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What is up with surface's rocker profile

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brov1
Posts: 1826 - Karma: 8,837
so i just finished watching surface's SIA video and i can't help but think what the fuck is up with the extremely abrupt rocker that most of the surface line includes. i don't have a problem with it as much as i don't understand the point of it. i do work at a shop and like to think that i have at least a reasonable knowledge of the way skis and ski tech work. not many ski concepts confuse me but i am baffled by what good this could possibly do. if you haven't seen it already the profile essentially looks like a bent ski, not a progressive elliptical shape like most if not all other companies use, but instead looks like a single angular bend in the ski. for all i know it could be a revolutionary new tech, but it creates a point at which all the pressure placed onto the nose (or in some cases tail) is focused and (with my current understanding of physics) would allow for a perfect snapping point as all energy input into the nose by butters or just bad crashes is focused over a single point where the rocker "begins" and not dispersed throughout an arc.

so what is the point of this? does it do anything specific? why? surface why?
Jan 31 2015 11:17PM
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All_Alpine
Posts: 183 - Karma: 457
Definitely stealing Armadas "elf shoe" technology and just streamlining it
Feb 1 2015 12:37AM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37403 - Karma: 120,339
with the pow skis at least, i think their rocker profiles allow the ski to be a bit more playful, IMO. i don't know anything about ski tech, but i can whip my new lifes around in the pow like no other and they are heavy skis with my STH drivers mounted on them. so id like to say the rocker helps a bit with that.
Feb 1 2015 12:47AM
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joelski
Posts: 1014 - Karma: 736
from what i have heard it makes them float better at low speeds, don't quote me on that
Feb 1 2015 1:13AM
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Analdestroyer
Posts: 71 - Karma: -9
It makes it so that when you hit a bump, you flight 10 feet in the air. This makes it so that you can get the amount of air of an 80 foot kicker on a 30 foot jump.
Feb 1 2015 1:15AM
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.[sanhedrin].
Posts: 1652 - Karma: 932
The concept of a three stage rocker is nothing new to surface or to the action sports industry. The wakeboard industry has proven the value of it on water. Does it prove useful on skis? I've discovered that one shouldn't be too quick to pass juspdegement without trying it first. [Unless, of course, we are talking about the MeatHammer, which I will pass judgement on without skiing]. I see people skiing that ski all over here in Utah. Most people's reaction is priceless though - as they assume the ski has been broken but still skied on.
Feb 1 2015 9:46AM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,183
All_AlpineDefinitely stealing Armadas "elf shoe" technology and just streamlining it


Well that's but crap. Surface is actually one of the most original brands out there and came up with that crazy shape all on their own.


And I have owned some surface skis with abrupt rocker. They are super fun, and float like a dream. And it looks like surface has updated durability so I might be trying some out soon.
Feb 1 2015 11:42AM
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XtRemE11
Posts: 5680 - Karma: 246
It works very well, I've got one life's, which have the most abrupt rocker of any of their skis. And they have ridiculous pop. Not so much off flat ground, but if your charging at speed and pop off little bumps and lips in the snow, they're as poppy as it gets. Makes them super playful while being a super stiff charger at the same time.

If they came in a better length (186ish) they'd be my favorite skis. But in a 179 they're just too short for deep days, the camber section underfoot combined with the abrupt rocker creates a bit of a snow plow effect when it gets real deep and they get hung up. (The newer models are flat underfoot which I think could mostly fix this)

3 stage rocker is used in the wakeboard industry, smooth rocker supposedly gives you a smaller more predictable pop, while 3 stage gives you mega pop.
Feb 1 2015 12:10PM
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Bagina
Posts: 849 - Karma: 2,888
I have Surface One Life's and when people see the rocker they yell shit like "HOLY FUCK, YOUR SKIS ARE BROKEN BUDDY!"
Feb 1 2015 3:09PM
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No.Quarter
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 16,962
They're just more funner that way, simple as that
Feb 1 2015 3:50PM
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