Since Shane McConkey made the Spatula a mainstream ski at Squaw Valley, there have been tons of rocker reverse sidecut skis sprouting throughout the ski industry.
Now I am a man of the multi-ski quiver since there is no specific ski for all conditions. There just isn’t. You need a different ride for the different conditions. You need at least 2 pair, 3 or 4 is better. Personally, I love the full rocker ski on a powder day and even corn days, it’s just super fun to slarve around the mountain. However, not everyone is me!
Hybrid skis are trying to cut this quiver number down by at least 1 giving you a ski that has the properties of the full rocker ski as well as some sidecut and camber under the binding in order to better the transition from the pow pow to the hardpack on your way back to the lift. Some of the best Hybrid skis out on the market are listed below…
From the Truckee based Praxis Ski Company comes “The Protest.” I think this might have been one of the first, if not the first, hybrid style skis to hit the market. Having skiers like Drew Tabke kill it on these boards says one thing, they’re EPIC! Keith at Praxis says: “There is an almost unnoticeable transition from the reverse sidecut tip and tail to the subtle sidecut underfoot.”
Praxis "The Protest"
For this year K2 has made a tribute ski for Shane. I haven’t heard a negative thing about the Pontoon. It won’t make you ski like Shane, but you’ll love the ride. Shane said: “There’s something really cool about getting scared. I don’t know what.”
K2 Pontoon
With EPIC skiers like JP Auclair and Julien Regnier designing these boards, how can you go wrong? You know they work. Armada says: “With rocker at the tip and tails, camber under foot, and strategically located width, the JJ floats like a yacht in deep snow and carves like a three-fin thruster to the lift line.”
Armada JJ Skis
I like the graphic on these skis. Super smooth. They look like fun for sure. Sage kills it on these, if you buy a pair, you will look like Sage. Rossignol says: “The S7’s features Rossignol Amptek profile combining, early raise tip and tail, camber underfoot, reverse sidecut in the tip and tail and sidecut underfoot.”
Rossignol S7 BC
There is an almost unnoticeable transition from the reverse sidecut tip and tail to the subtle sidecut underfoot.
These skis are just a sampling of what the ski world is beginning to see. Ski longer without the burn, if you get it, buy some Hybrids. Got a ski to add or a comment on the article? Leave it below!
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