Freeride skis
Product 2027
Woman, Man
Tested in the generous 188.1 cm length (100 mm waist, 17 m turn radius), the striking Black Crows Vena Core is an atypical ski in both its visual design and on-snow performance. It features a beautifully sculpted, extended swallowtail, a highly accentuated and pointed 3D hull-shaped tip finished with a black bumper, and precise Black Crows logo cutouts.Build quality and perceived craftsmanship are top-tier.
At first glance, its outline recalls a revamped Salomon BBR or a surf/snowboard-inspired swallowtail longboard.However, the Vena Core is far from a stiff, unyielding powder gun. Unlike past charging beams (such as classic Aluflex models or Stöckli’s Dominique Perret signature skis, which required 100 kg of muscle and 80 km/h of speed just to bend),this ski proves surprisingly accessible. It pivots imperially in fresh snow and powder, making skidded and drifted turn initiations completely effortless.
Soft snow is its natural habitat. As expected, the Vena Core floats over everything and pivots with extreme agility,exhibiting a pleasantly oversteering character. It immediately brings to mind tight lines through La Grave’s mogul fields or dense larch tree runs where short-radius maneuvering is key. The Vena Core was born for grand mountain terrain, deep powder, and raw “combat skiing” trails down to the valley. While visually imposing and carrying structural mass, its flex profile is surprisingly supple. The forebody chatters slightly at speed, but absorbs terrain irregularities with great compliance. While not strictly a playful jib ski, it is easily dominated by average-weight riders without requiring heavy physical output.
On hardpack, however, its 100 mm platform and specific shape show their limits. In skidded or drifted turns on firm snow,the leverage effect becomes noticeable, engaging unevenly at the tip and tail. You need to stay alert when riding it on groomed or icy slopes.
On the construction front, the vibrant yellow graphics make locating a lost ski in deep powder much easier. The base looks stunning in classic Black Crows fashion, though glide performance is somewhat average as the base material dries out fairly quickly. To shave off weight, the steel edge does not wrap full-around the tip contour; while this lightweight construction is great underfoot, long-term durability may suffer if you impact rocks or trees. Lastly, the pronounced tail rocker and swallowtail cutout make fitting the skis into standard ski-lift racks a bit tedious.
While the technical solutions aren’t brand-new innovation per se—the hull tip recalls Atomic’s Maverick series, and swallowtails have existed for decades—Black Crows deserves major credit for launching such a bold, beautiful, and genuinely effective product.
A total freeride treat for skiers wanting to stand out with style and performance. Bold, visually stunning,and deeply satisfying underfoot. A well-deserved Test4outside First Award.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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