The Black Crows thread

[Stuntmonkey]

I have some 188 OG Corvus that I need to mount and give a rip. Pretty sure I'm set for this coming season with the quiver being;

Atris
Captis
Corvus FB
Corvus 188
Camox
Navis FB (Wife)

I'm contemplating replacing my Atris as they are 4 seasons old and pretty beat. Might be time for a rock ski. Rens for pow, but still want some Noctas !!

[SoVT Joey]

I have some 188 OG Corvus that I need to mount and give a rip. Pretty sure I'm set for this coming season with the quiver being;

Atris
Captis
Corvus FB
Corvus 188
Camox
Navis FB (Wife)

I'm contemplating replacing my Atris as they are 4 seasons old and pretty beat. Might be time for a rock ski. Rens for pow, but still want some Noctas !!

Sell the Atris and the Rens and buy a nocta. That will do everything those two will but better. And when you don’t need a nocta you have a Corvus, captis and camox. Game over.

[halliday]

Sell the Atris and the Rens and buy a nocta. That will do everything those two will but better. And when you don’t need a nocta you have a Corvus, captis and camox. Game over.

I agree with having the Nocta and getting rid of the Atris and Rens. It won't be game over it will be game on.

[halliday]

I have some 188 OG Corvus that I need to mount and give a rip. Pretty sure I'm set for this coming season with the quiver being;

Atris
Captis
Corvus FB
Corvus 188
Camox
Navis FB (Wife)

I'm contemplating replacing my Atris as they are 4 seasons old and pretty beat. Might be time for a rock ski. Rens for pow, but still want some Noctas !!

So you have the cambered Corvus? If so give them plenty of room to run. They are a fun ski.

[kid-kapow]

wait, what?!? 1099.95 usd for a pair of the new Draco?!?!? LOL.

Man, that shape must be magical - because there sure as hell is no secret sauce aka unobtanium in that skis construction as far as I know. Why anyone would get it over say a touring ski from Moment or ON3P is just baffling.

[SoVT Joey]

wait, what?!? 1099.95 usd for a pair of the new Draco?!?!? LOL.

Man, that shape must be magical - because there sure as hell is no secret sauce aka unobtanium in that skis construction as far as I know. Why anyone would get it over say a touring ski from Moment or ON3P is just baffling.

it’s essentially the same shape as the ferox no less. Even more baffling when those are a dime a dozen sub $550usd right now, and that’s a stupid light well skiing ski as it is.

nocta and Corvus are my ride or die, but the rest of the quiver is really getting blown up, volkl and blizzard are better in numerous areas I want better in.

I said it before but I’ll say it again, must be some killer psychedelics going around Cham right now…

[Sylvan]

http://www.corbetts.com/2022-black-crows-corvus-skis/

183 Corvus 50% off at Corbett's. $525 CDN.

[halliday]

That is $398.47 US for a Corvus 183. Probably shipped for free to the States. Now the time if you are on the fence......

[halliday]

duplicate

[waxoff]

I have some 188 OG Corvus that I need to mount and give a rip. Pretty sure I'm set for this coming season with the quiver being;

Atris
Captis
Corvus FB
Corvus 188
Camox
Navis FB (Wife)

I'm contemplating replacing my Atris as they are 4 seasons old and pretty beat. Might be time for a rock ski. Rens for pow, but still want some Noctas !!

Being very late to the party here, sorry. And sorry for nitpicking, But I don't understand where the designation 188 OG Corvus comes from?

The OG Corvus was a cambered 196(?) cm slayer from well before 2010. And I think the first 188 cm version was introduced more than ten years later (somewhere around '18 '19) and being a totally different ski, featuring both rockered tips and tails. And for the first time also bridging the previous years 183 and 193's which had the tail rocker introduced the previous year .The flat camber/full rocker Ti Corvus of today.has come a long way since its first iteration, i e. the OG Corvus!

[SoVT Joey]

Being very late to the party here, sorry. And sorry for nitpicking, But I don't understand where the designation 188 OG Corvus comes from?

The OG Corvus was a cambered 196(?) cm slayer from well before 2010. And I think the first 188 cm version was introduced more than ten years later (somewhere around '18 '19) and being a totally different ski, featuring both rockered tips and tails. And for the first time also bridging the previous years 183 and 193's which had the tail rocker introduced the previous year .The flat camber/full rocker Ti Corvus of today.has come a long way since its first iteration, i e. the OG Corvus!

