At Wax & Board we are regularly asked: “ How do I choose the right Snowboard Camber or profile “. In this article we would like to give you some more insights:
Intro
For both novice and advanced snowboarders, the search for a new snowboard is not so obvious. While most of us first look at the prints and then switch to the stiffness (also known as Flex) of a plank, experts first filter the desired profile. By profile we mean the shape or arc of the board, something we call English Camber mentions.
First of all, it is very important that we tell you that there is not 1 super good Snowboard Camber profile on the market. Each Camber profile has its advantages and disadvantages, as well as its specific characteristics. The choice of the right profile is often personal, namely your style, but also the snow conditions and type of slope you want to ride. For example, you are more likely to be looking for a stable board for carving, but as soon as you enter the park you want a playful board to learn tricks!
Camber
To make it clear right away; Camber is one of the many profiles that a Snowboard Camber can have. So you really do have the Camber type: Camber. The Camber profile can be compared to the arch of a typical bridge; low at the beginning and end & high in the middle. If we lump all Snowboards together, you can be proud that Camber Snowboards have the largest share of the market. This is mainly due to the amount of pop, stability & how smoothly one can ride on one side. This makes you stable at cruising speeds, you can easily draw a line when carving, you can pop higher over an object on the piste, and you can feel a good kickback when cornering.
On the other hand, there are of course also less good points; it is less forgiving, making it not the best beginner model, and is also more likely to bite snow compared to other profiles. Finally, this type also requires a little more technique and power to cut corners.
Rocker
A Snowboard with a Rocker profile is literally the reverse of the Camber profile. This Rocker profile is sometimes called “Reverse Camber”; the tip and tail of this Snowboard stick in the air and the middle touches the ground. This construction gives a very loose feeling, and you will immediately notice how easy and smooth you can turn with it compared to a "normal" Camber profile. If you're into jibbing - then you will quickly notice that piste tricks such as tail or nose presses go a lot smoother because this board spontaneously wants to point into the air! The Rocker Camber makes it easy not only for beginners, but also for Freeriders; A Rocker profile also floats smoothly through powder snow due to its construction.
Advantages; easy to turn, forgiving (less bites in the snow), requires Tail & Nose presses!
Cons; less stable, less pop, and a little less smooth if you want to keep your edge.
Flat
A Flat Camber profile is, as the name suggests, completely flat. That's why we call this a Zero Camber, and it is literally the bridge between Camber and Rocker profiles. This profile is the ideal compromise, making it versatile. Besides, this is it go to profile to drive park! This type of Snowboard is super stable on boxes and rails because it is completely flat between the bindings.
For some, this Camber profile gives a dead feeling, by which we mean that there is little life while boarding. Of course, the biggest disadvantage is that this Snowboard is neither a Camber nor a Rocker, so the benefits are of course limited.
Custom Camber
In recent years, the evolution of Snowboard Camber has increased enormously. In addition to the 3 traditional Cambers, there are now also Hybrid shapes. It is quite difficult to put a label on this because each manufacturer uses its own marketing term, but also because there are so many hybrid forms possible. By Hybrid we mean that there are 1 or more Camber or Rocker profiles that do not cover the center of your Snowboard.
To not make it too complicated, we list the 3 “main” shapes here together with the logic behind this shape; en Hybrid Rocker, Hybrid Camber & S-Rocker.
Hybrid Rocker
This type of Snowboard has one Rocker between the bindings and two Camber profiles, namely between binding and Tip / Tail. This Hybrid Rocker profile is widely applicable: you have a fairly loose feeling due to the rocker between your legs. This will also allow you to surf more smoothly through powder snow compared to, for example, a real Camber profile. On the other hand, the Camber profile gives more stability and pop under your feet, but still noticeably less than a real Camber profile.
In general we have to say that this type gives more of the feeling of a Rocker than that of a Camber. That may seem strange because of those 2 Camber zones, but it is quite logical because the center of your board is a Rocker.
Cons; Hybrid Rocker is unstable on boxes and rails! You will lose out on speed.
Advantages; Smooth through powder snow, easier turning, loose feel, more pop than a standard rocker!
Hybrid Camber
A Hybrid Camber Snowboard profile is the reverse of a Hybrid Rocker. You therefore have 1 Camber zone between your bindings, and 2 rockers under your feet towards the Tip & Tail. The reasoning behind this profile is that you have a much higher reach in terms of performance; it must therefore feel stable, hold its edge well and generate a perfect pop. Both Rocker profiles on the nose or tail allow you to turn faster during cornering, and it also gives more flexibility during on-piste tricks because this profile is already pointing upwards. This Rocker shape also makes powder snow work more smoothly. This Hybrid Camber profile feels more like a Camber profile, but it does give you extra benefits that you can experience with a Rocker.
The advantages of Hybrid Camber are stability, versatile use, and good performance for going on its side! Of course, the disadvantage of a Hybrid Camber is that floating feeling that you will only notice with Rockers.
S Rocker
An S-Rocker Snowboard is specifically for Freeride or powder boards. Where these typically have Rocker profiles, a Camber is added under the feet, between the bindings that are off-center. With powder snowboards you stand further back so that your nose can go up to slog over the snow. You have already realized that the extra Camber should provide more stability and will not detract from the buoyancy of those Rocker properties. Additionally, this added Camber profile gives more control when you are carving between the trees in the forest, for example. Something quite crucial in our opinion ???? An extra bonus that this S-Rocker Snowboard has can be found in the typical properties of wood; because you place more weight on top of that Camber profile, you push the nose (Rocker profile) more into the air, making it much more efficient. As soon as you step off the Camber profile you can clearly see the nose dropping back down.
It seems clear to us that the advantage here is powder snow, but we would like to point out the biggest disadvantage; This is not a snowboard that you want to ride in Switch.
Finally, the advice from Wax & Board
If you are planning to purchase a new Snowboard, it is best to look further than just that cool print, Flex or well-known brand name. Your very first choice is to determine the desired Camber profile. As we have already indicated, the main choices are Camber, Rocker or Flat, but increasingly also Hybrid such as Hybrid Camber - Hybrid Rocker or S Rocker.
Which Camber profile is best for you is a very personal choice. We usually recommend testing some different types of Snowboards before making a choice.
If you still can't figure it out, we at Wax & Board would be happy to give you the following personal advice:
- Freestyle & Park: Flat Camber!
- All Mountain: Camber, or Hybrid Camber.
- Freeride: Rocker, or S-Rocker
Are we saying that other Snowboard Camber profiles are not good, or less useful? No, absolutely not, we emphasize once again that it is a matter of personal taste and choice, but based on the pros and cons, you will have to go in a certain direction.
