Rocker Snowboard Guide: Camber vs. Rocker vs. Flying V vs. Flat

To rocker or not to rocker, that is the question. And fortunately, Burton’s Rocker Snowboard Guide is here with the answer. So, whether you’re shopping for a new snowboard or you’re just looking to learn more about board bends, you’ve come to the right place. This guide includes everything you need to know about snowboard bends (or profiles), including the history of rocker, an overview of common rocker/camber/hybrid types, and what type of riding each profile is best suited for.

As you review this guide, focus on understanding the fundamental characteristics of the different board bends so you can factor in your personal preference and get a board that is right for you and your riding style.

A Brief History of Rocker Snowboard Technology

In the early 1980s, most ski resorts did not allow snowboarding and so riders spent most of their time riding powder conditions in the backcountry. Because of this, early snowboards were mostly manufactured with flat bases that made them easy to maneuver in deeper snow. But as more resorts started allowing snowboarders on the mountain in the late 1980s and riders started spending more time on groomed runs and hardpacked snow, it became clear that a flat base was not ideal for all conditions.

So, snowboard manufacturers began to experiment with different board bends in an effort to maximize performance across all terrain. Imitating the race skis of the time, snowboard engineers implemented an upward tip-to-tail curve that allowed more contact with the snow during turns on hardpacked snow and the camber snowboard was born. Shortly thereafter the tip-to-tail curve was reversed to create the rocker snowboard.

Since then, Burton has dedicated significant R&D to testing and optimizing several different rocker/camber/flat/hybrid snowboards. Today, there is guaranteed to be a snowboard that is ideal for every rider, terrain, and condition.

Types of Snowboard Bends

When we talk about a snowboard bend, we are referring to how it looks from the side (its profile). In general, a snowboard profile will have at least one of the following bends: rocker, camber, or flat. However, it is important to note that modern snowboards may include more than one type of profile. This multi-bend construction is called a hybrid profile. And while there are several factors that impact how a snowboard performs (sidecut, flex, taper, effective edge, nose/tail radius, shape, et cetera), board bend is one of the most important.

This guide will cover eight common types of snowboard bends.

1. Flat Top™ Snowboards
2. Directional Flat Top™ Snowboards
3. Camber Snowboards
4. PurePop Camber Snowboards
5. Directional Camber Snowboards
6. Rocker Snowboards
7. Flying V™ Snowboards
8. Directional Flying V™ Snowboards

Pro tip: A good way to clearly establish a board bend is to lay it flat on the floor.

1: Flat Top Snowboard

A Flat Top snowboard has no camber or rocker between the feet. This flat profile makes the board stable and predictable.

Type of Riding

• Flat profile boards that have a softer flex are great for beginners and intermediate riders looking for an easy-to-ride board that can progress with their riding.
• Park riders often prefer flat profile boards for the consistent flex that is good for jibbing.

2: Directional Flat Top Snowboard

A Directional Flat Top snowboard has no camber or rocker between the feet but has noticeable rocker in the nose. In deeper snow, this flat profile allows the nose of the board to float up and the tail of the board to drop down, providing responsive handling and high stability, especially in deep snow.

Type of Riding

• Directional flat top profile snowboards are great for freeriding and excel in powder and soft snow conditions.
• All-mountain riders often have a directional flat profile board in their quiver for variable condition resort days.

3: Camber Snowboard

A Camber snowboard has an upward curve between the feet. When depressed or flexed, this profile “snaps” back to its original shape generating energy that can be used to hold an edge.

Type of Riding

• Camber profile snowboards are generally great for all riders and riding styles.
• Aggressive riders generally prefer camber boards for high-speed carving and the “poppy” feeling of linking turns.
• Park riders often like camber snowboards, as the profile provides a high degree of edge control and a snappy flex for precise maneuvers on jumps, halfpipe walls, and even jibs.

4: PurePop Camber Snowboard

A PurePop Camber snowboard is a hybrid board bend designed by Burton that has an upward curve between the feet and small sections of flat at the contact points in the nose and tail. In this profile, the camber ends before the contact points and the flat sections dampen the “poppiness” of the board, making it a bit less catchy when transitioning between edges on carves and spin tricks.

Type of Riding

• PurePop Camber profile snowboards are perfect for intermediate riders who want to ease into full camber.
• Older more advanced riders with crunchy knees or hips often prefer PurePop Camber boards, as they provide a similar feel and control of full camber in a more forgiving edge-to-edge ride.

5: Directional Camber Snowboard

A Directional Camber snowboard has an upward curve between the feet, but the entire stance is shifted towards the tail and the front curve ends before the contact point in the nose.

Type of Riding

• Directional camber profile snowboards are great for anyone who rides powder.
• All-mountain riders often have a directional camber profile board in their quiver for variable condition resort days, as the flat zone in the nose is also great for initiating carves on hardpacked snow.

6: Rocker Snowboard

A Rocker snowboard has a downward curve between the feet, with the nose and tail raised up. This profile causes the sidecut of the board to depress fully when the rider is up on-edge, allowing deep elbow-dragging carves. Rocker snowboards are often described as loose and playful, since the boards are already curved and don’t carry as much loaded energy between transitions.

Note: Some people refer to rocker as “reverse camber” but we acknowledge the influence of surfing on this specific board profile.

Type of Riding

• Rocker profile snowboards work well at low speeds in powder and are great for intermediate all-mountain riders.
• Rocker profile snowboards are good in slushy conditions.
• Rocker snowboards generally provide less precise control and stability on hardpacked conditions (when compared with other camber bends).

7: Flying V Snowboard

A Burton Flying V snowboard is a hybrid board bend that has rocker between the feet and small sections of camber underneath the feet. The rocker in this profile makes the board loose and lifts up the nose and tail while the camber under the feet provides extra edge grip on hardpacked conditions.

Type of Riding

• Flying V (or Hybrid Rocker/Camber) profile snowboards are ideal for riders who want the playful feel of full rocker in a more responsive edge-to-edge ride.
• Park riders may like Flying V boards for their balance of playfulness and edge grip when turning or popping off jumps.

Pro tip: Rocker/Camber hybrid profiles are available in boards from many top manufacturers, but the name may vary so keep an eye out.

8: Directional Flying V Snowboard

A Directional Flying V snowboard is a hybrid board bend that has camber in the tail and rocker in the nose. With this profile, applying downward pressure on the back foot causes the nose of the board to rise upwards as the energy is transferred across the bends, making it an effortless powder crusher.

Type of Riding

• Directional Flying V profile snowboards are perfect for riders who want an easy cruising powder board.
• Advanced riders might add Directional Flying V boards to their quiver because of the unique feeling it provides in powder.

What board bend is right for me?

As with most things snowboarding, there isn’t really one “correct” board profile for a given rider and it mostly comes down to personal preference. We encourage you to hit up your friends, try out a few different options at your local mountain, and drop the Burton Guides a chat if you’re still having a hard time wrapping your head around what board profile is right for you.