Rocker vs camber skis
Lay a ski on the floor and look at it from the side. Camber is the arch underfoot: the ski touches the floor near the tip and tail and rises in the middle. Stand on it and the whole edge presses into the snow, which gives grip and pop. Rocker is the opposite curve: the tip (and often the tail) rises early, like a banana, so the ski floats and pivots easily but holds less edge on ice.
Almost every modern ski mixes the two: rocker in the tip (or tip and tail) for easy turn starts and float, camber underfoot for grip. The more rocker, the more the ski leans toward soft snow and playfulness.
Full camber
Full camber. The ski arches up underfoot along almost its whole length. Maximum grip and pop on firm snow. The dots mark where the edge contacts the snow. Illustration of the profile type, with heights exaggerated. The ski arches up underfoot along almost its whole length. Maximum grip and pop on firm snow.
113 ski models in the catalog use this profile.
Tip rocker, camber underfoot
Tip rocker, camber underfoot. A slightly early-rising tip starts turns easily; camber behind it holds an edge on groomers. The dots mark where the edge contacts the snow. Illustration of the profile type, with heights exaggerated. A slightly early-rising tip starts turns easily; camber behind it holds an edge on groomers.
247 ski models in the catalog use this profile.
Rocker, camber, rocker
Rocker, camber, rocker. Tip and tail both rise early for easier pivoting, with camber underfoot for grip. The dots mark where the edge contacts the snow. Illustration of the profile type, with heights exaggerated. Tip and tail both rise early for easier pivoting, with camber underfoot for grip.
345 ski models in the catalog use this profile.
Tip and tail rocker
Tip and tail rocker. Longer rocker at both ends keeps the ski on top of soft snow; camber underfoot still grips. The dots mark where the edge contacts the snow. Illustration of the profile type, with heights exaggerated. Longer rocker at both ends keeps the ski on top of soft snow; camber underfoot still grips.
227 ski models in the catalog use this profile.
Powder rocker
Powder rocker. Deep rocker at both ends and little camber. Floats and smears in deep snow. The dots mark where the edge contacts the snow. Illustration of the profile type, with heights exaggerated. Deep rocker at both ends and little camber. Floats and smears in deep snow.
74 ski models in the catalog use this profile.