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theabortionator
April, 2025

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Rocker pros and cons

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zapadelic
Posts: 483 - Karma: 48
Hey ns I was thinking about getting a ski with rocker and wondering what's good and bad for them for park and riding all over the mountain and just what everyone likes and dislikes about rockered skis
14 years ago
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25444 - Karma: 13,856
Cons: Shorter running length, not as stable off larger jumps.

Pros: Easier to butter and press, less catchy for swaps on rails (contact point closer to boots), huge roostertails.
14 years ago
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Ryley*
Posts: 300 - Karma: 50
easy for surface switch ups
cannot use on water ramps
buttery fun ski to ride and easier in pow
14 years ago
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NWPA
Posts: 2309 - Karma: 165
for park riding i tried the alpha 1's out. Going fast got a little scary on them, they start chattering alot. The rocker is really fun on rails and such, spins really fast. Not stable at all on big jumps. For all mountain rocker is a good thing. Thats all i have to say.
14 years ago
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ParkisFun
Posts: 135 - Karma: 15
the jib rocker from k2 actually supplies really good skis. suck as the domain and the revival. I ride on the domain, and im really happy i bought them
14 years ago
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zapadelic
Posts: 483 - Karma: 48
For not as stable on larger jumps is that just jumps in general or spinning of them because armada claims that with the rocker it's easier to spin off lips
14 years ago
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25444 - Karma: 13,856
Think of a ski, then rocker the ski. The contact points, where the base is touching snow, is much less in a rockered ski. Less length on the snow will make the ski feel shorter, and shorter skis are not the greatest for bigger jumps.

I cant say either way about what Armada claims. I'd listen to someone who's ridden both and is unbiased.
14 years ago
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zapadelic
Posts: 483 - Karma: 48
ya i get that but i guess a lttle taller of a ski will even it out.
14 years ago
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25444 - Karma: 13,856
Longer skis do have tradeoffs to consider too. More swing weight, not as agile on rails, etc etc. And still, I'll bet that the contact surface on a full cambered 171 beats the contact surface on a rockered 181.
14 years ago
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[cmyk]
Posts: 261 - Karma: 177

i measured the contact points on my 180-whatever alpha 1s and it was like 160 something.  they felt super short and sketchy at high speeds and high speed switch skiing. I agree that they made butter-spins and switch ups easier to learn but i've since switched back to a reg camber ski and feel little to no difference in butteriness, etc.

14 years ago
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zapadelic
Posts: 483 - Karma: 48
What do you mean by can't use at water ramps? Will they not let you or what's with that?
14 years ago
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