2023 Black Crows Atris Birdie

A name in the industry that has continued to gain recognition over the years, Black Crows skis have made a name for themselves through varying shapes and levels of performance yet with a relatively simple construction. Each with their own individual qualities and notable takeaways, the Atris is one that is stealing the show as far as being one of the more progressive, freeride big mountain skis for women. If you are an advanced skier who likes a powerful powder ski with plentiful versatility, you will love the Black Crows Atris. Mixing stability with maneuverability, this ski boasts a wide width of 108 mm underfoot yet puts into play the underlying construction making it poppy and playful. With a poplar wood core and fiberglass laminate, this powder-hungry ski maintains a light weighted nature, allowing for freeride behavior all over the mountain. This ski has worked its way up to being an iconic Black Crows model, for it can be designated as a backcountry ski and resort option. The performance downhill counteracts the lighter weight, given the fact that it’s a powder ski, making it a great, well-rounded freeride ski that excels in big mountain terrain.

Carly Monahan skied the 172 as well but found it was a bit much for her. Based on her scores for quickness, playfulness, forgiveness, and versatility, it seems as though the wider width and intended use for this ski was noticeable when putting its agility and overall performance to the test. Where powder skis tend to shine, in categories such as flotation and stability, her scores trended higher, which adds up. Her overall impression was “this ski really wants some big terrain! Its least favorable conditions are probably on icy, chundery groomers - which is where I tested it. They’re incredibly stable, but less forgiving and not quite as quick as other options. I had to really force these skis to make shorter, skidded turns given the conditions of the day, and felt like a battle against everything they wanted to do. Certainly will cut through crud without flinching, and power through big turns, but if you want something light and playful that you can turn on a dime, look towards the Camox or Vertis instead.”

Alli Ruschp skied the 172 and thought it was true to size for a powder ski but would prefer a shorter length for tree skiing. That said, her score for versatility was 3 out of 5, which makes sense given the ski’s natural habitat being in the deep snow. All other scores were in the 4’s and 5’s, rounding out the ski overall as being capable, maneuverable and stable. Alli commented “great option for a lady powder ski, beautiful topsheet, and playful feel. 105 waist, gave lots of flotation, but with width came a little larger turn radius and heaviness that was sometimes hard to maneuver in tighter areas. I would probably size down if I were to choose this for my East coast powder ski, allowing for more maneuverability in the tighter trees and bumps. Powder skis are not for everyone, but this is a great option for a high intermediate looking to expand their skiing into powder.” This is an excellent piece of feedback as far as speaking to which type of terrain you find yourself more on. While you can certainly size down and make this an east coast powder ski, it sure sounds like it would shine on the west coast. On the longer 178, Catherine Ferguson noted that it was in fact on the long side for her. Regardless, Catherine awarded 5’s for flotation, stability, torsional stiffness, and edge grip. In her time on the ski, Catherine notes that “the reps said they were a “west coast ski” but, they fit right in with the east coast as well! Definitely a strong ski which I love!!” One of my favorite words when writing about these skis is “empirical,” meaning based on experience rather than theory, and I think it applies quite well here.

It goes without saying that the Black Crow Atris Birdie is a big-mountain, powder-seeking ski that craves wide-open terrain and large, arcing turns. If you are a skier looking for a lighter, nimbler ski that can pop effortlessly from edge to edge, this might not be the best choice for you. However, it still provides a stable, confident ride that can handle a variety of conditions and terrain. Put these skis in their happy place though and you will never look back!