Do you prefer Camber vs. No Camber in a backcountry ski?

**Ville** · 03-13-2018, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by mall walker

somehow I knew when I saw your name that this post was going to be about DIY modifying the camber/rocker on an existing pair of skis

edit: and re: some above posts, it's very funny when people name super specific acceptable weight-and-size-ranges for touring gear without any contextual information such as their own height/weight/age, where they ski and so on...

True, forgot to add that info. I ski around Lyngen alps Norway and Finland, so definately not powder everyday. I'm 35, weigh 105kg in boxers. Have been skiing last 20 years around 80 to 130 days per year. Where I live now, we don't have lifts so last 7 years mostly just touring. I like speed and stable skis.

I have tried under 2kg skis and those pretty much suck if snow is anything else than powder or corn.

I have to admit that I haven't tried lighter than 1,6kg boots and don't really want to, even if they ski ok, they will just brake fast.

My setup now:

Salomon QST pro 130 boots(skis ok for weight and tour good enough)

Salomon qst99 188cm+atk 14 (works on anything from powder to ice, light enough for big days, very easy to ski and still very stable even on hard snow)

Head A-Star+beast 16 (lift and sledskiing, best ski ever for anything else than racing gates)

For OP, I would buy tech binding, mount it on ski you have and like then start get in touring. Then buy new stuff when you know what you want. You will quickly see if you are spandex people or like more downhill part of the game.

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**TahoeJ** · 03-13-2018, 10:53 AM

OP already has Shifts (having created the TGR group pre-order) so the binding discussion is moot at this point.

**Mofro261** · 03-13-2018, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by margotron

GF is curious too. sounds like a worthy decision to me.

pics of GF with or without camber would help this decision.

**SkiJunky05** · 03-13-2018, 11:16 AM

i like no camber
My fav skis are flat underfoot and slight rocker for both BC and in bounds
never fails the b-bear (since I'm signed in under andrew's acct and cant recall my login)
4frtn hoji and/or dynafit hokkaido

**TahoeJ** · 03-13-2018, 11:20 AM

TGR posting during the honeymoon... now that's dedication!

Mofro - I almost spit out my coffee!

**SkiJunky05** · 03-13-2018, 11:25 AM

pls Jay things should not change just bc I am now owned by my husband

plus I gots no responsibilities to do in the eves- no work to catch up on, no dogs to walk- just dusted our bottle of limoncello and brought him another beer in the steam shower. on 2nd thought I'm out- heading to the steam shower

**rod9301** · 03-13-2018, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by DropCliffsNotBombs

At least SOME camber is crucial... In ANY kind of ski. Flat or reverse camber skis perform like shit.

I ski the katanas, both metal and carbon (this one for Backcountry).

Couldn't disagree more.
They have a full rocker, very slight, and they perform well in all conditions, including I've, carving on groomers, powder, bad snow, you name it.
I think the ski design matters more than camber or no camber.

Volkl did a great job designing these skis.

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**smooth operator** · 03-13-2018, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by rod9301

I ski the katanas, both metal and carbon (this one for Backcountry).

Couldn't disagree more.
They have a full rocker, very slight, and they perform well in all conditions, including I've, carving on groomers, powder, bad snow, you name it.
I think the ski design matters more than camber or no camber.

Volkl did a great job designing these skis.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using TGR Forums mobile app

+1
awesome ski
as are the blizzard flat / full rocker skis.

**ichibaneye** · 03-13-2018, 02:26 PM

Full camber!

Stomping it!

**bodywhomper** · 03-13-2018, 04:29 PM

Get trekkers!

**margotron** · 03-13-2018, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by Mofro261

pics of GF with or without camber would help this decision.

laughing. stay tuned on the with camber

Originally Posted by ichibaneye

Full camber!

Stomping it!

laughed again. good thread.

i love & still ski the rossi sickle. it is full rocker. wish there were more of those long/flat camber skiis. i also like several camber skiis.

i guess i like skiis.

**margotron** · 03-14-2018, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by Mofro261

pics of GF with or without camber would help this decision.

With camber

Click image for larger version.

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**ichibaneye** · 03-14-2018, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by margotron

With camber

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Is that a lady boi... you could cut meat on that jawline...I seez no camber here.

Stomping it!

**TahoeJ** · 03-14-2018, 11:42 AM

Okay, you've gotta give Margotron some props for delivering upon request! Haha. Well done.

**DGamms** · 03-14-2018, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by margotron

laughing. stay tuned on the with camber

laughed again. good thread.

i love & still ski the rossi sickle. it is full rocker. wish there were more of those long/flat camber skiis. i also like several camber skiis.

i guess i like skiis.

If you like the Sickle, you’ll like the Raven. I have over 300 days on my 186 Sickles now, and probably 50 on my 184 Ravens. The progressive mount point of around -6cm from true center and flat/subtle reverse camber design of both skis means you won’t have much a learning curve on the Ravens.

You will notice the lack of mass (the Ravens are almost 500 gm lighter), and if you land switch in pow you will notice the lack of twin tip on the Ravens. But again, as a big Sickle/Scimitar/Katana fan, I love my Ravens for side country and backcountry.

**Lord Thomas** · 03-14-2018, 07:48 PM

Uhhhhhh, think I just went full reverse camber. More girlfriend/wife pictures will help shed light on this discussion of the merits of backdoor, wait, backcountry camber.