Rocker Skis?? (reverse camber)?

[riverc0il]

And, yes, the effective edge is shorter. Go longer than usual. For a fully rockered ski, they recommend +10. My S7 is a 176 and it skis like it's in the 160s.

This is where I mostly take issue with tip rocker. That would put me into 190cm range. Not exactly a proficient length for tight woods skiing where my 186 twin tips are already pushing me when things get tight. This type of design does not seem likely to be that great on steep big mountain stuff like Washington gullies.

I was actually very enthusiastic about trying a rocker tip ski and had at one point started considering that for my next touring ski. But there just seem to be so many inherent design negatives for what I want to use a fat touring ski for. Generally if there is a ton of untracked, I am at the lifts so the lack of versatility just does not hold up. Not saying it is not the right ski for the right skier but it is definitely not the right ski for all skiers and is not the second coming of shaped skis.

 

[snowmonster]

This is where I mostly take issue with tip rocker. That would put me into 190cm range. Not exactly a proficient length for tight woods skiing where my 186 twin tips are already pushing me when things get tight. This type of design does not seem likely to be that great on steep big mountain stuff like Washington gullies.

riv, good point. When I was shopping around for the S7, most recommendations leaned toward the 188. I'm quite smaller than you and was actually having problems with my 174 Squads in tight glades (of course, it could also be a function of the stiffness of the Squads but that's another topic). Something about seeing the tips of my skis going on different sides of a tree spooked me. Anyway, my favored glades ski was a 168 and, since I needed something to take in eastern glades, I opted for the 176 S7. Basically, I get the mobility of my 168 B4 with the added float in powder.

As for steep Mt. Washington stuff and doing tours on them, I haven't tried but we're getting to the point in the season where I'll be finding out. The S7s did quite well on the Sugarloaf snowfields but no straight-lining was involved. One thing about this ski is that when you go fast (on a groomer), the tips flap a bit. Since you're skiing on the cambered portion of the ski, it shouldn't matter (and hasn't) but there it is.

 

[kingslug]

We did a lot of straightlining at Alta getting from one place to another and they did just fine..they like to go fast. As far as tight woods go..I suck in them anyway and the length, 186, was a bit much. In tight chutes they helped as they can bend to accomadate a super tight drop in, scraped the tip and tails a bit on the rocks either side but it was better than diggin and possibly taking a loong dive down.

 

[bigbog]

We did a lot of straightlining at Alta getting from one place to another and they did just fine..they like to go fast. As far as tight woods go..I suck in them anyway and the length, 186, was a bit much. In tight chutes they helped as they can bend to accomadate a super tight drop in, scraped the tip and tails a bit on the rocks either side but it was better than diggin and possibly taking a loong dive down.

A few of those 186+cm-only skis I'd love to see shortened about 6-8cm...

$.01

 

[kingslug]

They make the S3 in a few sizes..186 is the largest.