I agree and I went as far as asking black crows this past year if they had any of the original 196s hanging around that they would sell… no such luck.

[alpinevibes]

Being very late to the party here, sorry. And sorry for nitpicking, But I don't understand where the designation 188 OG Corvus comes from?

The OG Corvus was a cambered 196(?) cm slayer from well before 2010. And I think the first 188 cm version was introduced more than ten years later (somewhere around '18 '19) and being a totally different ski, featuring both rockered tips and tails. And for the first time also bridging the previous years 183 and 193's which had the tail rocker introduced the previous year .The flat camber/full rocker Ti Corvus of today.has come a long way since its first iteration, i e. the OG Corvus!

I see the term “OG Corvus” just relating to the cambered Corvus shape, not just the original Corvus, that existed with mild changes from 2006-2018

[JackSkier]

The cambered Corvus changed substantially over the years, both in terms of width and profile.

From memory, pre-2013 had no rocker and was narrower at around 103mm underfoot. 2014 and 2015 had tip rocker and width increased to 109mm underfoot. 2016-2018 got tail rocker, and the 188cm shape was made only in 2018.

That 2016-18 shape was a fantastic ski by all accounts. Much heavier than the current model and better in pow. The best skier I know swears by it. He skis 100+ day seasons as a patroller at La Grave, gets free skis from other brands, but still chooses the Corvus as his go-to when not working. I'm sad I never got the chance to get a pair.

I skied the 2015 model a few years ago. Great ski. Chargy but accesible and damper than the Cochise. The current model is of no interest to me as I want my inbounds charger to weigh more than a heavy touring ski. The evolution of the Corvus is demonstrative of the evolution of Black Crows. Initially catering to a specific niche, Black Crows made great skis for great skiers. However, a discernible transformation has taken place over time, wherein the company has gradually transitioned into a marketing-centric entity, offering average skis for average skiers. It's a real shame.

[halliday]

The 16-17 Corvus will go down as one of my favorite skis ever. They got it right with that design, layup.

[54-46]

The cambered Corvus changed substantially over the years, both in terms of width and profile.

From memory, pre-2013 had no rocker and was narrower at around 103mm underfoot. 2014 and 2015 had tip rocker and width increased to 109mm underfoot. 2016-2018 got tail rocker, and the 188cm shape was made only in 2018.

That 2016-18 shape was a fantastic ski by all accounts. Much heavier than the current model and better in pow. The best skier I know swears by it. He skis 100+ day seasons as a patroller at La Grave, gets free skis from other brands, but still chooses the Corvus as his go-to when not working. I'm sad I never got the chance to get a pair.

I skied the 2015 model a few years ago. Great ski. Chargy but accesible and damper than the Cochise. The current model is of no interest to me as I want my inbounds charger to weigh more than a heavy touring ski. The evolution of the Corvus is demonstrative of the evolution of Black Crows. Initially catering to a specific niche, Black Crows made great skis for great skiers. However, a discernible transformation has taken place over time, wherein the company has gradually transitioned into a marketing-centric entity, offering average skis for average skiers. It's a real shame.

“They were a great band…Until they sold out…”


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[::: :::]

2016-2018 got tail rocker

Huh?
Not much if any

[kid-kapow]

... wherein the company has gradually transitioned into a marketing-centric entity...

wait, what - you are saying it is all about the chevrons and the decimals?

Leaving their somewhat rediculous pricing to one side, it is still kinda cool how many different shapes they make instead of streamlining their production into series of the same / similar skis in different widths. It can't be the most efficient way to run a company, having a shit ton of different lines, of which usually several overlap, all of which have to be differentiated through marketing. That they've neutered some / most of their skis makes sense too - you can only sell so many best-skier-on-the-mountain-type skis a year.

And luckily for us - say hello to Heritage Labs Skis, where being ultra niche is the entire point And still more affordable than most BCs, perhaps it is because they are missing both chevrons and decimals in their naming conventions.

[waxoff]

2016-2018 got tail rocker, and the 188cm shape was made only in 2018.

That 2016-18 shape was a fantastic ski by all accounts. Much heavier than the current model and better in pow. The best skier I know swears by it. He skis 100+ day seasons as a patroller at La Grave, gets free skis from other brands, but still chooses the Corvus as his go-to when not working. I'm sad I never got the chance to get a pair..

