2018/19 SOTY: All-Mountain winner (do-it-all) – Black Crows Vertis Birdie

Fall-Line SOTY: Black Crows Vertis Birdie

RRP: £480

Lengths: 153, 160, 170

Turn radius: 14m @ 160

Dimensions: 122-85-105

Weight per pair (without bindings): 2650g

More Info: Black Crows


Fall-line tester: Amy Marwick

This was a go-anywhere, do-anything, one-quiver ski that I rode and taught on all season. I loved it so much, I bought my Dad a pair! The Crows name this as their resort ski for women, calling it “biting, precise, agile” and I’d like to add versatile to that list too. Though Black Crows markets it for piste, the 85mm waist puts it in our all mountain category.

I was able to cruise happily on easy slopes without it twitching, it held a solid edge when asked to rip on hard-packed pistes, it bounced playfully through chopped-up powder and nimbly negotiated bumps or tight spots.

It has a traditional camber and a 15m radius that makes a carving devotee like myself feel right at home, yet manages to carry off that same performance through all snow without a glitch.

The poplar wood core provides a soft and sporty flex giving it a spirited rebound from turn to turn. Grab these skis for a day on the pistes but feel confident that they’ll not only carry you safely when you spy that quick sidecountry hike is in condition, but will make the descent a thoroughly animated affair.