but I didn't like it at all. All and all I decided to give the board to my cousin who has been riding a thrift store board. And if she grows out of it, I'll give it to my sister when she ready to learn how to snowboard. Its great for beginners in my opinion.
 
#13 ·
Interesting...

I'm in my second full season back after a 10 year hiatus (and even then I was just learning to snowboard after being a long time average skier). I ride a Rome Anthem Hybrid Camber, and its all I've known. I'm just getting to the point where I might be able to appreciate the performance differences between boards, but I bought the anthem because I like groomers, I ride in east coast conditions (though moving to Seattle this summer, so that'll change), and because it seemed to be the board for what I want to do.

Given that I'd like to get better in the park and on natural features, and I'd like to learn to ride this magical powder (I've had one day of it, and it totally, totally kicked my ass, I don't see the big deal yet, but I've got hope), and I'd like to get better at moguls (which isn't saying much, because I suck at them now), it seems like I might be at a point where an additional board might make sense based on varying conditions or intent on any given day.

Or am I just rationalizing a possible case of Gear Acquisition Syndrome?
 
#14 ·
I'm in my second full season back after a 10 year hiatus (and even then I was just learning to snowboard after being a long time average skier). I ride a Rome Anthem Hybrid Camber, and its all I've known. I'm just getting to the point where I might be able to appreciate the performance differences between boards, but I bought the anthem because I like groomers, I ride in east coast conditions (though moving to Seattle this summer, so that'll change), and because it seemed to be the board for what I want to do.

Given that I'd like to get better in the park and on natural features, and I'd like to learn to ride this magical powder (I've had one day of it, and it totally, totally kicked my ass, I don't see the big deal yet, but I've got hope), and I'd like to get better at moguls (which isn't saying much, because I suck at them now), it seems like I might be at a point where an additional board might make sense based on varying conditions or intent on any given day.

Or am I just rationalizing a possible case of Gear Acquisition Syndrome?
No, you're absolutely right. I have multiple boards for different conditions. There's no such thing as a do-it-all board, especially with the variety in camber and sidecut profiles available now.
 
#16 ·
I am a fairly new midwest rider (coming up on day 25-26 probably this weekend), and I started on a older burton clash I picked up on craigslist, and i thought it was terrible, always catching edges, wouldnt turn for crap, super slow(probably because itwas never sharpened/wax lol).
But then i picked up a2012 rossignol jibsaw on close out two months ago and this board is amazing! rocker on the outside and camber in between seems like such a great compromise, doesnt seem too floaty like a rocker and can still put down a carve line close to a camber. plus with magnetraciton for the ice edge grip is awesome.
Havent caught a random edge since I got this board and im sold on hybrids, next purchase will be a board with camber out and rocker in between.
 
#19 ·
I was looking at picking up the Jibsaw but I can't find it anywhere in the area so it would have to be online.

What's the camber profile look like? Does the camber extend to outside the inserts before it kicks up? Is it a stiffer or softer board? How does it press? And how quick are edge to edge transitions with the lifted contact points compared to your camber board?

I've read a good reveiw on it but it's hard to find specifics on the web.
 
#21 ·
As it happen, I've got bindings onall three boards might return the new M Cartels, then I'd only set up n bring the two I really want to ride.
(...I hate dinking around n swapping bindings!) ;)
 
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