Mar 7 (2011)
NZSIA Ski Course Director Stephanie Brown went to America’s ski workshop at Interski. Here’s her thoughts on it…
Clinic title: New technology
Clinic synopsis: This clinic focused on ‘Rocker Technology’. This technology is impacting all equipment in the USA, i.e. alpine skis, telemark skis and snowboards.
Our summary: The Ski manufacturers have differing designs so here’s a quick overview of rocker technology equipment…
There are a number of different types of camber for all equipment (dimensions given for skis):
1. Traditional camber
2. Early rise – this has rocker at the tip and then camber for the body of the ski, considered an all mountain ski. Typical dimensions are 127-80-109 with a conventional side-cut.
3. Tip rocker with camber under foot and then tail rocker (mustache) – some manufacturers are using this design for a range of skis from all mountain (conventional side-cut) to deep snow skis (wider tip and under foot) so the dimensions and length vary depending on intended use.
4. Rocker tip and tail/full rocker, i.e. reverse camber. Typical dimensions of powder rockers 160-132-109 mm. These skis are skied relatively long 175,185 or 195.
5. Terrain park skis – typical dimensions of these are 115-90-115 with symmetical side-cut. These have very little camber.
6. Another new shape for skis is the wide soft tips narrower waist and narrow stiffer tail.
These different designs are being used on-piste, off-piste, in the park and pipe, and by beginners and experts alike.
Rumor has it on the World Cup they are experimenting with skis that have typical side-cut and camber but with early rise in the tip to make it easier to initiate the turn.
The PSIA believe that many ski school customers are wanting to take lessons on this new equipment design. They promote developing lessons that deliver what the guests want and will enable them to achieve their goals.
The difference in how the body would ideally move to drive the skis. The same skill set is used but the movements are blended differently. Generally the skill blend would move more towards rotational movements of the legs to guide the skis through a skidded arc especially with the full rocker skis.
With an early rise ski the movements are very similar to a traditional ski but not as much forward commitment required to initiate a turn. These skis will start the turn easily and ski well in off piste conditions as well as hold on the piste.
Some ski areas in the USA are teaching all beginners on short (140cm) early rise skis. With rocker skis there is a short balance point. The center of mass / centre of gravity would ideally move over the base of support to start the turn, as opposed to moving across the base of support on more traditional skis.
The predominant movement would be leg rotation and the skis would tend to skid through an arc. These rocker skis would make a skidded turn on-piste. This width and the reverse camber means that the skis tend to stay closer the surface of deep powder and crud, i.e. float. It therefore becomes possible to skid in powder and crud on these skis. This means that more terrain would be accessible to more skiers.
The mustache cambered skis allow skiers to explore more terrain but still have some hold on-piste.
The European Instructors in the group were of the opinion that this technology may not be as popular in Europe as it wasn’t as versatile as more traditional skis. The snow conditions in Europe are generally firmer than those in parts of the USA. Some of the Europeans in the group pointed out that their traditional skis gave them the feeling of carving which they really enjoyed.
There was a definite difference in the feeling of the USA Demo team members and the Europeans Demo team members. The Americans seemed to have embraced the new technology whereas the Europeans, perhaps influenced by the firmer snow conditions, were less enthusiastic about the new developments in ski design at least for the time being. It will be interesting to see if there is a change in attitude over time.
