2027 Black Crows Corvus

It’s been interesting to see how the Corvus has emerged as a high-power freeride ski within Black Crows division. Since the company is based in France, and skiing int he Alps is a huge part of the ski culture, 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. While the ski is mainly meant for big mountains and aggressive freeride skiing, there is more versatility and mobility than one may think.

For 2027, the Corvus gets a graphic update but returns otherwise unchanged. 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 James Halnon notes: “My first impression was this ski can lock in for huge arcing turns and break a turn at high speeds for quick playful breaks. I want it for all terrain. Today was skied off groomers and it held its own and clearly would crush powder. This ski will be most fun for an advanced skier who wants a powder ski or is willing to take a chance on a 110 for variable conditions. (Take the chance).” The stability is the big part of the difference here between Atris, separating these skis in terms of aggressiveness for sure.

This is not just a tip and rip ski due to the footprint. 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. Tester Ben DeBenedictis states that the ski is “Surprisingly stable on firm snow. This is my favorite ski in the category. This is the only ski in the category I would consider skiing again. This is a skier's ski. Not for the occasional weekend warrior.” You’d have to have some pretty sick weekends for this to be that ski for you.

While highly attractive and with a cool following, 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. Built and shaped for big mountains and aggressive fall line skiing, the Corvus is a skier’s ski, built by a skier’s brand.