2026 Black Crows Sato & Sato Birdie Ski Review

New for 2026, the Black Crows Sato carves a place at the table among some very fun and powerful skis from the renowned brand. Designed with the mid-range in mind, the Sato and Sato Birdie (same ski different graphics and lengths) is a joyful and fun-loving ski with a surprisingly and satisfyingly high performance limit. When we first got on these skis on a cold February day, it seemed like these were a bit different than other Black Crows skis in that they were more aimed at intermediate and advanced skiers and looked very traditional in contrast to the wild shapings and designs of the Octo, Mirus Cor, Justis, et al. After a few runs, it became clear that while, yes, these do feel more traditional and mid-range, they were also extremely fun and rewarding—oozing with positive energy and good vibes.

At a Glance:

2026 Black Crows Sato Birdie Skis

Like many other Black Crows skis, there’s not a whole lot going on with construction. Simply, they use a poplar wood core and fiberglass laminates. No metal, no carbon, just a wood core and fiberglass. Sure, they tout their use of semi-cap construction and ABS sidewalls all-around, and that stuff counts, but for how well this Sato skis, it’s darn near impossible to think that it’s just a wood and fiberglass construction. Good for them, I say—if they can build a ski that feels like this one does on snow with minimal materials, then so much the better. The flex is even and predictable—I'd say it’s stiffer and more powerful than the build lets on with really fun energy on the tail end. This is all due to the milling of the core thickness and the amount of wood involved. Even with the sturdy feel, the skis are still on the mid-range of the weight spectrum, with the 173 sitting on the scale at 1733 g/ski and the 167 Sato Birdie at 1690 g/ski. Given the balanced feel of the ski, it’s hard to ignore that the skis have an exact 1:1 mm to gram ratio. If this was done on purpose at the manufacturer’s level, I’m going to be very impressed. Either way, they feel like the appropriate weight for the flex and the style. Interestingly, the skis top out at 179.3 cm, leaving larger and more aggressive skiers somewhat out of the picture. While I found this length to be more than acceptable at 6’2” and 225 pounds, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was some unfulfilled potential left on the table without a mid-180 length.

At a Glance:

2026 Black Crows Sato Skis

When we’re talking about shape, we tend to compare to other Crows skis, but it never really works out perfectly. In the case of the Sato, despite the 88 mm waist width, the skis generally have the tip shape of the Captis and the tail shape of the Serpo. The rounder and more twin-tip oriented Captis is an extremely fun and engaging ski at 90 mm underfoot, and is certainly a very useful ski in this range. It also features a very similar build to the Sato, with wood and fiberglass. The Serpo, on the other hand, is wider still at 93 mm underfoot and has a more rigid-looking shovel. The tail, however, is flatter, just like what we see in the Sato, delivering a crisp release from the turns and very predictable behavior. There’s a bit more rocker in the Serpo's tail, but the splay and overall shape are very similar. The end result here is to develop a playful and easy entry into a turn and a precise and peppy finish. Sato's ability to blend these attributes is extremely rewarding and fun. Continuing the push to the middle, the Sato also has a 17-meter turn radius which is ideal for a multitude of turn shapes and styles. Since it’s a directional ski, most of that smoothness is found in the forebody of the ski with not a ton of tail behind.

All-mountain skis that are 88 mm underfoot should be well-rounded and able to function in a variety of conditions and terrain. While Sato isn’t going to win any awards at being the best or most exciting in any one particular trait, it’s the whole of the ski that truly defines its character. On-piste, this ski is smooth, predictable, enjoyable, and energetic. The initiation phase is incredibly easy—the tip shape, rocker, and flex all work well together to help get you into the turn. It feels as easy as an Elan Ripstick in this regard, but with more get up and go. The full sidewalls and thicker core underfoot hold tight to firmer snow, although without metal, there’s only so much this ski can do in terms of damping. That said, if you don’t like the grip and rip mentality of a high-power all-mountain ski, Sato provides a far more natural and inclusive feel. They are easy to manipulate into shorter or longer turns and fare equally as well in each format. They tip up simply and quickly and follow the skier’s intended course with ease. Due to the directional nature, the skis have a wonderful blend of smoothness and power without being demanding or asking too much of the skier—the pilot is in complete control 100% of the time. These skis steer incredibly well and feel totally connected to the snow. In terms of snow, a bit softer is better than a bit firmer, but these fare quite well on hard pack compared to some lighter 88’s like the Ripstick or the Armada Declivity 88 C. It certainly feels like a more upscale ski with increased range and sophistication.

When the mood for adventure strikes, the Sato is willing to explore, but don’t expect total freeride creativity here. Whereas it excels in bumps—one of the better mogul skis in this range for sure—it's not terribly floaty or drifty. Here in Vermont, we get a lot of little snowfalls, and that’s great because it adds up, so you don’t need super-wide skis here a lot of the time. That said, it’s nice to have some width, some rocker, and some taper when it comes to exploring the trees and getting a bit off-piste. If you end up in knee deep or manky snow, the Sato won’t stay on top or power through, but that’s not the intent here. This ski can fare just fine in moderate snow depths and find a direct line down a technical pitch, but without much width or curve to it, the skier has to take a lot more responsibility. This opposes Sato's character on-trail in which the ski does a fair amount of work on groomers and in carved turns. Off-trail, it’s up to the skier. The consistency and predictability of the ski help here, though, as at least there’ll be no surprises. It’s not like 88 underfoot is too narrow for soft snow, but there are other factors involved here, mainly the more directional nature of the ski that keeps it from being totally playful in softer snow and freeride realms. Still, if we’re pointing out huge benefits of off-piste skiing here, the discussion mainly revolves around moguls and packed-out trees instead of deep snow and open bowls.

Black Crows Sato and Sato Birdie are awesome all-mountain skis that hit a huge portion of the mid-zone. They do it with poise and perfection in terms of energy and zest without being overly demanding or harsh. While it makes perfect sense for ski companies to make skis like this, it does make it harder for outfits like ours to put a fine point on it because it’s got such a broad appeal. Most companies make a ski somewhat similar to Sato, but since no two skis are exactly alike, it’s fun to find some minute differences. Here, we enjoy the consistency and predictability of the Sato which increases the smoothness in an on-trail format. This is an upscale ski with a huge upside to it in terms of construction quality, poise, and professionalism. While experts, especially larger and more aggressive ones, may feel this ski leaves something to be desired, it’s an absolute rock star when it comes to the middle realm of skiers, from progressing beginners to mellower experts. Smoothness and energy don’t always mix well, but they certainly do with the new Satos.

Now Available!

2026 Black Crows Sato Skis

2026 Black Crows Sato Birdie Skis