2025 Black Crows Corvus

New Corvus! This thing rips! We actually got to test the new Corvus from Black Crows in its intended environment this winter. Okay, maybe we didn’t ski it in Chamonix, but we had some amazing days on it here in Vermont, and that’s something. Ideally, the designers and engineers at Black Crows are able to look up at the enormous French alps and picture what type of ski would be best for going from top to bottom. They came up with the new Corvus, and it makes a lot of sense. Due to changing snow conditions, rugged terrain, and the need for a sturdy ski, the Black Crows Corvus covers it all from above tree line to meandering town trails. Here in Vermont, we also found that it works great in deeper snow in the woods. The ski's agility is improved over the previous version, while its beefy nature remains intact.

Corvus is meant to be sturdy, hence the implementation of a poplar/beech blend in the ski. The beech does a lot of the stabilizing here, while the fiberglass laminates add pop and energy to the mix. We also get a single titanal plate underfoot that helps keep the edge grip to a maximum for unsightly conditions and terrain. In the 186, we’re getting a stated weight of 2075 grams, which for a 110 mm underfoot ski with metal and beech, is approachable. It’s a lot livelier than before, both due to the build and the shape. The shape has moved a bit more towards the friendly side of the street, as the older one was very flat and square. Ben Debenedictis notes that the Corvus “would be a great charger for bowl skiing. It’s a bit too wide for my taste. Skied a bit shorter than the marked 25-meter radius.” While Ben notes the ski’s preference for more open terrain, this does not exclude it from tighter zones.

Danny Satterthwaite states that “with how well it handled the bumps I think you could ski anywhere as long as the snow is soft and you are making shorter, smeary turns. Or you are skiing big turns in fresh snow. To me it’s like the Mirus cor but on the other end of the spectrum like a n+1 ski. It’s just such a fun and surprisingly versatile ski, all things considered.” We think that’s a good way to look at this ski, especially for here in Vermont. It’s a highly useful ski, but maybe you need some other ones to make the days worthwhile. Pretty much all other testers noted that the ski would be a lot happier in open snow fields and bowls. We don’t really have that Chamonix-style luxury here, though, and from what we dealt with, the Corvus’s new shape and profile allow it to be a lot more inclusive to tighter and more technical zones like we have on Mount Mansfield. Chris McClelland states that “This ski wants to be in powder and in the woods no question about it. The fat tip, rocker profile, and surfy feel make this ski a scalpel in the woods.” If at least one person feels this way about the Corvus, there’s going to be more.

Based on the shape, weight, and intended application, it’s tough seeing this thing on the feet of non-experts or aggressive advanced skiers. It would be difficult for someone who didn’t really know what they were getting into to fully enjoy the facets of this ski. With the new changes to shape, especially, there’s a bit more of a range here, but the Corvus is still firmly entrenched in the upper echelons of skier type and expertise.