Aug
7
Rocker Technology
Are you familiar with the Rocker Technology that has been funtional in skis and snowboards for years? This is the major breakthrough year. In the upcoming 2010 – 2011 ski season, top ski shops throughout the United States will have a large percentage of skis with the Rocker Technology. You should be highly aware of this technology before buying your skis or snowboard. During my first experience on the Armada JJ, I flailed terribly. I was at Vail on a tight powder day and did not have the greatest experience putting turns together. If I only understood what I was getting myself into testing the Rocker Technology, I feel I could have had a much more positive experience. So this is why I am writing this post. It’s not about anything but to try to make sure you have a positive experience going into the season and really understand how the rocker technology works.
Rocker Technology is designed to make skiing on one pair of skis all year more efficient because the rocker technology can help you effectively ski through all conditions including groomers, powder, crud, corn and whatever else comes your way. Ice…sorry, you’re still on your own for this one!
Rocker Technology is built different in each ski. It seems to me after getting a strong lesson in the ski shop, the skis do not appear to be built long enough. A local ski expert in Aurora, Colorado explained the difference in skis that have the Rocker Technology. Simply put, if the ski with the Rocker Technology is a 180 and skis like a 150 to 160 or shorter, then you need to be up in the 190′s or more to feel like your skiing on the length of the 180. It’s a wild concept, but remembering my day last year on a 185 Armada JJ, I felt that day as though I was skiing on a much shorter ski, and I remember feeling as though I was falling forward on every turn.
Volkl makes their skis different than other manufacturers. The Volkl Kuro has the Rocker Technology extended in the ski so a 185 may feel like a 175. Whereas, you may find as described above, the Armada JJ 185 feels like a 140. The Nordica Jah Love will have rocker technology built in their new model, yet the amount of Rocker in the ski is so small, it will be difficult to notice the difference from last years model. Last years model is extremely stiff ski and requires a tremendous amount of leg strength to ski.
With that being said, it’s quite simple…the ski’s are just skiing shorts and turning quicker and that’s because of the Rocker Technology. When you are going to buy skis this year, make sure to put the bottoms together and notice the tip and tail. The more Rocker Technology, the more it will curve like a banana. When you see the break or the beginning of the curve, that’s where your ski ends when you ski on groomers. The remainder of the ski is used for all other various conditions.
My prediction and this is not unique, the ski manufacturers will learn quickly they need to enhance the skis two ways. The first is all skis need to be wider under foot. The second is all skis will be longer so long as they continue to use the Rocker Technology.
Lastly, please keep an open mind. The band wagon always comments on skiing a ski that is too wide under foot in any condition. I completely disagree and believe in skiing as wide as possible. Don’t doubt us. We are on the correct path, so jump on board the fat ski revolution with us. If you’re skiing on anything less than 100-110 under foot, get rid of those skis and join us!
Please comment in the comments section below. We would love to hear what you think of the Rocker Technology and the fat ski revolution!
