2026 Black Crows Corvus

Now in its second year, the Black Crows Corvus returns with a new graphic but is otherwise unchanged. 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 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. It’s a straight shooter with fall line written all over it.

There’s some sophistication and engineering here in the build. 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. Tester Matt Testa skied the 181 and notes “My first impression of the Blackcrows Corvus is that it’s a great ski for charging and skiing fast. It handles chop really well, providing solid stability, and feels very damp with a smooth ride. It also performs well on technical terrain, offering good control and confidence. While it's not the most playful or forgiving, it feels more stable and better suited for aggressive skiing compared to the Atris.” The stability is the big part of the difference here between Atris, separating these skis in terms of aggressiveness for sure.

The shape of the ski is a lot straighter, with a long turn radius and a decent amount of taper and rocker. It’s a highly useful ski in softer snow, but maybe you need some other ones to make the days worthwhile. With a 25-meter radius in the 186, it’s pretty darn straight. Pretty much all other testers noted that the ski would be a lot happier in open snow fields and bowls, mainly due to the shape. There's also way more tail rocker than in previous Corvii. 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. Christian Strong states that “I think this ski would excel in powder, especially above treeline or bowls. The large radius turns might not work the best for east coast trees, but would be superb for big, powder filled bowls and wide trails. Blasting thru spring corn snow was a thrill as well.” Christian has been to Chamonix, so his input here is greatly appreciated.

Corvus is somewhat limited in scope. 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 changes to shape from previous generations, 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. It’s still a big mountain and wide and powerful ski after all.