Different Kinds of Ski Rockers

What is a Rocker?

Rocker profiles on skis are a relatively new development that has helped revolutionize skiing and ski manufacturing. Rocker is also referred to as Reverse Camber or Negative Camber. If a ski manufacturer refers to a ski as being reverse camber or negative camber, they mean the same thing as ski rocker. Rocker can be in different parts of the ski, can be angled differently, and can be different lengths.

Hybrid Rocker

Hybrid rockers are one of the most popular types of rocker skis. With a hybrid rocker, both the tip and the tail will have a rockered profile.

Full Rocker

A pair of skis with a full rocker profile will have very little base contact with each other. Full rocker skis are often referred to as having a ‘banana’ shape to them. Full rocks are bent at a constant curvature throughout the entire ski, with no camber.

Directional Rocker

Direction rocker is also referred to as ‘early rise’ rocker because it features traditional camber underfoot, but the tip is rockered. The back of the ski will also have some rocker, but it will not be as much as the front of the ski.

Twin Rocker

A twin rocker on a ski means that both the tip and tail have a rocker of equal lengths. They are also known as 'twin tips' and are primarily intended for park skiing.

Brand Specific Rocker Profile Types

Some brands have their own vernacular when it comes to describing ski rocker profiles. Not every brand has brand specific names for their rocker profiles, but a few do. It can be confusing, but we’re here to help break down the different types of ski rockers for you.

Rossignol Skis

Rossignol ‘Auto turn’ rocker

Rossignol's ‘Auto Turn’ rocker is featured on the majority of their all-mountain skis. Unlike most rockered-skis, this AutoTurn rocker is designed for groomers. It helps eliminate some of the edge hook that can happen on tradition camber skis and allows for easy turning throughout a variety of conditions.

Rossignol Power Turn rocker

The Powerturn rocker has tradition camber for about 90% of the ski, but the tip is slightly rockered. This type of rocker ski is intended for carving on groomers and helps enhance steering while also minimizing the effort needed to establish a carve.

Rossignol Spin Turn rocker

The Rossignol Spin Turn rocker is meant for skiers who enjoy doing tricks in the Terrain Park or backcountry. It is a full rocker that creates a banana-like shape, which makes Spin Turn Rocker skis have a low swing wait for spinning.

Rossignol Powder Turn Rocker

Intended primarily for powder days, the rocker on powder turn rocker skis starts close to the binding. On Powder Turn Rocker skis, the skis will be split about half rocker and half camber. This allows for maximum floatation and mobility while skiing powder.

Elan Skis

Elan Parabolic Rocker

The Parabolic rocker on Elan skis is minimal and the majority of the ski is cambered. However, the rocker tip helps create an easier turn initiation. Skis with a parabolic rocker are best on hard packed snow and groomed runs.

Elan Amphibio Rocker

The Amphibio rocker is a little different than most ski rocker types because it implements dedicated right and left skis. The inside edge is more cambered than the inside edge, which helps increase edge precision. The outside edge is more rockered to help smooth out the turns and assist in powder. The Elan Ripstick series is known for having the Amphibio rocker.

 

Elan Mountain Rocker

The Mountain Rocker integrates a ski rocker profile on both the tip and the tail. This rocker level is moderate, which is useful for a wide range of skiing conditions and is a great addition to all mountain skis.

Fischer Skis

Fischer On-Piste Rocker

Like the name suggests, the on-piste ski rocker is built for carving on hardpacked snow. The majority of the ski has traditional camber, but the tip has a slight rocker to ease turn initiation.

Fischer All-Mountain Rocker

With a mid rocker level, the all-mountain ski rocker is a versatile rocker that is integrated into Fischer’s all mountain skis. Skis such as the Fischer Pro MTN have the All-Mountain rocker ski profile.

 

Fischer Tour Rocker

Tour rocker skis have a mid-level ski rocker in the tip in order to help with backcountry touring climbs. The rocker in the tip also allows for more floatation while skiing hard-earned powder.

Fischer Freeski Rocker

The Freeski rocker has a large amount of rocker in both the tips and tails to help create a playful ‘surfy’ feel while skiing powder. The Fischer Ranger series is a popular set of Fischer skis that have the Freeski Rocker.

 

Liberty Skis

Liberty Bomb Rocker

The Bomb Rocker features a full tip and tail rocker to help on power days. The majority of Liberty’s powder skis contain a Bomb Rocker profile. This includes the Liberty Origin 116, Liberty Schuster Pro, Liberty Genesis 116, and Liberty Genome skis.

 

Liberty Stealth Rocker

The rocker on a Stealth Rocker ski starts early in the tip, but remains relatively flat throughout. This helps ease turn initiation and is a versatile rocker profile.

Liberty Hammer Rocker

The Hammer Rocker on Liberty skis features a slight rocker rise in the tips in order to help increase grip while carving on hard packed snow.

K2 Skis

K2 All Terrain Rocker

An All-Terrain Rocker has a gradual rocker in the tip to better ease turning and control throughout a variety of conditions.

K2 Jib Rocker

Jib Rocker skis have rocker on both the tips and the tail, but the majority of it is in the tip. This helps people ‘butter’ their turns and reduces edge hook, which can happen during tricks. The flat camber underfoot also works to prevent the edge from catching on ski rails or snow.

K2 Catch Free Rocker

The Catch Free Rocker is not a commonly used ski rocker within K2, but it helps ease turn initiation with a gentle rocker in both the tip and tail.

K2 Powder Rocker

Like its name suggests, the Powder Rocker is intended for powder days. It has a long rocker rise in both the tip and the tail, and the rocker is relatively angled to increase flotation.

K2 Speed Rocker

Skis with the Speed Rocker feature a short and low rise rocker to add stability and agility to turn transitions. They are meant for carving on hard packed snow.

G3

G3 Freeride Rocker

Freeride Rocker skis have a relatively flat early rise rocker in the top to help with flotation on off-trail snow. They also have a little bit of camber underfoot with a short and low profile amount of rocker in the tail.

Blizzard

Blizzard Flipcore Rocker

Although Flipcore rocker may not look different from other rocker types, the technology within it is what differentiates it. The Flipcore Rocker is produced through naturally molding the rocker shape into the skis, rather than pressing the rocker into the skis after production. This process is designed to increase stability in the skis.

Armada

Armada EST Freeride Rocker

The EST Freeride rocker has a longer rockered tip and tail but is paired with positive camber underfoot to aid in carving.

Armada AR Free Style rocker

The AR Freestyle rocker features a similar rocker in both the tip and the tail that helps ease carving as well as stability on off-piste snow.

Armada AR Nose Rocker

The AR Nose rocker is designed for all-mountain skiing, with its medium length tip rocker and minimal tail rocker.

Atomic

Atomic Powder Rocker

The Powder Rocker has a matching tip and tail rocker with a mid-level amount of rocker angle. Skis with the Powder Rocker float well in powder because of the large percentage of the ski that is rockered.

Atomic AMT Rocker

Designed for all-mountain skiing, the AMT Rocker has a little bit of rocker in the tip to help ease turn initiation.