The Black Crows Anima is a true big mountain ski that integrates power with maneuverability. Big mountain skis need to have a great balance between these two attributes and the Anima most certainly accomplishes this. When translated to snow, this means that the skis are easy to carve and pivot while remaining stable at high speeds. The Freeride World tour is a great example of the Anima’s capabilities and application where big lines, massive airs, quick pivots, and skiing switch is the name of the game. It’s modern freeride, twin-tip, shape is for the creative skier that wants to take their skiing to the next level and push their comfort zone. The Anima is extremely versatile and can be used in a wide variety of settings even though they are designed for the biggest mountains. For being a wider ski, there are loads of edge grip and carvability to be had which is pretty uncommon for skis in this category. For the biggest lines and highest of speeds, the 2024 Black Crows Anima is certainly the tool for the job.

The Anima Birdie’s construction is rather unique as it enlists the use of Kevlar. The core is made from a poplar wood core that is reinforced with fiberglass and carbon laminates. The poplar provides energy, the carbon adds responsiveness, and the fiberglass produces dampening properties and torsional stiffness. Kevlar is used for high-speed stability in the form of stringers that run the length of the ski. These stringers add longitudinal rigidity to the ski and keep chatter to a minimum through chopped up snow. This construction makes the Anima incredibly burly and solid through any conditions and terrain. Being as burly as it is, naturally comes at the cost of weight. At the 176.6m length, the Anima comes in at a weight of4300 grams for the pair. Therefore, physically strong skiers with excellent technique are going to extract the most performance out of this ski but advanced skiers will still be able to enjoy the creative nature of the Anima.

A modern freeride shape with unlimited potential, the Anima Birdie will do all that you request of it. A 20% rocker/65% camber/15% rocker, twin tip, profile supports the Anima’s freeride focus resulting in plenty of floatation as well as maneuverability. The tip rocker provides excellent floatation in deep and variable snow and tail rocker gives way for agility and turn release. The camber underfoot gives a lot of energy to the ski as well as high edge grip in firm snow. At the 176.6cm length, the Anima’s sidecut has a maximum forebody width of 144mm, a waist width of 115mm, and a tail width of 134mm. This sidecut generates a turning radius of 19 meters, which is in the sweet spot for maneuverability on a big mountain face.

For those skiers that are looking for a big mountain charger, the Anima should certainly be on your list to consider. Its burly build combined with its modern freeride shape makes for a ski that wants to be pushed to the limits in the gnarliest of terrains and conditions. Although specializing in soft snow, the Anima does wonders to grip on firm snow and provide a stable platform to stand on. That stability carries over into high speed and variable snow situations which is perfect for big mountain lines. For the adventurer and freeride charger, the Anima is a tool you will want on your belt.