The shape of a snowboard’s bottom is called its profile. There are numerous profiles including Rocker-Camber-Rocker (RCR), Camber-Rocker-Camber (CRC), Flat-Rocker-Flat (FRF), Camber-Flat-Camber (CFC), and traditional camber.
Traditional camber boards have an arc shape from front to back. They give good control and grip, making them great for sharp turns and fast rides.
RCR boards have a hump in the middle and are flat at the ends. They are stable and grip well but are more forgiving and easier to turn, especially in soft snow.
CRC boards are flat in the middle and have humps near the ends. They are playful and easy to turn, making them good for tricks. They are agile and float well in deep snow.
CFC boards, also called ‘Camber 2.0’ or ‘hybrid’, have humps outside the bindings and are flat in the middle. They are a mix of stable and bouncy, similar to traditional camber but less aggressive.
These boards combine elements of different profile types into one. The camber sections outside the bindings offer stability and edge hold similar to a traditional camber profile. This part of the design provides good carve performance and pop, which are characteristics of camber boards.
The flat section between the bindings offers a stable platform and is less aggressive than a continuous camber. The flat section can make the board more forgiving and easier to ride.
FRF boards are generally flat with a hump in the middle. They are easier for beginners to learn on.
Different riders like different profiles. Some like the solid feel of RCR and CFC on groomed runs and icy spots, while others like the playful, agile feel of CRC boards.
Knowing these profiles helps you pick a board that suits your style, skills, and the snow you will ride on, resulting in a better snowboarding experience.
Let’s dig deeper and see how your snowboard profile matches your riding level, style, and terrain.
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Moving from beginner to advanced
As a beginner, you may start with a flat or flat-rocker board since they are stable and less likely to catch edges. But as you advance, you’ll likely find these boards less thrilling on slopes.
Shifting to a Rocker-Camber-Rocker (RCR) board can be your next step. RCR has a camber section in the middle and rocker sections towards the tips.
This profile offers a stable ride with good edge hold, making it forgiving and easier to maneuver, especially in powder conditions. You get a mix of control and playfulness that helps you build your skills on groomers and in powder.
If you’re into freestyle (or like a playful ride) a Camber-Rocker-Camber (CRC) board may be a good choice. The central rocker section makes turning easy and the camber near the tips provides some grip and stability.
CRC boards are great for their agility and better float in deep snow. They also bring a balance between playfulness and control that facilitates experimenting with different riding styles.
For a more aggressive ride, you may switch to Camber-Flat-Camber (CFC) boards as you advance. Again, these boards have camber sections outside the bindings and a flat section in between.
This profile is a middle ground offering stability and pop, which allows you to transition to more advanced riding styles.
Once you’re ready for high-speed stability and precise control for aggressive carving, you might transition to a traditional camber board.
Every transition towards a more technical board profile should match your improvements in terms of skills and confidence. The right board profile helps you hone your skills further, be it carving down groomers, riding park, or riding off-piste.
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Terrain adaptability
The type of terrain you ride on makes a big difference in how your board performs.
On groomed runs, a Rocker-Camber-Rocker (RCR) board can be a good fit. The camber section in the middle gives you a stable ride and good grip, while the rocker sections at the tips make turning easier. This profile is forgiving and a good choice for riding down groomed trails.
For icy or hard-packed snow, a traditional camber or Camber-Flat-Camber (CFC) board might work better. The continuous arc of a traditional camber board gives a strong edge hold, helping you carve and maintain control on icy spots.
CFC boards with camber sections outside the bindings offer a similar level of control but with a bit of a relaxed feel.
Now, if you venture into deep powder, a Camber-Rocker-Camber (CRC) board can be handy. The rocker section in the middle helps the board float on top of the soft snow, making your ride smoother.
The camber sections near the tips provide some grip and stability, helping you navigate through powder with ease.
If freestyle and park riding is your thing, the playful nature of CRC boards might be for you. The central rocker section gives you a playful feel and makes it easier to do tricks and jumps.