I was tempted for that version with the added tail rocker, but shy'd away. Had run/tested the previous 183 with the duck tail bend and liked it but thought it'd be great with a rockered tail. And when the tail rocker was added, they also tapered/narrowed the tail width by some 6 mm. Back then I wished they'd only added the rocker and left the sidecut profile alone. Pretty much like a Wren tail. I can't say that they did it wrong as I never tested that vintage. That was probably a big mistake!!

I will keep my eyes open for a used pair of 188 from that only year. I just have to try them!

[kid-kapow]

wait, what?!? 1099.95 usd for a pair of the new Draco?!?!? LOL.

Man, that shape must be magical - because there sure as hell is no secret sauce aka unobtanium in that skis construction as far as I know. Why anyone would get it over say a touring ski from Moment or ON3P is just baffling.

looooool - I just saw the pricing of the Dracos in my neck of the woods, and man - they retail at 11500 nok. I think that is 500nok less than what the Völkl BMT's list price (but where their sticker price is usually a fair bit less).

Unlike the BMT and its very advanced (heavily milled core) and carbon intensive ( 6 full carbon layers, not stringers likea lot of carbon touring skis -> carbon is very expensive post covid) construction, Dracos are more similar to other brands lighter resort skis (light core and carbon stringers).

I guess unicolor + carbon stringers + chevrons = expensive

I said it before but I’ll say it again, must be some killer psychedelics going around Cham right now…

yeah, I can't help but agree

[waxoff]

^^^ The Euro is strong, you're poor, sorry, but the market will prove them right or wrong. Can't shit on them for trying to make good business, ehh? Gonna take a punch at DPS again, are we?

[kid-kapow]

^^^ The Euro is strong, you're poor, sorry, but the market will prove them right or wrong. Can't shit on them for trying to make good business, ehh? Gonna take a punch at DPS again, are we?

Cool story bro.

I've been moaning about their pricing locally for multiple seasons - even up thread - so the current exchange rate is more likely than not not the main driver. To be fair, the importer - aka a non-value adding middle man in this day and age - might be a big factor in this case, and not BC as such (feel free to compare the pricing on the Norwegian and Swedish version of the BC web store...).

11 500nok for Dracos is just....

You do not have to agree with my take and good on you if you are keen enough on them to buy them at that price point.

[waxoff]

Me, no way I'd buy them at that retail price, I'm way too cheap for that, and usually buy skis used and/or earlier seasons/heavily reduced. But then, I wouldn't by a new car at retail either. But I don't bitch at pricing or at people that chooses to buy at said high retail. That's just a market thing, it is what it is, and if the skis sell well at that price, well, then it's the right market price. No matter what you or I think about it...

[kid-kapow]

But I don't bitch at pricing or at people that chooses to buy at said high retail. That's just a market thing, it is what it is, and if the skis sell well at that price, well, then it's the right market price. No matter what you or I think about it...

Man, it would be nice if you could refrain from using retorical devices like "shit on" and "bitch at" to categorize opinions you do not agree with, as well as using economics 101 level analysis to justify whatever you think.

I am basing my opinions on what I think based on talking on the subject with people who run fairly major ski retailers here in Norway. They are describing BC as being an absolute pain to deal with and that their perspective of what they are actually selling seems to be a missing at times. My impression is that some of the stores only carry em to have them on the wall, but that they are finding them increasingly hard to sell and that they might not continue to carry them in the future (which is nice since I can pick them up and try them at steep discounts). And the pricing for 23/24 is 100% BC - they ditched the local importer for the coming season.

At the end of the day an opinion is just that - an opinion. I sincerely doubt that BC is going to change their ways based on anything that I say. But then again, if enough people say it...

And to mention something positive regarding DPS - what they are doing with the Koala line is a really good idea. They are making a series of skis that will jive well with a ton of skiers, especially with the new versions being slightly more accesible. So a volume model that is relatively good value and that skis well - aka something that can help finance making and selling the skis they manufacture in Utah. So the opposite of the BC approach of selling volume / mass market skis at boutique level prices justified through marketing and pretty chevrons. Like, I would find their pricing to be ok if the skis were the best ever or had some unobtanium in them, but they're not and they do not, hence me uttering disbelief at their pricing strategy.

Feel free to disagree - that is fine - we are all skiers at the end of the day no?

[waxoff]

Whatever...

[SoVT Joey]

Good stuff.