2022 Black Crows Divus Birdie

The Black Crows Divus Birdie is a quick-turning ski that places strong value on agility and precision, without being overpowering. At 82 mm underfoot, these skis have the shape to be amazing on-trail and carving skis, but more with the personality of an all-mountain or freeride ski due to the construction. There aren’t many skis out there that fall into this category in a narrower shape, so the Divus Birdie stands by itself in that regard. Built with a poplar wood core and dual H-shaped metal laminates, these skis have the power and edge grip to handle hard-charging and firm snow, all the while keeping the ski light and playful enough for all-mountain versatility.

From a profile perspective, the tip and tail rocker are a bit on the dramatic side, with a bit more rocker than most skis of this width, and that contributes to the ski’s freeride flair. The tip has more gradual of a profile, but still ends up with some decent splay at the top. Black Crows does some interesting stuff here, as the H-Shaped metal laminate ends where the rocker begins, putting more emphasis on the playfulness of the tips and tails. In the 162 cm length, the Divus Birdie creates a 16-meter turn radius, which is on the shorter side of the spectrum, and this is great for skiers who prefer the shorter carve and arc on the groomers.

From a performance perspective, the Divus Birdie is a fantastic on-trail carving ski that likes to be engaged. On the groomers, the narrow waist and metal laminates combine to create a torsionally stiff ski with a ton of power and precision. When you combine that narrow waist with the build, it really makes this ski stand out among the crowd. Groomer skiing is where this thing really shines, but it also has some versatile points as well, making it blur the line between a front side and an all-mountain ski. In the bumps, the ski’s more flexible tip can be driven through the troughs and into the back side of the moguls, while the tail isn’t too stiff that you can’t push down off the end of the bump as well. As with any ski in the low 80’s underfoot width, the Divus Birdie is really quick from edge-to-edge, making quick turns look easy, and allowing you to stay poised and balanced the whole way down the hill. In the trees, a similar theory applies. While not the best choice for deep snow in the woods, the Divus Birdie works great for when the snow gets tracked-out, allowing the skier to really be able to scoot around and get the most out of their ski experience in the glades. Again, while not a powder ski, the tip rocker and lighter weight do make it a fun ski for a variety of conditions and terrain.

If you’re looking for a narrow all-mountain ski that excels in a lot of different areas, but mostly wants to be in a carved turn on groomers, this is a fantastic choice. It has the shape, construction, and profile to make it a fan-favorite in the steeps, bumps, trees, and groomers.