Black Crow skis

[schindlerpiste]

Anyone ride them? Impressions? The company has contacted me about hooking up with WPS. Usually, we only are interested in carrying skis that we have ridden hard to determine whether they are a good fit with what we do. However, this looks like a pretty cool company. Is there any interest in these skis? I would love to hear with maggots with first hand knowledge.

[Lindahl]

They were popular with a few of the Italian guides I had when I was in Europe last year. Looked like decent skis, and I know some of them have taken them into gnarly stuff. Didn't get a chance to ride them, however.

[Bird Blaster]

my buddy went to europa last year and while he was there got some. He loves them and rides them everywhere at Whistler.
I never tried them.

Agree that the company seems cool and they look like they got a great product line. Worth testing I think.

[Rob Stokes]

You see a quite a few of them in Cham, but never anywhere else....not even other resorts close by. I think that says something about them really. There is a bit of a cult following here, as they are based in Cham, but maybe its not based on anything but that....

I have not skied any, although I have heard reports of durability issues, and definitely no 'wow these skis are awesome' reviews...just more 'meh they are alright'.

Sorry for the negativity.

[verbier61]

fondled and skied some of them.
Solid, "old school" skis with a dynastar-like feeling. Looks like they are made by the blossom factory in italy, but the company is always elusive about this.... which imvho is not a good thing. Last winter, some dynafit bindings were stripped out of some black crows ski, but this happened also with other skis and led to the new dynafit radical series with a larger drill plate.
Finally, BC recently hired Jlien Regner when he left armada, and they came out with the nocta, which seems to me the first and only BC ski with a rocker (please forgive me if there are other rockered BCs, I'm not 100% sure about this).

[herr_stoiber]

I did see some black crows in other parts of Switzerland (Schilthorn and Scuol,...) so they're not that limited to the Chamonix valley. Can't provide you with any personal experience but the guys that skied them sure ripped.

[Meathelmet]

Black Crows seem to be "bubbling under" brand but quite know in scandinavian freeskiing circles.

Norwedgians and swedes seem to love them (prolly cos Norrøna has some kind of deal with them) and you can see them around a bit. If you see someone in the alps with blackcrowes,they prolly have a Sweet helmet and speak some weird language...
Personally never skied them but what I have heard from different peeps,the first generations were a bit meh, but in the last 2 seasons the skis apparently have gotten to the armada/4frnt/amplid level, meaning that they are "good skis" and not some 333s or anything.
The scandi magazines have given them a bit varied reviews,some praising them and some stating that they are "ok".


If you want some info I think a maggot called MnO has spent quite a bit time on them,as he has done some testing for some freeskiing websites in norway/sweden. Send him a PM if you want some detailed beta.

[brown9]

Why is Julien the Nerd? And why is there a link to a "supercomputer" on his bio page? My mind can't contain that kind of power...

[Mountain Relish]

My wife has a pair, and loves them. Admittedly she is a Swede, but she doesn't have a Sweet helmet and we are based in Verbier not Chamonix, so we are not just cliches.

I have skied the 196cm ski (I forget the name). It felt good, and solid, but not mind blowing. I think the Verbier61 has it right when he says that they are slightly old school, or maybe just not overly progressive with their shapes.

[njfreeskier]

They're huge on the indy scene in Europe! They seem to make really solid, big mountain oriented skis. I'm sure you've seen the occasional foreigner at the bird rocking a pair. They signed Julien Regnier after he left Armada, and he seems to be their franchise athlete. I'd love to get my hands on a pair of them, but no room in the quiver, and american distribution is slim to none.

[schindlerpiste]

I dunno, they have contacted me, and asked me to distribute the skis. I'm in talks with them. So, maybe you will see more of them at the Bird this year.

[Dry]

I dunno, they have contacted me, and asked me to distribute the skis. I'm in talks with them. So, maybe you will see more of them at the Bird this year.

this ever happen?

[ClarkleberryFinn]

Fondled the Freebird (I think) the other day in a shop. Seemed well made, stiff and light.