2025 Black Crows Justis

The 2025 Black Crows Justis gets a facelift but remains one of the coolest skis on the planet today. Every time we click into the Justis, we’re reminded of just how good this ski is. When we got on the new graphic around mid-winter, we spent about a week putting it through its paces. Some deeper snow was involved, and it did great, but on the groomers and in a carved turn is where this ski really stands out. For a 100-mm underfoot ski, that’s impressive. On the other end, the rocker profile is such that the Justis is totally useful in softer and deeper snow. Not many skis hold these two attributes at the same time as effectively as the Justis. It’s sturdy, strong, and stiff, yet the profile allows it to be playful. Year after year, the Justis comes out on top of the 100 mm ski pile as an incredible option for advanced and expert skiers looking for high performance versatility.

Built with a poplar wood core and fiberglass laminates, the Justis also features double H-shaped titanal plates. The H-shape puts more emphasis on the sides of the ski and allows the middle portions to flex a bit easier. The ends of the ski are free from these laminates, although the tail does have an aluminum insert to keep a bit of weight and counterbalance back there. The ski measures out to a 2150 gram weight in the 183 which is certainly heavy enough to keep the sturdiness in check. It’s stiff, though, and that pairs interestingly with the profile, which is on the less traditional and more dramatic side of the spectrum. Jeff Carpenter notes that the ski feels true to size despite the high rocker profile, which tells us that this thing is all there where it counts. Carpenter also states that “This ski performs best when making long arcing turns in variable conditions provided the skier is strong enough to handle it. Felt amazing railing groomers and smooth deep snow with it the first day I skied it but another day I had trouble skiing it late in the day when I was tired especially going through a few bumps. Wouldn't be a good choice for beginner or intermediate-level skier but rewards a strong skier who can keep driving it forward.” That’s the rub right there—it's still a pretty stiff ski. While the rocker does help when it comes to versatility, the Justis is still such a strong and rugged build that if you’re not willing to push it a bit, it’s going to be a tough ride.

At 100 mm underfoot, the Justis is on the wide side to be considered a pure carver. At the same time, it’s difficult to take away the thing that this ski excels at. Other than twin tipped skis like the Head Oblivion 102 or the Nordica Unleashed 98 in this category, the splay due to the rocker of the Justis is in rare air. The tail bend is ample, and the tip rocker keeps the ski feeling surfy and smeary. This is oppositional to the actual snow feel, which is outstanding. It’s interesting when a ski on paper looks one way and then totally turns that impression on its head. The ski also has a 21-meter turn radius, which is long but carves much better than that number implies. Bob St.Pierre has some strong words for the Justis, in addition to earning a 10/10 for overall impression. “First impressions are amazing. Instant love for this ski. It hooks into the turn cleanly and makes some of the best carves out there, not just for a 100 mm ski. Total control and confidence.” That’s just the way it is with the Justis.

Advanced and expert skiers will get the most out of it. Like Jeff Carpenter said, it’s stiff and not the best for lower-level skiers. It’s also over 2100 grams, so there’s a weight factor as well. If you are an intermediate or a progressing skier, you may find that the Justis is a bit much. If you’re more aggressive and like the feeling of driving a high-end ski, the Justis will exceed your wildest expectations of what a 100 mm all-mountain ski can truly do.