The new innovation: Rocker Ski – Easy riding in the snow

What is Hans Knauß’ opinion about this trend?

For Hans Knauß the rocker ski is here to stay. It is common knowledge in the skiing community that the Rocker is not a testosterone-filled Peter Fonda but an absolutely hip and trendy ski.

Less well known are the advantages and disadvantages. Freedom on and off the slopes, powered by Rocker technology, is once again going to be the talk of the seaons. Therefore, to commemorate - a short rocker portrait: The rocker technology is a design and construction which actually developed in wind surfing.

A typical example is the bending of the nose and tail. This technology has been known in the area of free-ride and snowboarding for quite a long time. In regards to skis this means substential or complete loss of the cat-back profile. As with every thing in life, there are two sides to it, advantages and disadvantages.

A lot of Advantages

The low or lack of pre-tension naturally has an effect on the skiing behaviour; for example, when initiating a turn and when turning. Both are made easier. Responsible for this is the shorter, effective edge which enable easier drifting and better grip.

This gives the ski a really good-natured character. The rocker forgives mistakes and therefore makes beginners happy. Feelings of great pleasure are also experienced off the groomed slopes. And this is because the rocker is less aggressive, and rather than gripping too hard, floats.

A few disadvantages

New things always attract critics, which is normal and often justified. Rocker models actually do have their own characteristics, which just have to be faced. For example, the previously mentioned shorter edge length affects the induction and recovery from the swing. Especially on ice. Moreover, the cat-back makes the ski a little ‚nervous’ when skiing downhill, depending on the shaping of the Rocker.

Bottom line though is that skis with rocker technology are especially suitable for beginners as they are more forgiving to mistakes. For the advanced skier they are a promising option for off-piste skiing. In addition however, it is the area of application which is crucial.

Knauß tip for passionate skiers

You should always try as many new trends as possible to stay ahead of the game and find the optimal technology that suits each individual best. This also goes for the rocker ski. There is always something newer or better. Just try it and make up your own mind. Each person has their own preference and this also applies to sports. As with everything in life, you should try to evolve and try something new. So, there is absolutely nothing stopping you to test run the new Rocker ski! – Have fun!