"Over the last few years skiers and ski companies alike have started looking differently at the way we ski powder.  This has led to a massive overhaul in the design of many fat skis.  This change in design has caused much confusion in the minds of skiers everywhere.  What skis should I buy?  Is rocker right for me?  What does camber do?

To understand rocker and reverse camber it is important to understand the concept of traditional camber skis.  When you place a ski flat on the ground, you will probably notice that the ski "arches" or "bows" away from the ground.  Only the widest areas of the ski in the very tip and tail actually come into contact with the ground.  This is camber.  Camber is very useful on hard/groomed snow.  When you put weight on your skis, you will notice that the camber flattens out.  This effect puts more pressure on the area on the area in the tip and tail that was previously touching the ground.  When pressure is put on those areas, you are able to engage the side cut of the ski.

Rockered skis are the complete opposite concept from traditional camber. Rocker was invented for snow skiing purposes nearly a decade ago by Shane McConkey and Volant Skis.  The first ski to employ this design was called the Volant Spatula.  The ski was based on the shape of water skis, which are meant to float/surf over the surface of water (in this case snow).  McConkey had this to say about the new design, "These skis will change the way you thought you were supposed to ski powder, minimize the effort you put into your skiing, and greatly improve your powder skiing experience (Mental Floss)."  These skis generally have a continuous rocker shape, or have a very short flat area directly under the boot.  Skis in this category come in all different shapes, including regular sidecut, tapered tail, tapered tip and tail, and reverse sidecut.  Skis include: Volkl Kuro, K2 Hellbent, Volkl Choptick, Moment Donner Party, Armada ARG, and more.

Another broad category of skis are those with tip and tail rocker only.  These skis generally have a longer flat area under the foot and are to be used more as inbounds specific powder skis. These skis are generally regular sidecut or tapered tip and tail shapes.  Skis include Volkl Katana, Volkl Gotama, Surface Live Life.  These skis are somewhere between the regular "Rockered Skis" category, and those with only early rise tips and tails.  It is generally easier to ski this category of skis in mixed snow conditions, as well as on hardpack.

Most skis labeled as “rockered”  fall into this category.  The ski may have an early rise (the tip shape starts further down the ski) or a slightly rockered shape in the tip and or tail.  The ski will have regular camber underfoot in order to give the ski maximum sidecut control.  These skis generally have a tapered tip and tail, but not all do.  Some of these skis may not appear to have a very long early rise, but once you put weight on the camber, the tips and tails become more “rockered” or the early rise becomes more exaggerated.  Skis include: Armada JJ, Atomic Bentchetler, Moment Night Train, Rossignol S7, Moment Bibby, 4Frnt CRJ, and many more.  These skis are great in all conditions.  With the regular camber underfoot they ski great on hardpack (albeit they will feel a little bit shorter than normal, since both the sidecut and camber are shorter than on traditional camber skis).  These skis will still give you the traditional "surfy" feel that fully rockered skis give you in deep snow.  They combine the best of both worlds into a great skiing experience.

There are literally hundreds of skis on the market that employ some sort of rocker or reverse camber shape into them somehow.  It would be impossible for me to cover them all in this article.  Hopefully this article can serve to better open your eyes to the possibilities that away you in your new ski purchase.

- Josh Christensen
www.skijosh.com