What is Rocker?

Have you ever heard your friends talk about “snowboards with rocker” and wondered what they meant? We’ll explain the difference between rocker, camber and hybrid snowboards as well as which profiles are best for each type of riding.

What is a Camber Snowboard? 

To understand rocker you must first understand camber. Camber is how most snowboards were once built. If you set a camber snowboard flat on the ground, the middle of the board will arch slightly upward, with the contact points near the tip and tail touching the ground.

 When you flex the board, you engage those contact points and the sidecut of the board which allows you to turn. Camber boards tend to be more responsive and better at holding an edge, especially at higher speeds. They also tend to give you more pop.

Below is what a camber snowboard looks like.

What is a Rocker Snowboard? 

Rocker is simply the opposite of camber. If you set the board on the ground the middle of the board touches the ground while the contact points are now raised up off the ground.

 This makes for more of a catch-free feel, which is great for beginners as it makes it harder to catch an edge. Rocker is also great for floating in powder as you can sit back on the tail and the nose will rise above the snow more easily.

Riders looking for speed and response on groomers may find a full rocker board to be a bit too squirrely, but we feel our rocker snowboards are great for the first-time rider.

Some rocker snowboards such as ours feature a flat area in the middle for added stability. Below is what our rocker snowboards look like.

 

What is a Hybrid Snowboard? 

 As you can imagine, some riders may want the playful forgiveness and float of rocker in some applications but also the response and edge hold of camber. This is where hybrid snowboards come into play.

Hybrid profiles can come in many form. Our hybrid snowboards have rocker in between the feet and camber underneath the bindings.

We feel like this is a great fit for our athletic beginners, riders who have already rented a few times, or those who are starting to progress. This profile is still fairly forgiving but holds an edge well enough for the progressing rider.

Below is what our hybrid snowboards look like.

 

Rocker vs. Camber: Which Is Better for Beginners?

For most first-time snowboarders, we generally recommend starting off on a rocker snowboard. Rocker provides a forgiving, catch-free feel that can make learning easier, while our hybrid profiles add more edge hold for athletic riders or those who are ready to progress.

Neither profile is right for everyone or every scenario, so consider your experience level and how you plan to ride when choosing your board.

Find the Right Snowboard

Browse our snowboards to compare rocker and hybrid options for beginners and progressing riders.

Still not sure which profile is right for you? Feel free to reach out through our Contact Us page and we'll be happy to make a recommendation.