Too Few Flat Skis

[YB]

If you start with a traditionally cambered ski and go along the design spectrum to the reverse camber or "rockered" ski ya gotta pass through flat. What's wrong with a shoveled tip, directional, flat w/flat tail? Seems like it's the most versatile and yet least common offering at this point. The only drawback I've seen with no camber is vague feedback at turn initiation, though obviously you're not gonna get the unsinkable tip lift that a fully rockered ski has.

[Jer]

I've always thought this was weird too. A soft ski with no camber (Sanouk) basically behaves just like a rockered ski the moment it hits deep snow. And the Sanouk's tips are, in fact, unsinkable.

[ACH]

I would classify the Katana as a flat ski...
Even though they say it has a slight rocker.

[FlimFlamvanHam]

It's actually a good question IMO.

Liberty Helix and Double Helix come to mind if you're looking for a current ski that fits the 'flat' description.

[YB]

I would classify the Katana as a flat ski...
Even though they say it has a slight rocker.

The Katana is th flat ski I know and have used a bunch. I'm tempted to get the long one, but when I 've checked it out it on the rack it gives a planky impression.

[todug27]

i'm another one who also never understood this question. It does seem like a very small sidecut and no camber what so ever would be a fun ski. Perhaps it wouldn't be lively enough.

[cooltsi]

How about the Huge Trouble/6th Sense Huge? Very little to no camber, it is however a twin tip although the tails are not as tall as the tips.

[Caucasian Asian]

192 BRO doesn't have a whole lot of camber either. And has a fairly flat tail.

[Huckin eh?]

I had a ski custom built by Wagner. Its a flat ski , no camber. Its 133, 104, 122. Its a good ski for powder. its actually a pretty strange but cool sensation. It will sink into the powder cos its not too fat, then it shoots you back up and out just after you pressure the ski and make it flex. Its a medium-stiff ski so it wont flex right away.

I like it, and to be honest I am still getting used to it, but I still preffer my rockered toons with the pin tail as I know the tails wont ever catch on any variable surface.

I agree though, for the market swing, there should be a few more flat skis on the market, but they kinda suck on groomers.

[skiwithcharlie]

Faction Thirteens & Alias are both flat with Rocker in the tip!

[I Dunno]

My 4frnt VCTs are flat with hardly any sidecut, they go pretty fast.

[iscariot]

4frnt EHP is exactly what you are describing.

[FigureEleven]

Another vote for Sanouks... they are much more versatile than one might think and completely flat.

[DyingToLiveToSki]

I will second the vote for the Alias, that looks like an awesome ski, especially for touring... I picked up the Thirteen this year and I am stoked to mount them up.

edit: The Alias has 8 mm camber and tip rocker, and the Thirteen is flat with tip rocker. The Alias comes in three sizes up to 188, and the Thirteen 194 only.

[ExoticSkis]

I just found the Delirium from Fortitude ( http://www.fortitudeskis.com) is flat...(144-120-134 @193cm)
and stiff (they say).

[liv2ski]

I had a ski custom built by Wagner. Its a flat ski , no camber. Its 133, 104, 122. Its a good ski for powder. its actually a pretty strange but cool sensation. It will sink into the powder cos its not too fat, then it shoots you back up and out just after you pressure the ski and make it flex. Its a medium-stiff ski so it wont flex right away.

I like it, and to be honest I am still getting used to it, but I still preffer my rockered toons with the pin tail as I know the tails wont ever catch on any variable surface.

I agree though, for the market swing, there should be a few more flat skis on the market, but they kinda suck on groomers.

Keith at Praxis made me a pair of demo Back Country's this summer with some carbon in them for added stiffness, as he rates the standard BC as a 5 flex and I wanted something closer to 6-7. He also made my pair with flat camber, it has a nice gradual tip rocker that I think will either blow through or float over crud/cut up snow and the tails have just a gentle rise, not a true twin tip. At 130-105-120 it sounds similar to your Wagner's. Due to the tip and tail rocker, the running length on hard packed snow looks pretty short. It is a 190 ski, but looks like a 170 if your not in soft snow to engage more of the ski. I can hardly wait to try them on those in between days where there is between 6"-12" on the mountain. I am hoping they give me the confidence to hit those conditions at a higher speed than I could sac up for on my Goliaths.

[Kya]

I'm with you! Seems like a Armada JJ style ski without the rockered tail, would be perfect for all variable types of backcountry conditions. The Billy Goat seems to be pretty close too though.

[ticketchecker]

I'm going to try the Wrenegade for this season, wish the tail was flat instead of twinned up though.

[Particle]

How has no one mentioned the Megawatt in this thread??? Totally flat underfoot, slight upturned tail, rocker tip. Done. Justice should be pretty similar this year as well if you want something skinnier.


However I feel like a little camber underfoot adds just that extra degree of versatility (a la Rossi S7) and rebound out of the turn that's missing in truly flat camber skis.

[squatch]

i got a custom pair of skis made that are essentially flat

[Beyond]

New Argos is flat with extended tip

[murph]

I'm with you! Seems like a Armada JJ style ski without the rockered tail, would be perfect for all variable types of backcountry conditions. The Billy Goat seems to be pretty close too though.

I don't get why every rockered powder ski has to have rockered tails as well. Maybe they sink better? Most folks I've met don't land switch in powder. Give me a flat tail, please!