Expert Review: Black Crows Corvus Skis · 2022
Half way through the Headwaters Ridge hike at Big Sky, MT with the Black Crow Corvus. All photos courtesy of Joshua Brower
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the skis, which I purchased with my own money in March of 2019.
My take
The Black Crows Corvus 107 is a stiff, aggressive, and directional hard-charging ski. It thrives on big, committing lines and needs to be skied like so. The construction from the 2018 and 2022 models remains the same, while the rocker profile in the 2022 ski is now a rocker/flat/rocker instead of a rocker/camber/rocker profile.
About the gear I own
- Model: 2018 Black Crow Corvus
- Size: 193cm length/109mm underfoot
About me
- Height: 6’4”
- Weight: 200lbs
- Experience: I have over 10 years of skiing experience
Test conditions
- When I bought these: March 2019
- Days tested: Over 100
- Mount position: Recommended
- Boots: 2021 K2 Mindbender 130 and 2022 K2 Mindbender 100
- Boot Size: 27.5/29.5
- Bindings: 2019 Look Pivot 14
- Where I’ve used it: Big Sky, MT; Alta, UT; Snowbird, UT; Jackson Hole, WY
- Terrain: Powder, trees, chutes, cliffs, moguls, groomers
How they perform
What I was looking for
When searching for a new ski, I was looking for a ski that would primarily be used when the snow was falling. In addition, I wanted a hard-charging, stiff, and directional ski that would float. Finally, being an advanced skier at 6’4”, I was also looking for a ski over 190cm.
Why I chose this gear
In many ways, the Corvus was what I was looking for and fit all my criteria. Many of the other options I was considering, such as the Nordica Enforcer 100, Salomon Stance 102, Volkl Mantra 102, or Rossignol Sender 106TI, were all great skis. Ultimately those options lacked the length I desired or the amount of float, which affirmed the Corvus.
What I love about them
- Speed: The Corvus is designed for speed. This ski thrives at speed due to its metal construction. It is super stable, and I have never experienced any chatter.
- Edge hold: Since there is very minimal rise/rocker in the tail of the ski, it holds a very effective edge in almost all conditions.
- Powder: The 109mm underfoot on this ski proves to perform very well in the deepest of conditions.
- Trees: Tree skiing with the Corvus can be a blast if there is deep snow. The Corvus floats well through the trees with fresh snow on the ground, but as the snow gets skied off and harder, I think about breaking out a more narrow ski.
- Backcountry: If someone is hiking, using a snowmobile, or a helicopter, this is the ski to take into the backcountry because of its great downhill performance._ _This ski is designed for skiing big lines in the backcountry but does not thrive on the uphill. Due to its metal construction, it is one of the heaviest skis on the market, and for that reason, I would choose a lighter ski to tour on.
- Durability: I have skied these skis hard every day they have been out. They have held up surprisingly well, with no delamination anywhere on the ski. The only complaint about durability is the topsheet is beginning to show heavy signs of wear, although only cosmetic.
- Stability: Due to its metal construction, this is one of the most stable skis I have ever skied. It needs to be skied aggressively since it's stiff; otherwise, it will put me in the backseat fast.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Turns: I found this ski to perform best while making very fast and long radius or tight jump turns. While being sometimes difficult to turn/manage in the middle ground, making medium radius turns at slower speeds.
- Groomers: At 109mm underfoot and a 21M turn radius, the Corvus handles surprisingly okay on the groomers. They handle the best on groomers with some fresh snow and at higher speeds but otherwise lack good edge hold.
- Moguls: Due to its size and weight, the ski is not the most nimble and can be hard to throw around in the moguls quickly. If there is recent snowfall, the moguls are more manageable, but if skied off, I would bring a different ski.
- Park: The Corvus is not a park ski. It is a very heavy, directional ski, which is the opposite of what a skier wants in the park.
- Weight: Due to its construction, having two sheets of metal, the Corvus is a very heavy ski, which is also why it loves going fast.
- Switch riding: The Corvus can be ridden switch, but this is not what it is designed to do. Due to the recommended mount being rather far back and having minimal tail rise, it does not perform well while riding switch.
Favorite moment with this gear
I purchased this ski intending to begin to ski bigger and more committing lines, where I need to trust my skis at a high rate of speed. Since getting these skis, I have skied multiple new lines that I have been super stoked on. One of the moments that really sticks out to me was a powder day at Big Sky, Montana. I began hiking up the Headwaters Ridge, an exposed knife edge traversing over some of the steepest inbound terrains in the country. I hiked for over 45 minutes, finally arriving at my line called Three Forks. I stepped into my skis and dropped in. It was one of the best and fastest lines of my life. I could trust the Corvus to take care of me and rip from top to bottom.
Value for the money vs. other options
While the Corvus is an incredibly well-performing ski, that is very durable, it comes with a hefty price tag. The latest Corvus is one of the more expensive skis on the market. Personally, I would find it hard to justify the retail price of this ski, while similar options, including the Enforcer 100, Mantra 102, or Sender 106 TI are less expensive. However, if someone can buy the previous model year or potentially buy it secondhand, that is the direction that I would/did go.
Final verdict
The Black Crow Corvus 107 is a hard-charging, stiff, directional ski that likes to go fast. It is one of the stiffest skis on the market and rewards commitment. So if someone wants to go fast in style, this is the ski for them.
Black Crows Corvus Skis · 2022
- We price match
- Returnable