Inspired by the Mirus Cor, the all-new 2025 Black Crows Octo Birdie with Marker Squire 11 Bindings is a lively and energetic frontside carving setup with a distinctive newschool flair. Although its shape is less extreme than the Mirus Cor, the Octo Birdie’s short turning radius and pronounced sidecut provide exceptional agility, enabling rapid edge-to-edge transitions. The ski’s modern profile and shape make it both fun and highly capable on groomed runs. We paired the Octo Birdie with the Marker Squire 11 because of the Squire’s high performance and dependability for lighter weight all mountain and freeride skiers. With a light weight construction and a safe, reliable release, the Squire 11 is a go to choice to keep performance high and weight low.

Why we like it:

The Octo Birdie seamlessly merges frontside precision with newschool versatility, offering a high-performance carving experience while maintaining the adaptability of more progressive skis.

Who it's for:

Intermediate to advanced skiers who enjoy crafting a variety of creative turn shapes on piste will find the Octo Birdie to be an ideal choice.

Highlights:

The Octo Birdie features a poplar wood core and fiberglass for a stable and energetic ride. An aluminum insert in the relatively flat tail adds stiffness, enhancing propulsion out of turns. A slight rocker in the tip simplifies turn initiation and allows skiers to shape their turns with ease, making the ski both responsive and intuitive. Marker’s Triple Pivot Light 2 Toe and Hollow Linkage Heel systems work in tandem to provide powerful energy transmission to the ski, allowing for maximum edge grip and control of the ski. Lighter weight skiers can rest easy knowing the Squire 11 will be easier than ever to step into thanks to a re-designed heel piece. Perhaps the most underappreciated feature of the Squire 11 is the anti-ice rail, which sits on top of the toepiece and can be used to scrape the sole of your boots clean before stepping in.

Things to consider:

The Octo Birdie is not the best choice for those who frequently venture off-piste. It lacks the additional metal layers found in some high-end carving skis, which might make it feel too soft for skiers seeking the utmost in carving performance.

Fit & sizing considerations:

Skis true to size.