Wintersports
Skiing
What are ski profiles: Guide and explanation
The overall goal is to match the best board, your specifics, and the terrain you are tackling.
Hunter Henderson has made a name for himself as a freestyle skier.
He’s a member of the United States Ski Team and has claimed first place in slopestyle and big air events at FIS NorAm Cup competitions. He recently competed in Bobby Brown'sRed Bull Cascade, a freeski competition designed to challenge every discipline of skier. However, he admits that he wants to branch out more and try to master other forms of skiing as well.
Hunter Henderson performs at the Laax Open in Laax, Switzerland 2023
© Lorenz Richard / Red Bull Content Pool
“Up until now, I’ve mostly skied on resorts. I’ve done some street skiing and backcountry, but not a lot, so it would be cool to spend some time with them to see if they’re parts of skiing I’d like to pursue,” Henderson said.
While Henderson is an exceptional skier, swapping from freestyle to other ski disciplines is easier said than done. Each of these styles require a different type of ski profile, or category of ski, which a skier needs to adjust to before they can even dream of mastering a ski discipline.
This article will dive into what a ski profile is and which are the most popular. We’ll also discuss how to choose the right profile for your skill and the type of skiing you will be doing.
01
What are Ski Profiles?
Ski profiles describe the design of the underside of the ski. You can identify the profile by turning a ski on its side and viewing its shape from nose to tail.
There are three main ski profiles on the market: camber, rocker and flat. There are also hybrid profiles, which aim to combine all of the best features of these three designs while limiting the worst features of them.
Hunter at Men's Ski Slopestyle Toyota U.S. Grand Prix on Mammoth Mountain
© Christian Pondella / Red Bull Content Pool
- Camber skis have a camber (or arch) in the middle of the ski. These are the original ski profile and are really popular among racers and advanced slopestyle skiers.
- Pros: Increased edge hold makes it better on firmer snow; even weight distribution on arch results in increased power and stability on sharp or aggressive turns.
- Cons: Can be responsive to a fault at times when it comes to turning, and requires precision that can be hard to learn; nose and tail are relatively low to the ground and catches snow easily.
- Rocker skis are also known as “reverse-camber” skis. Instead of an arch, the ski’s lowest point is located in the middle of the ski, lifting up the nose and tail of the ski. Rocker skis are newer and didn’t rise to promise until the 2000s. These skis are a popular choice for freeriders and powder skiers.
- Pros: Higher upturn of nose and tail decreases chances of catching snow; less contact along the edges with the snow makes skis more agile and increases mobility.
- Cons: Less contact with the snow makes skis less stable at higher speeds; less edge hold decreases its handling when on hard-packed and/or groomed snow.
- Flat skis are exactly what they say they are: flat. There is a slight upturn at the nose and tail that varies in height from model to model, but most of the ski is flat to the ground. These are good all-around skis for those with experience.
- Pros: Mitigate the negatives of camber and rocker skis by offering more maneuverability than camber skis, and better handling on hard-packed snow than rocker skis; better for beginners as it’s better set up to handle a wider variety of terrain.
- Cons: Also mitigate a lot of the positives of camber and rocker skis and are not superior in any specific form of skiing; high points of contact with snow limits speed; flat ski setups tend to be more expensive.
02
Understanding Ski Profile Components
There are several components that factor into a ski profile. We talked about a couple of them earlier, but there are more to learn.
Torin Yater-Wallace at Red Bull Cascade at Winter Park, Colorado in 2022
© Red Bull Content Pool
- Camber is the arch in the ski. It affects how bouncy the ski feels, and how it handles in harder snow.
- Rocker is the dip in the ski. It affects the skier’s ability to float over softer snow and the skis’ mobility.
- Sidecut refers to the curve in the side of the ski from the widest point in the nose to the widest point in the tail. This affects the turn radius of the ski. The deeper the sidecut, the tighter a ski’s turn radius is and the more stable a skier is on those tighter turns.
- Stiffness refers to how easily a ski flexes or bends. It affects how much energy is required to put into turns and how stable a skier will be when moving at high speeds.
- Waist width is the width of the middle of a ski. The middle is typically the skinniest part of the ski. Waist width determines whether the ski will perform better on soft or hard snow.
- Ski length refers to how long a ski is. It affects how well a skier can hit shorter and longer turns.
03
Matching Ski Profiles to Ski Styles
There are several different types of skiing. Certain ski profiles are designed to handle certain types of skiing better than others. Here are the best ski profiles for each type of skiing.
