Rocker snowboards exploded onto the market because they’re fun to ride. They deliver alternative performance not found in traditional camber designs. Rocker, also known as reverse camber, is created by replacing camber, the lengthwise positive arc of a snowboard, with a reverse shape similar to the profile of a surfboard. By doing so, you eliminate the leverage required to release and reengage a snowboard’s traditional outside contact points.
When done right, a “true-rocker” board (no added camber or flat zones) delivers the widest range of alternative performance benefits, including improved turn initiation, seamless performance, and more fluid spins, slides, presses, and butters. Unfortunately, early designs did not provide enough edge hold, so they washed out at speed, in the steeps, and during landings. As a result, designers around the industry have been working to improve the edge performance of their rocker designs. In some cases, this has meant putting camber back into the nose and tail. This “hybrid” design does improve edge control, but it sacrifices some of the benefits of riding true-rocker.
In response, Arbor offers The System to provide riders with an amazing amount of on demand edge hold in a true-rocker design that preserves the full range of performance benefits. We did this by perfecting the true-rocker profile, while building in real edge control through a unique sidecut. In our opinion, the award winning “System” has proven to be the best rocker design yet offered. As a result, we’ve further expanded The System offering to ten models across three technology combinations:
GRIP-TECH: A sidecut design that creates four additional contact points under foot for significantly improved, more direct edge control. The new contacts also create heel and toe pivot points that make turning faster and more efficient. Grip-Tech enables Arbor to offer a “true-rocker” profile with powerful edge control, and thus preserve the full range of associated performance benefits. Grip-Tech also allows riders with larger feet (up to US men’s 12) to ride standard width shapes.
PARABOLIC ROCKER: A “true-rocker” design based on the parabolic arc; a shape that allows us to gradually reduce the amount of rocker toward the tip and tail. This ensures that the outside contact points are close enough to the snow to reengage when maximum edge control is needed: loaded turns, higher speeds, and bigger landings. Arbor’s Parabolic Rocker provides an additional layer of on-demand edge control without having to sacrifice any true-rocker performance.
ROCKER FLEX: A rocker specific flex pattern designed to address how riders experience flex on de-cambered boards.
POWER PLY: To counter the loss on “System” models of the leaf spring effect found in camber designs, we turned to our Power Ply technology. By adding a third structural composite layer, in the form of a wood or bamboo topsheet, we significantly enhanced board pop and return for much improved true-rocker performance. Note: No Power Ply on the Formula.
TWIN SHAPING: By utilizing “twin” shapes, which have centered stance set-ups, we ensure that riders position themselves directly over the Grip-Tech contact points. This allows them to most effectively activate Grip-Tech’s edge performance. Note: the need for built in setback for deep or mixed conditions is eliminated because of the way the System changes and improves how a board connects with the snow. On the Park and JIB Systems we utilize a TRUE-TWIN design to support street and park riding. On the Mountain System we use a DIRECTIONAL-TWIN shape to provide added nose length for the deepest pow days.
TIP PROFILES: Because of the new and improved way in which Arbor’s “System” design connects with the snow, the role played by a board’s nose and tail have changed. As a result, we’ve created specialized tip profiles for each design. On the JIB System we use ROBUSTO TIPS that have a blunt shape and flat kick to support street-style riding with improved press and butter performance. On the Park System we use CORONA TIPS that have a semi-blunt shape and flat kick to support more versatile park and all-mountain performance. On the Mountain System we use TORO TIPS that have a drawn out design to support on-mountain and backcountry riding with deeper snow performance.
Redesign based on their new system set of technologies.
Venice, CA – January 15, 2009 – Arbor redesigns the Draft series, delivering what it believes is the best solution yet offered in the rapidly evolving rocker design revolution. The new Draft has been designed around “The System,†a fusion of interdependent technologies that support jib-specific performance. Make no mistake; rocker boards represent a completely different approach to snowboard design and performance. As a result, using rocker requires a total rethinking of long held ideas on material and design technologies, and how those technologies interact. Based on this, Arbor developed The System to address the new physics of riding rocker.
“I was initially dubious about rockering any of our snowboard designs,†said Bob Carlson, Arbor’s President. “If it was as easy as throwing rocker at a shape, designers would have brought this technique back years ago. But the effect de-cambering has on edge and flex performance is massive. The consequences of such a radical alteration must be addressed. Existing designs cannot just be rockered if you expect a board to function. You have to start from scratch, looking at every aspect of a board’s design in an effort to understand how rocker will affect its function. At Arbor, we scrapped everything we thought we knew, and methodically built The System set of technologies. I think you’ll find that we’ve created a balanced, truly functional system; one that actually delivers the accessible JIB performance promised by rocker designs.â€
THE SYSTEM - A fusion of interdependent technologies that support jib-specific performance.