On days with no fresh snow, some riders find CRC boards a bit unstable at lower speeds or on flatter areas, whereas RCR boards tend to remain stable and locked in regardless of conditions or speed.
Riding feel and control
With a Rocker-Camber-Rocker (RCR) board, you get a blend of stability and playfulness. The camber in the middle holds the edge well, making your ride stable, especially on groomed runs.
The rocker sections at the ends make the board less “catchy” and easier to turn, which is nice in powder or when you’re trying to navigate through trees.
On a Camber-Rocker-Camber (CRC) board, the central rocker section makes the board agile and easy to turn. It’s playful, especially in deeper snow, with a floaty feel.
The camber near the tips provides a little grip and stability but can feel a bit unstable at lower speeds or on flatter areas.
As mentioned, Camber-Flat-Camber (CFC) feels similar to a traditional camber but less aggressive. It offers a good blend of stability and pop, easy to ride yet capable of handling more technical rides.
A traditional camber board gives you a more locked-in feel. It’s great for carving hard on groomers and holding an edge on icy conditions. It provides a lot of control but can be unforgiving if you make a mistake.
The feel of a board also affects how you control it. For instance, the locked-in feel of a traditional camber or CFC board gives you confidence when carving at high speeds.
On the other hand, the playful nature of a CRC board makes tricks and jumps more enjoyable.
User experiences and preferences
We ran a quick survey among snowboarders and here are some takeaways. Many riders enjoy the Rocker-Camber-Rocker (RCR) boards for their balanced feel. They find RCR similar to regular camber but less “catchy” due to the lifted ends.
They appreciate the good edge hold, especially on groomers and icy spots, yet find it forgiving in powder conditions.
On the other hand, some riders prefer Camber-Rocker-Camber (CRC) boards for certain terrains. They find the CRC agile and good for deeper snow.
On days with no new snow, some find CRC a bit unstable at lower speeds or flatter areas. They enjoy the playful feel but prefer RCR for a more locked-in feel on groomed runs.
A few riders mentioned transitioning to Rocker-Flat-Rocker from traditional camber, finding it rides well with less pop in the middle but good pop at the tips and tails.
The Camber-Flat-Camber (CFC) boards also have their fans, who like the mix of stability and pop they offer.
Profile recommendations for different riding styles
For carving and speed, you might want to look into boards with a traditional camber or Camber-Flat-Camber (CFC) profile. The strong edge hold and stability they offer are key for carving down groomed trails.
The continuous arc of a traditional camber provides precise control, while CFC can be easier for you if you’re transitioning to a more advanced riding style.
If you do a lot of freestyle and tricks, a Camber-Rocker-Camber (CRC) board might suit you. The playful nature of CRC with its central rocker section facilitates tricks and jumps. It’s agile with a good balance of playfulness and control.
For all-mountain riding, Rocker-Camber-Rocker (RCR) boards are often recommended. They provide a blend of the control found in camber and the playfulness found in rocker profiles, which makes them versatile for a variety of terrains.
As mentioned earlier, these boards give you stability and edge hold on groomers, and easier turns in powder.
Lastly, if you love riding in powder, you’ll likely appreciate the floaty feel of CRC boards as the rocker section helps keep the board on top of soft snow.
Final thoughts
To conclude, here are key points to keep in mind when choosing your next snowboard profile:
As a beginner, a flat or flat-rocker board will typically be easier to handle initially. As you progress, transitioning to a Rocker-Camber-Rocker (RCR) or Camber-Flat-Camber (CFC) will bring a mix of control and forgiveness.
For groomed runs and icy conditions, a traditional camber or CFC board offers good edge hold and stability. For powder, a Camber-Rocker-Camber (CRC) board is a better fit due to its floaty feel.
You might have a personal preference for the locked-in feel of RCR or CFC on groomed runs, or for the trickable nature of CRC boards.
Cover image courtesy of Burton Snowboards