Winter Frequently Asked Questions

Single camber, double camber, alpine and nordic camber—what’s it all about?

Skis and snowboards are not flat, rather, they arch like back of a cat getting scratched. Camber refers to the upward curvature that is built into the body of a ski or snowboard. It is most easily seen when the ski is placed base down on a flat surface; notice the convexity that peaks underneath the binding system. Convinced? There are but two categories of this phenomenon: Double camber and single camber.

A single camber ski is defined by the one continuous arc that runs through its body. If you placed two such skis base to base, it would take one even pressure from your hands to close the entire gap. As the skier begins the descent, both skis are weighted, compressing the camber and allowing the full length of base and edge to contact the snow. This characteristic translates into turning power and stability. Alpine, telemark skis and snowboards all are shining examples of the wonders of single camber. Nordic skate skis also fall into this category, as they lack a wax pocket and have a full-length gliding surface on their base.

A double camber ski has a second, stiffer camber layered over the first that stretches across the middle third of the base. Classical nordic skis are built like this, alternatively termed "nordic camber" and "camber-and-a-half." Place two of these bases together and it takes one pressure to close the first camber, and a much harder pressure to close the second and completely flatten them out. When a nordic skier evenly weights both skis (as in a descent), their distributed mass is not enough to compress the second camber (which is where the kick wax is applied, or where the waxless grip pattern is etched onto no-wax skis), so the kick zone remains above the snow and the skier glides merrily along. On flat terrain, the skier is alternatively weighting one ski at a time while striding and gliding. The skier’s entire weight is enough to flatten the kick zone of one ski against the snow, allowing her to push off and glide.

The term flex is used to describe the stiffness of a ski's camber. A soft-flexing classical nordic ski will allow lots of grip because the kick zone is more easily compressed, but more advanced skiers usually enjoy a harder flex. More technique is required to achieve grip but because less of the kick zone drags in the snow during the glide phase, the ski will be faster. With single camber skis, a soft flex usually translates into better floatation in powder at the expense of reliable edge grip on hardpack. Thus, some fat-waisted powder boards can have a flex that feels like a "wet noodle," compared to the super-stiff feel of those designed to carve turns and hold an edge on the slickest of New England ice.

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Bike: Johnny's 10 Bike Tips Local MTB Rides Ski & Board: How-To Waxing Guide Winter Ski/Board F.A.Q. 06-07 Ski Gallery		Winter Frequently Asked Questions back to FAQ Single camber, double camber, alpine and nordic camber—what’s it all about? Skis and snowboards are not flat, rather, they arch like back of a cat getting scratched. Camber refers to the upward curvature that is built into the body of a ski or snowboard. It is most easily seen when the ski is placed base down on a flat surface; notice the convexity that peaks underneath the binding system. Convinced? There are but two categories of this phenomenon: Double camber and single camber. A single camber ski is defined by the one continuous arc that runs through its body. If you placed two such skis base to base, it would take one even pressure from your hands to close the entire gap. As the skier begins the descent, both skis are weighted, compressing the camber and allowing the full length of base and edge to contact the snow. This characteristic translates into turning power and stability. Alpine, telemark skis and snowboards all are shining examples of the wonders of single camber. Nordic skate skis also fall into this category, as they lack a wax pocket and have a full-length gliding surface on their base. A double camber ski has a second, stiffer camber layered over the first that stretches across the middle third of the base. Classical nordic skis are built like this, alternatively termed "nordic camber" and "camber-and-a-half." Place two of these bases together and it takes one pressure to close the first camber, and a much harder pressure to close the second and completely flatten them out. When a nordic skier evenly weights both skis (as in a descent), their distributed mass is not enough to compress the second camber (which is where the kick wax is applied, or where the waxless grip pattern is etched onto no-wax skis), so the kick zone remains above the snow and the skier glides merrily along. On flat terrain, the skier is alternatively weighting one ski at a time while striding and gliding. The skier’s entire weight is enough to flatten the kick zone of one ski against the snow, allowing her to push off and glide. The term flex is used to describe the stiffness of a ski's camber. A soft-flexing classical nordic ski will allow lots of grip because the kick zone is more easily compressed, but more advanced skiers usually enjoy a harder flex. More technique is required to achieve grip but because less of the kick zone drags in the snow during the glide phase, the ski will be faster. With single camber skis, a soft flex usually translates into better floatation in powder at the expense of reliable edge grip on hardpack. Thus, some fat-waisted powder boards can have a flex that feels like a "wet noodle," compared to the super-stiff feel of those designed to carve turns and hold an edge on the slickest of New England ice. back to FAQ