Bobby Brown competes at the Dew Tour in Breckenridge Colorado in 2017
© Aaron Blatt / Red Bull Content Pool
- Freestyle: Camber-rocker-camber (hybrid rocker) -- This design has a rocker in the middle and a camber between the rocker and both ends. The camber preserves springboard-type pop in the ski, while the rocker in the middle makes it better at jibbing. Getting shorter skis with a deeper sidecut would make these skis more mobile both on the snow and in the air, making spins and turns quicker and easier.
- Powder skiing: Flat-rocker -- This design is flat at the tail and the middle but has the nose upturned like a rocker ski. This is the most common design for directional skis. Being flat in the back gives the ski better handling and stability, while the lifted nose allows the ski to displace softer snow better. A set of flat-rocker skis with a larger waist width will perform extremely well on powder.
- All-mountain: Rocker-camber-rocker (hybrid camber) -- This design is the exact opposite of the hybrid rocker with a camber in the middle and a rocker between the camber and both ends. The rocker improves turning, while the camber improves handling at higher speeds. Hybrid camber skis are suitable for all snow types and are a great choice for beginners due to their versatility.
- Carving: Camber -- Camber skis are the best for carving snow. The camber profile allows the ski to react more to movement, meaning that turns are more aggressive. The bounciness of the skis also gives the skier more ‘pop’ or power when transitioning out of hard turns. Camber skis are also better on harder snow, where carving is performed.
04
Choosing the Right Ski Profile
Ski profiles need to fit the skier using them, just as much they should match the type of skiing being done.
Mac Forehand competes at Toyota U.S. Grand Prix 2023 at Mammoth Mountain
© Christian Pondella / Red Bull Content Pool
Ski profile based on skill
Certain ski profiles are better for beginners, like the aforementioned hybrid camber or the flat ski. These skis have a versatile riding profile that remains rather consistent across various types of snow. Skis with a softer flex are also better for beginners. Traditional camber snowboards or skis with a longer turn radius are generally reserved for intermediate/advanced skiers. Stiffer skis are also recommended more for experienced skiers as they require more energy when turning than softer skis.
Ski profile based on your size
Ski profiles are also important when it comes to the size of the skier. Generally speaking, larger skiers are recommended to get larger skis while smaller skiers are recommended smaller skis. This may not seem groundbreaking, but these skis have different characteristics. Larger skis are more stable at speed and perform better on softer snow but are worse at making sharp turns. Smaller skis have less control at high speeds but are better in freestyle settings.
Ski profile based on terrain
You can also choose a specific ski profile for the type of terrain you expect to come in contact with. Camber and flat skis are best suited for groomed or hard snow. They have enough edge hold to keep skiers from sliding on tight turns. Rocker skis are best for powder or soft snow. The upturn at the nose pushes the snow better, making it less likely to catch snow and cause skiers to slip when turning.
How to test your ski profile
If finding the right ski seems overwhelming, there are several ways to test them out.
- Contact your local retail shop at a ski resort. You can try out a ski on a mountain run, ride it all the way down to the retail shop and swap it for another set of different specifications to use on the next run.
- Popular ski brands also host days where potential consumers can test out equipment to find one they’re looking for. This is another great option if a skier is going after a particular brand.
05
Ski Profile Maintenance
No matter what type of ski you decide to buy, you won’t get the most out of your skis if they aren’t maintained correctly. Here are some tips for good ski maintenance:
- Daily ski care: Use a regular towel to dry off all the melted snow off the skis after the day on the slopes. There may also be some tiny nicks or some imperfections. Touch those areas up with a deburring stone to make sure the edges stay nice and smooth.
- Periodic ski care: Hard snow can be very rough on skis. After a few days on the slopes, make sure you give your skis a hot wax. This will help restore its color and is easy to do by yourself. Make sure the ski’s edges remain sharp as well. Sharp edges are needed for carving snow and making tighter turns. Try not to sharpen a ski too often. It takes away a little bit of the metal over time. There’s no magic answer for how often these things should be done, but a general rule is every week or two weeks if you are skiing regularly.
- Off-season ski care: When the mountains are closed and it’s time to put the skis away until the winter, there’s still a way to care for them. Make sure the skis are waxed before you put them away. It’ll keep the skis fresh until they are needed again.
- Storage: Skis should be kept in a temperate, dry location that is out of the way of direct sunlight. A popular spot is underneath a bed. The profile of the ski is important too. Compressing the skis while they’re stored could distort its shape. The easiest way to handle this is to store the skis on their side. The skis can be taped together, so long as their shapes aren’t being compromised.
The profile of skis are very important, especially if you attempt to tackle the backcountry. The same profile suggestions also apply to snowboarders. The overall goal is to match the best board, your specifics, and the terrain you are tackling.
