Gear

Rocker Technology: Changing How the Rest of Us Ski

By Allen Smith, 1-06-11

	We've come a long way since these days. These skis, made in the early 20th century, hang in the Ski Museum of Maine.

Anyone who’s been skiing more than 40 years has succumbed to an endless number of changes in ski technology and just about the time you think you’ve mastered everything that there is to learn about your equipment, someone comes up with another indispensable idea. Like rocker technology.

In the early 1930s, hickory skis towered over your head and were coated on the bottom with a thick black goo that resembled tar. Since they didn’t have edges, skis were easy to turn but almost impossible to stop. Eventually, though, ski manufacturers caved into public demand and began screwing segmented steel edges onto skis to prevent skiers from seeing their lives pass before them on the way down to the warming hut.

It wasn’t until the mid 1950s that ski manufacturers began using post-war materials like light weight aluminum, foam and plastics to make skis lighter and easier to maneuver. At the same time, manufacturers began adding sidecut to skis and selling them in different lengths to make it easier for recreational skiers to ski in control.

Up until recently, most skis were made basically the same – when placed base down on the snow, skis made contact just behind the tip and ahead of the tail (traditional contact points or TCP), with the region under foot arching off of the snow (standard camber). The idea behind standard camber is to make skis more lively, rebound faster after unweighting and make them easier to turn and edge. While racers and aggressive recreational skiers applauded camber for making skis easier to carve and control on hard surfaces, others complained that camber made it more difficult to initiate turns and easier to catch edges.

Like many other ski concepts, rocker technology is borrowed from the snowboard industry. The theory is, if you soften the tips and the tails of the skis where they first make contact with the snow, it’s easier to initiate turns. And since the skis with rocker technology are usually softer and longer than traditional skis, they float through powder and crud, while still maintaining control on firmer surfaces.

Rocker technology is available in a variety of flavors, depending on the ski model and its intended use. K2 has been a leader in the industry and was one of the first to market it to the skiing public. They’ve broken down rocker technology into Speed Rocker, Catch-Free Rocker, Jib Rocker, All Terrain Rocker and Powder Rocker technologies.

Speed rockers are designed for skiing on firmer snow, elevating and lengthening the tip region to make turn initiation easier. The remainder of the ski mimics traditional skis with standard camber that delivers superior edge control. Catch-Free Rocker is designed with the beginning skier in mind. The elevated tip and tail make it easier for never-evers to learn how to turn. Jib Rocker skis have almost no camber under foot and demand playful, responsive moves in terrain parks. All Terrain Rocker is the most versatile model of ski and performs equally well in powder, crud and on hard surfaces. Powder Rocker skis are designed for deep snow and help you to float on the surface, like a pair of water skis.

If your skiing has hit a plateau and you’ve wondered why you never seem to improve, stop by the demo center at your local resort and give the new rocker technology a try. 

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