Rocker

Rocker Skis are among skiing’s greatest innovations. The late Shane McConkey developed the concept for rocker skis in the late nineties when he realized that his de-cambered skis performed better in soft snow. Shane was skiing for Volant at the time, and he and Peter Turner (a ski engineer with Volant) created the Spatula: the first rocker ski/reverse-camber ski. The Spatula was released in 2002. It was shaped like a water ski and – while the design was perfect for powder – it demanded a lot of work anywhere else. Today, rockers can be found in every type of ski, from carving skis to the fattest powder skis out there.

So what exactly are rocker skis? The rocker is the rise in the tip or tail of the ski, measured in rise over run. For example, the Bluehouse Radius rises 62mm over 37cm of length in the tip. This means that the rise in the tip is more gradual over a longer length. Rockers vary in length and rise, depending on the ski and the desired application. A rocker allows the ski to plain more quickly out of snow, thereby floating more easily. Rockers can also aid in turn initiation, making a ski easier to smear and greatly improving off-trail performance. Rockers are also knows “Rocker Skis,” “Early Rise Skis,” and “Reverse-Camber Skis.” Skis also come with the tip rocker only (like the Bluehouse Shoots and Radius), tip and tail rockers with camber (like the Precinct), and the rocker with no camber (like the Bluehouse Monarch, Maestro, and Maven).