Rip’n Wud Rocker Article
Rip’nwud Rocker, skis for the entire mountain
EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY
We tested, exclusively in the Peninsula, the new Rip’nwud Rocker, skis designed to be able to ski all over the mountain and in any situation. A true All Mountain for advanced skiers who want a single ski for everything.
Álvaro Urzaiz
- ÁLVARO URZAIZ
Updated on 08/03/2024 13:47 CET
As we recently told in this article, Rip’nwud presented in December 2023 its new Borealis collection. A collection designed to reach a larger number of skiers due to its diversity of models and sizes. Also, of course, for its price, more economical, being now at a similar cost to the premium skis of the best brands in the market. With the Rocker models, Rip’nwud pretends to have a true All Mountain range. And, in my opinion, it succeeds.
On this occasion, and with the help of Skiz (El Tarter, Grandvalira), the only shop that sells Rip’nwud in Andorra and Spain, we tested the Wud Rocker 91 and Wud Rocker 95 models, the two models with the most skis in the collection. These Rocker models are handmade, with a sandwitch construction and a titanal layer, to be able to offer stability both on the piste and on icy terrain in the mountain.
Rip’nwud Rocker 91
The new burgundy Wud Rocker 91 is available in 173, 179 and 185m sizes, and has a 91mm skid, 133 tip and 117 tail, with a theoretical 17.4m turning radius in the 179 size, which is the one we tested. And, in my opinion, the ideal size for my 1,77 m height and 68-69 kg weight.
Detail of the spatula of the Rocker 91. Photo Rip’nwud
Álvaro Urzaiz
In the first descent two things already stand out in this Rocker 91, the power of its edges and the flexibility of its tip. Despite being a powerful ski, it is noble and can be skied on the edge with fluidity despite its skid. Also, like all the Rip’nwud I’ve tested so far, it’s a fast sole ski. Very stable in the mid turn on the edge, it is also easy to pivot. And, believe it or not given its size, it’s tremendously stable on hard early snow and, naturally, great fun when the snow starts to break up and transform.
We were really only able to test it in pure piste conditions. But, considering how it behaves in broken snow, I’m sure that its behaviour in untracked snow has to be superb, that’s what it’s meant for because of its construction with front and rear rocker, as well as its size and skid.
Rip’nwud Rocker 95
The Wud Rocker 95 is the big brother of the range, with its 95 mm skid, 135 mm tip and 120 tail. It has a theoretical turning radius of 18.4 m at a height of 182 cm. This model is available in orange and in sizes 174, 182 and 187 cm.
By the way, the price, like its brother, is 1,389 € on their website and 1,250 € in the Skiz shop.
Beautiful Rocker 95, photo by Rip’nwud
Alvaro Urzaiz
The behaviour of the Rocker 95 and Rocker 91 are very similar, with the 95 giving better off-piste performance and being a bit more difficult on piste. However, with a good technique, it keeps a very similar behaviour on the edge and in performance. In my opinion it is for the more experienced skier.
Summary
These Rocker skis we have tested are an excellent ‘true’ All Mountain option. And I say this because many brands talk about All Mountain for a segment of multi-purpose piste skis with a wider skid, that neither end up performing well on the piste nor meet our expectations off-piste.
These Rockers are skis designed by skiers, for good skiers and thinking about skiing, really, all over the mountain. And, in my humble opinion, they perfectly meet expectations. What’s more, they exceed them, at least for their behaviour on the piste, which is what winter, for the moment, has allowed us to test.
This weekend, at the Rip’nwud test that the brand and the Skiz shop are holding in El Tarter, we will have the opportunity to test them in freshly fallen snow. And, we hope, in a future occasion, to tell you here, in Solo Nieve, what our sensations have been.