Anyone ski rockered skis in all conditions?

**Ty_Webb** · 01-04-2009, 09:20 PM

Just curious. I have skied my hellbents the last week or so in soft conditions. Today I grabbed by squads thinking it would be a good day for them and I ended up wanting the 'bents. I think I may ski the 'bents in most conditions, groomers being the exception.

So, those of you who do, do you have a quiver of reverse camber skis?

**skew** · 01-04-2009, 10:00 PM

I skied my hellbents for the last two weeks at the Bird. All condiions, steep, icy, groomers, whatever. I did this because 1) I'm waiting for new "traditional" skis that I ordered months ago and still don't have and 2) for the pure hell of it. During that time I took the odd run on more traditional skinny normal camber skis and I always wanted to go back, even when it was hardpack. Being able to pivot on a dime has a lot of appeal to me. I started skiing 4 years ago and I'm 45 now. I don't have any habits to unlearn from the past, as such I'm very open minded to what I ski on now. I know some think rockered = "cheater ski", and this may be true, but to me rockered is fun. I have some Praxis powderboards that I am playing with too, but they are more suited for actual powder. The Hellbents can pretty much go anywhere where I ski (Utah).

**nugblaster** · 01-04-2009, 10:54 PM

I have skied my bibbys everyday I've gone out since I mounted them They've seen pow, icy groomers, park, bumps, and everything in between. I have had no desire to pull out my non-rockered skis even on days when they would probably be more appropriate. A rockered quiver would be too sick and life would be too much fun.

**mntlion** · 01-05-2009, 08:54 AM

194 EHP for powder and a few days after ski

181 K2 anti piste (mounted alpine) for re-hab skis, and all day, every day skis

**skibum00** · 01-05-2009, 09:39 AM

I have Volkl Bridges for the East and some obSETHed's for out west. I broke a binding on my Volkls and rode the slightly rocked and wide K2's in Pennsylvania for a week. Obviously they aren't nearly as rocked as the Bents but they skied pretty good on EC crap Ice.

**covert** · 01-05-2009, 09:41 AM

DPS L120, L138 and W105

don't do much "resort" skiing in north america but all those sticks have done one or more seasons in las lenas. the L120 flex3 was a good every day lenas ski...

**whyturn** · 01-05-2009, 09:12 PM

Potoons for 12 plus, Armada ARG for 3-12 and JJ for fun. I like the rocker on groomers, quicker, more playful. With chop and cut up on and around groomer, they seem to stay above and plow easier. Any sort of lip or felled tree and rocker tips are over it.
i will never have a tradition non rocker ski

**Tresckow** · 01-06-2009, 12:48 AM

Sure do, Megawatts all day everyday since last Feb

I tried to go back to my Gotamas first day this season, and will have a hard time breaking them out again.

As far as a quiver of rockered skis go, I had ambitious plans of getting a pair of Megawatts as my back up ski, and another for my touring ski. Then financial reality set in.

Have fun on the new rockered skis!

**karpiel** · 01-06-2009, 12:50 AM

Yes. 1234

**hop** · 01-06-2009, 07:50 AM

I will never again ski a non-rockered ski unless forced to.

**hick** · 01-06-2009, 08:52 AM

Got 193 EHP's this season and have been skiing them everyday. The Head 103s are supposed to be my hardpack ski, but I'm always thinking "this would be more fun on the EHPs". I feel like a dipshit and have tinges of guilt skiing beat shit on my EHP's but they're just more fun (shrug). Wider with more rocker is deffinatly in my future...

**schuss** · 01-06-2009, 09:17 AM

I know that mildbill, basom and some other people skied spats as everyday skis at stowe for a few years.

**jmpilo** · 01-06-2009, 09:42 AM

Great Thread, glad I logged on this morning; I am / was struggling with purchasing K2’s Obsethed. I actually put a pair on hold yesterday along with some Freeride bindings.

For me it’s a big expenditure, skis, bindings, skins especially being out of work – but what a great time to buy skis, (I now actually have the time to go out and use them)!

My biggest worry is hard pack, bump runs and groomers all of which i do try and avoid but are occasionally prevalent when skiing in-bounds

I ski CO Front Range & occasionally hike for my turns, and have a pair of Mantras but am looking for a more powder oriented and fun ski.

Looks like I’ll be pulling the trigger on the ObsethEd’s later today. But….

I was curious as to how they compare to the Megawatts, no need for twin tips, I don't ski switch .......I’ll post a second thread….

**PowTron** · 01-06-2009, 09:48 AM

^^^^ The Obsethed should hardly be considered rockered anymore. It barely has any rocker. You will not notice any downsides on groomers with it.

They are also nothing like the Megawatts (narrower, less rocker, etc).

**D(C)** · 01-06-2009, 10:02 AM

I have a feeling that a lot of you guys have traditional skis that are too long to be fun on groomers. The reason people find rockered skis more fun is because they ski hard snow like a traditional 155-160 (if that). Compare that to something like a 193 Monster 103, a true 193. Most entry level FIS racers ski GS on a 27 m 185. What are you gonna do with a 41 m 193? Of course rockered skis will feel playful in comparison. But the answer is to get the right tool for the job - a ski that is meant for groomed in the appropriate length.