. Grip-Tech Sidecut: By not blending their standard, tri-radial sidecut design, Arbor has created two additional contact points under-foot. This is done in response to the loss of edge hold that results when rockering a board, which lifts the outside contact points off the snow. These new inside contact points provide the small amount of added edge grip required for successful rocker performance (patent pending).
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Street Rocker: Arbor lengthened the apex of its rocker design, using a parabolic arc. This improves edge contact between the feet. As with “Grip-Techâ€, Arbor’s Street Rocker design provides an important amount of added edge hold. An amount that’s critical when using rocker to provide enhanced JIB/street performance.
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Rocker Specific Flex: Rocker alters board dynamics by lifting the leading edge off the snow. As a result, flex is activated in a completely new way. In response, Arbor developed a Rocker Specific Flex pattern that’s designed to address how riders experience board flex when using a rocker design.
Inlaid Power Spine: By adding a spine of sustainably sourced wood fiber above the core, Arbor is able to structurally enhance a board’s longitudinal pop. This is critical when de-cambering a board with rocker, which often takes the pop out of a board; pop that’s normally created by camber. Adding in this structural spine rebuilds that longitudinal return, thus maintaining pop for ollies, etc. The company also designed a unique tapered shape for the Power Spine that allows the torsional flex to soften towards the tips for easier spins, presses, and butters.
Robusto Tips: A wider, more blunt shape that’s designed with a completely flat kick. Robusto tips are a key feature in Arbor’s approach to rocker design and The System set of technologies. The System brings the snow contact aspects of the board inward; creating in effect a small mini snowboard underfoot, which rides like a skate. This alters the function of the tips. Besides helping riders float over deep or choppy snow, the tips now work like wheelie bars. They encourage a rider to roll onto their nose, while preventing them from going too far over. Because of this change, the company designed its rocker board tips to specifically meet the needs of their more specialized role as platforms for presses and butters.
True-Twin: Arbor is using an updated twin-tip shape with a symmetrical nose and tail and centered stance to create the switch freedom required for all aspect, street-specific riding. At the same time, the company knew that using a true-twin design would encourage riders to equalize their stance, more evenly balancing pressure on both feet. This allows riders to activate the Grip-Tech contact points and Street Rocker design in order to effectively skate the hidden “mini snowboard†that’s underfoot.
Sumo-Stance: Expanding the 2×4 insert system to 14-packs, allows us to offer an amazing 25.20″ (64cm) stance without spinning your disks or sacrificing micro-adjustability. Size your board down and still widen your stance.
Mercy Edges: Using a softer bronze metal edge allows Arbor to create smoother, less catchy performance on rails and boxes. This change was also an important tool for refining the feel of the board between and under the feet. It balances the active edge performance created by The System’s parabolic Street Rocker design and Grip Tech contact points, both of which are needed for the rocker design to function when turning or at speed.
Sumo-Stance: Expanding the 2×4 insert system to 14-packs, allows Arbor to offer a huge 25.20″ (64cm) stance without requiring riders to spin their disks or sacrifice micro-adjustability. The design also allows riders to size down their boards for jib specific performance, yet still maintain a wide, skate-style stance.
To create a graphic capable of launching The System, Arbor reached out to their friend Rex Holloway, co-founder and art director of Rogue Status. Collaborating with Rex continues the brand’s ongoing design partnership with the crew at RS (roguestatus.com). Based down the street from Arbor in Venice, CA, Rogue Status is a pridefully controversial, street-wear brand that built its name on thought provoking, in-your-head graphics. Prior to starting Rogue Status, Rex worked as a tattoo artist and to this day has a long waiting list for his chair. For the Draft, Rex created an original piece using the El Dia de Los Muertos theme that he often works into his tattoo designs. The art speaks for itself and well represents the soul of the new Draft.
The Draft also features a Two-Year Warranty, Arbor’s Fusion Base, Arbor’s FSC Certified Medicine Core, Blended Urethane/ABS Sidewalls, Butter Glassing, a deep version of Arbor’s Shadow Flex System, and four new sizes: 149.5, 153.0, 155.0, 158.5cm
Arbor was founded in 1995 on the assertion that solutions to many of today’s most difficult snow, skate, and apparel design challenges exist in the natural world. For 14 years, Arbor has built on this belief – replacing, environmentally harmful materials with ecologically based, natural alternatives. The goal is to create a higher level of function and relevance, in the most responsible way possible. The result is improved style and performance, with significantly reduced environmental impact. We need clean air to skate, clean water to surf, and snow to ride…
