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 hybrids as well as which boards are best for each type of riding.
Camber Snowboards – To understand rocker you must first understand camber. Camber is how snowboards used to all pretty much be built. If you set a camber snowboard flat on the ground, the middle of the board would slightly arch upward off the ground with the contact points near the tip and tail of the board 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.
Rocker Snowboards – 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 it to be two squirrely, but we feel our rocker snowboards are great for the first timer. Some rocker snowboards such as ours feature a flat area in the middle for added stability. Below is what our rocker snowboards look like.
Hybrid Snowboards – 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. While they can come in many forms, 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 or those who have maybe rented a few times. This profile is still fairly forgiving but holds an edge well enough for the progressing rider. Below is what our hybrid snowboards look like.
Hopefully that helps you understand the difference between rocker, camber and hybrids, but if you have questions or want suggestions on which board will work best for you feel free to reach out through our Contact Us page.