**kidwoo** · 01-06-2009, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by D(C)

I have a feeling that a lot of you guys have traditional skis that are too long to be fun on groomers. The reason people find rockered skis more fun is because they ski hard snow like a traditional 155-160 (if that). Compare that to something like a 193 Monster 103, a true 193. Most entry level FIS racers ski GS on a 27 m 185. What are you gonna do with a 41 m 193? Of course rockered skis will feel playful in comparison. But the answer is to get the right tool for the job - a ski that is meant for groomed in the appropriate length.

Heh. I was thinking the same thing.

Big float with rocker and then a desire for snowblade turns on the groomers.

**PowTron** · 01-06-2009, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by D(C)

I have a feeling that a lot of you guys have traditional skis that are too long to be fun on groomers. The reason people find rockered skis more fun is because they ski hard snow like a traditional 155-160 (if that). Compare that to something like a 193 Monster 103, a true 193. Most entry level FIS racers ski GS on a 27 m 185. What are you gonna do with a 41 m 193? Of course rockered skis will feel playful in comparison. But the answer is to get the right tool for the job - a ski that is meant for groomed in the appropriate length.

Ah, no...I love slightly rockered skis everywhere, not because I can't handle a long ski on groomers. My every day ski this year is a 195 Mothership, with virtually NO rocker, just a slight tip rise and a longer running length then a 190 Katana.

I took the OP as wondering if people had a rockered quiver, ie a Hellbent and an Obsethed, an EP Pro and Mothership (very slight tip rocker)...so the answer is yes, I do have a rockered quiver (Motherships, Mavens, and some ON3P's soon).

But, I will agree that even tip rocker cannot be driven up front without washing out on a hard, fast groomer like a "traditional" ski can...if you want to call my 111 waisted skis a traditional ski, haha

**Shorty_J** · 01-06-2009, 10:58 AM

I have to admit that I'm seriously considering rockered skis for next season, but I have to admit that I actually like groomers. Maybe I'm the only one, but I really like going balls out fast on a consistent surface and high g-force turns that almost knock you over in the transition. It's a good thing I like them too, because that's pretty much all we have in the areas near Calgary right now.

**mr_gyptian** · 01-06-2009, 02:26 PM

DPS 120 200cm=daily driver.

the instances in which I wish I had them greatly outweigh the instances I don't.

bought the 07/08 193 EHP at the start of this season and am not impressed at all. that ski doesn't hold a candle to the DPS.

**~V~** · 01-06-2009, 03:25 PM

So.... What if one ski gets unintentionally rockered?
Love my K2 Mt Bakers, but noticed on my way out the door to Jackson that one (and only one) definitely has a brand spanking new camber to it. Very gradual, many people stopped me at the mountain to get more info on the new line of rockered Bakers, and to be honest I had a blast on them all week on powder, hardpack, groomers, more powder, etc. Somehow the lack of a camber on the other one didn't bother me much, but I'd still like to balance them out one way or the other. I know no shop would recommend trying to bend the other one, but would you? I really don't wanna ditch the skis, but if the experiment does end badly it's not the end of the world, I got these for a GREAT deal and love excuses for more skis.
Discuss

**Mach Looney** · 01-06-2009, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by ~V~

So.... What if one ski gets unintentionally rockered?
Love my K2 Mt Bakers, but noticed on my way out the door to Jackson that one (and only one) definitely has a brand spanking new camber to it. Very gradual, many people stopped me at the mountain to get more info on the new line of rockered Bakers, and to be honest I had a blast on them all week on powder, hardpack, groomers, more powder, etc. Somehow the lack of a camber on the other one didn't bother me much, but I'd still like to balance them out one way or the other. I know no shop would recommend trying to bend the other one, but would you? I really don't wanna ditch the skis, but if the experiment does end badly it's not the end of the world, I got these for a GREAT deal and love excuses for more skis.
Discuss

Shit yeah, get nice and sauced and rocker the other one!

**2nd mate** · 01-06-2009, 08:36 PM

Right now bents for deepest and Lhasa for everything else. have not yet skied the BRO's in the deep yet so i will get back to you on this one. Never again will I ski a ski without rocker.

**nomadpat** · 01-06-2009, 10:51 PM

I transformed over to rocker this year. Currently skiing a pair of Moment Bibbys and have a pair of Spatulas that have a few days on them that I'm tempted to sell because I love the versatility of the Bibbys. I also bought the Praxis Protest but haven't mounted yet. Kind of got carried away...
To me, tip & tail rocker with traditional sidecut seems to be the most versatile; the sidecut and slight camber underfoot is carveable on groomers/packed and the rocker helps in the deeper stuff. I've found they aren't great when it's icy, but if I want to ice skate, I'll go to the local rink

I'll never buy another ski without rocker.

**sfotex** · 01-06-2009, 11:41 PM

The rockers have their place, but it's hard to beat the LP's on a not so fresh day.

One thing that's been kicking my ass on the rockers is blower or cut up on icy bumps - underfoot is biting, the tip is trying to float, and
I'm having to muscle the ski to get it to go where it should go.

**volklpowdermaniac** · 01-06-2009, 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by sfotex

The rockers have their place, but it's hard to beat the LP's on a not so fresh day.

One thing that's been kicking my ass on the rockers is blower on icy bumps - underfoot is biting, the tip is trying to float, and
I've having to control the ski because it doesn't know where it wants to go...

Perfectly said. a few days after a big storm I still crave the BROs. The kuros are just foolish dangerous on the hard bumps.