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Do rockered skis "wheely" out more?

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Lazylightning
Posts: 1221 - Karma: 6,424
I have some kartel 108s which aren't the stiffest skis out there but they are also not the softest and have a decent amount of tail rocker aggression. A lot of times when I hit drops or airs if I'm not centered when I land I sort of feel like it's harder to hold on (so to speak) and I get the sensation of wheelying out a little. I know wheelying out (or just getting too much in the backseat) is more related to skier ability than anything else but I seem to get this sensation less with skis that have less tail rocker aggression. Stiffness of skis put aside, does tail rocker have a tendency to do this? I always assumed that "big mountain" skis had flatter tails because of this but I've never really thought about it much more...
quick edit/addition: what role does camber have in this scenario?

**This thread was edited on Jul 13th 2021 at 3:20:51pm
Jul 13 2021 3:19PM
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dmcdmc
Posts: 205 - Karma: 1,408
Yep. When you move the contact point closer to the center of the ski, as is the case with a rockered tail, you'll definitely wheelie more often and easier. You're moving the pivot point closer to the center of the ski so your leverage of the tails also increases. The more camber and flatter tail you have, the less you'll wheelie.

Could be good or bad depending on how you tend to distribute your weight and your style of skiing. There are plenty of very rockered big mountain skis but that's why folks tend to go longer with more rocker for stability. All just personal preference. We're lucky to be skiing during a time where there are so many choices.
Jul 13 2021 4:23PM
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keagan.karstens
Posts: 1430 - Karma: 31,619
Def noticed this before, I rented a pair of rockered skis for a day back in March because my skis came late on the plane and I was used to my arv 96s and on tons of drops and bumps I almost felt myself slipping back because I’m used to having that stiff pop from my tails when ollieing and stuff

**This post was edited on Jul 13th 2021 at 4:40:24pm
Jul 13 2021 4:39PM
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Lazylightning
Posts: 1221 - Karma: 6,424
I think this is for sure what I was feeling, the more rockered skis (in terms of tail rocker) I've ridden seem to favor a more centered stance whereas the less rockered ones work well with a very forward and slightly more aggressive (?) stance
dmcdmcYep. When you move the contact point closer to the center of the ski, as is the case with a rockered tail, you'll definitely wheelie more often and easier. You're moving the pivot point closer to the center of the ski so your leverage of the tails also increases. The more camber and flatter tail you have, the less you'll wheelie.

Could be good or bad depending on how you tend to distribute your weight and your style of skiing. There are plenty of very rockered big mountain skis but that's why folks tend to go longer with more rocker for stability. All just personal preference. We're lucky to be skiing during a time where there are so many choices.
Jul 13 2021 4:48PM
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Lazylightning
Posts: 1221 - Karma: 6,424
I guess this is probably what people mean when they talk about vishnus versus more traditional skis when ir comes to jumps
keagan.karstensDef noticed this before, I rented a pair of rockered skis for a day back in March because my skis came late on the plane and I was used to my arv 96s and on tons of drops and bumps I almost felt myself slipping back because I’m used to having that stiff pop from my tails when ollieing and stuff

**This post was edited on Jul 13th 2021 at 4:40:24pm
Jul 13 2021 4:49PM
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keagan.karstens
Posts: 1430 - Karma: 31,619
Even shit like ripping around the mountain, softer or more rockered skis makes me feel like I can’t Ollie as high or land as nose heavy switch on little 180s that’s why I like stiffer ski plus I’m almost 6’4 so I really don’t have too low of a center of gravity
Jul 13 2021 10:46PM
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Lazylightning
Posts: 1221 - Karma: 6,424
That makes a lot of sense. I ended up buying some very directional skis and compared tk my kartels I felt much more stable (albeit a lot less playful), I really like having that variety in my quiver now though
keagan.karstensEven shit like ripping around the mountain, softer or more rockered skis makes me feel like I can’t Ollie as high or land as nose heavy switch on little 180s that’s why I like stiffer ski plus I’m almost 6’4 so I really don’t have too low of a center of gravity
Jul 13 2021 11:29PM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25442 - Karma: 13,842
Skiing skis without tail rocker will allow you to ride out more bad landings, but skiing skis with tail rocker will teach you to land better.

**This post was edited on Jul 14th 2021 at 1:16:08am
Jul 14 2021 1:15AM
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Lazylightning
Posts: 1221 - Karma: 6,424
All the more reason to continue dailying my kartels until they break...which might be never lol
RudyGarmischSkiing skis without tail rocker will allow you to ride out more bad landings, but skiing skis with tail rocker will teach you to land better.

**This post was edited on Jul 14th 2021 at 1:16:08am
Jul 14 2021 1:43AM
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BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 6309 - Karma: 54,325
Yup. Take off on toes, land on toes. Was a big learning point for me. I realized I was depending on the camber behind my heel too much on other skis when landing. Shorter skis do this too.
Jul 14 2021 2:47AM
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No.Quarter
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 16,951
LazylightningAll the more reason to continue dailying my kartels until they break...which might be never lol


Same here. I wan't to get new skis, but I can't manage to kill my Jeffreys and I don't want to retire them until I absolutely have to and then they are going to be hung up on a wall
Jul 14 2021 10:56AM
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Lazylightning
Posts: 1221 - Karma: 6,424
Yea I've been using mine as rock skis in the early and late season but haven't really done any damage beyond some cosmetic topsheet chipping lol, maybe one day they'll be unrideable but I doubt it. I wouldn't be surprised if they lost their camber before I had to retire them
No.QuarterSame here. I wan't to get new skis, but I can't manage to kill my Jeffreys and I don't want to retire them until I absolutely have to and then they are going to be hung up on a wall
Jul 14 2021 11:47AM
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No.Quarter
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 16,951
LazylightningYea I've been using mine as rock skis in the early and late season but haven't really done any damage beyond some cosmetic topsheet chipping lol, maybe one day they'll be unrideable but I doubt it. I wouldn't be surprised if they lost their camber before I had to retire them


I've got a pair of old Surface One Life's that I call my "Rock Skis", but to be honest all that means is I ski rock skis when I am uncertain about coverage the first couple weeks of the season. Otherwise I've been smashing sharks with reckless abandon on my Jeffs the rest of the time and they take it like a champ.
Jul 14 2021 1:12PM
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Lazylightning
Posts: 1221 - Karma: 6,424
A buddy of mine got 3 core shots on his atris' this season while following my lines, needless to say he is now convinced he needs some on3ps lol
edit: everytime I talk about on3ps I feel like it turns into a circlejerk but goddamn they make some good skis
No.QuarterI've got a pair of old Surface One Life's that I call my "Rock Skis", but to be honest all that means is I ski rock skis when I am uncertain about coverage the first couple weeks of the season. Otherwise I've been smashing sharks with reckless abandon on my Jeffs the rest of the time and they take it like a champ.


**This post was edited on Jul 14th 2021 at 1:33:08pm
Jul 14 2021 1:32PM
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12359 - Karma: 113,424
Yes, watch this video to learn more

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1006816/Icelantic-Da-Nollie-Park-Ski
Jul 14 2021 4:20PM
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