2023 Black Crows Corvus Freebird

The 2023 Black Crows Corvus Freebird returns unchanged for this year, and that’s great news for skiers who like large, light, and very pink skis. The Corvus Freebird is based on the alpine version of the same name, but with some structural as well as shaping differences that make this an ideal hybrid touring ski that can be used in a variety of formats and applications, but mainly in softer snow. Built with a poplar wood core with titanal reinforcement under the binding zone, the skis also feature a blend of fiberglass and carbon fibers that make the ski stiffer without adding much weight. In the 183 cm length, the Corvus FB tips the scales at 1875 grams per ski, which isn’t feather-light, but is certainly a better choice than the heavier Corvus when it comes to uphill efficiency. There’s more taper and rocker in the Freebird version as well, with more dramatic taper in the shovel for sure, and more rocker in the tail. That’s not too difficult given the flat and square profile of the Corvus’ tail, this Freebird version is more playful and smearier for sure. The 183 also produces a 21-meter turn radius, so it does like to go straight and fast, and with a 107 mm underfoot width, the skis are wide enough to handle deep, fresh, and soft snow no matter what. If you’re looking for a strong touring ski, and aren’t afraid of a few hundred extra grams, then the Corvus Freebird is a great option.

Dana Allen skied the 183, and noted that “For a 183 cm Ski, it felt short. Definitely easy to break out of a turn. Would not necessarily size these up though. It’s a lot of ski width-wise.” Dana scored it top marks of 4 out of 5 for overall impression, forgiveness, playfulness, quickness, maneuverability, and flotation. Stability and versatility got 3’s while torsional stiffness and edge hold received 2’s. Dana warns/notes: “Don’t make any mistakes, this is a soft snow specialist. While it is quick edge to edge and holds an OK edge on harder conditions, that’s not what this ski is for. More of a playful ski that will slide turns. Decently light for such a large ski as well. I definitely would not mind dragging these uphill. For powder or soft chop, really good. Definitely has a speed limit. Does not like to go too fast or the tip will flop around and deflect. For that reason, it rewards an attentive driver. Overall, a good ski. But a specialized one.”

Marcus Shakun skied the 183 and noted that while it skis true to size, he’d likely prefer the 188, but still had a good time on the shorter ski. Stability got top-billing for Marcus, with a score of 5 out of 5. Flotation, torsional stiffness, edge hold, versatility, and overall impression all got 4’s with 3’s dotting the rest of his card. Pretty high overall scores for sure from Marcus, showing the high-end of the ski and his general agreement with it. “Powerful in Pink Powering through the spring corn or in search of morning pow here’s your touring tool. The platform underfoot allows the ski to be stable as you power through the snow conditions. It does have a bit of a wider turn preference, but doesn’t shy away from dipping in to shorter turns as you dig it in. Not always a characteristic you find in wider touring skis. Some of the lightness in construction and width probably allows for that softer-ish shovel. Still pretty stiff to plow its way through. for that adv backcountry touring guy looking for something a bit wider at 107 underfoot. Maybe a bit more average out west. not necessarily choice for everyday resort ski, but could see this with a lighter more balanced skier.” Skier input seems to have a lot to do with the overall performance of this ski, and it makes a lot of sense, especially since it falls into the category of the touring application, but still has quite a bit of beef to it.

There are a lot of skis out there these days that blend and blur the lines between the resort and the backcountry. The Black Crows Corvus Freebird does a great job of taking the things that skiers like and want in a resort ski and putting it in a lighter package. Whichever way you choose to use this ski, you’ll love the vertical sidewall grip, floaty shovels, and responsive tails. Not to mention the brilliant pink color—can't miss this one coming down the hill!