Black Crows Navis Freebird Alpine Touring Ski

Why We Like the Black Crows Navis Freebird Alpine Touring Ski

One of Black Crow's iconic adventure skis, the Navis is a 102mm waisted ski dedicated to all types of terrain. With its balance of lift and skiability, alpine ride, and progressive front rocker, the Navis Freebird is built for both long-distance and everyday quests. Last season's upgrades have increased its versatility, providing a perfect balance between skiability and lightness. It is available this year in a new small size in 161.

Black Crows' Freebird line made a sharp and immediate impression on us with the dampness they have achieved in the construction. Many times touring skis have been accused of being "floppy", when actually, they are quite stiff due to multiple layers of carbon fiber. What is often confused with a lack of stiffness is the chatter and feedback you feel from a poppy, ultralight carbon ski. Black Crows used a paulownia/poplar core and both biaxial and triaxial carbon fiber and glass fiber layup in constructing the Navis. The Triaxial gives you stiffness both laterally and longitudinally, Biaxial adds to the lateral stiffness without making the ski too stiff or poppy lengthwise. The inclusion of fiberglass and a minimal amount of carbon, compared to other touring skis, help in the dampness factor. When you're in a committed steep line, you don't want to feel every inconsistency in snow, and that's what Black Crows knew when they developed these skis.

Tip rocker, early rise tail, and camber underfoot allow you to really open it up when the terrain calls for it. The Navis Freebird also has a perfect amount of taper from tip to tail, to help with power planning and getting the tail through quick turns. From shape to construction the Navis Freebird has it dialed. Light enough, without compromise on the down, the Navis is ready and willing for descent-oriented skiers. Paired perfectly with Black Crow Climbing skins From Pomoca