The Black Crows Navis Freebird is a one of the new breed of light skis that transcend Tour and Freeride categories. It has the right balance of float and manoeuvrability for playful descents, rigidity for grip, and weight saving to make ascents less punishing. The core is formed from lightweight woods wrapped up in a mix of fibreglass and carbon fibre to give the skis the power they need to deal with variable terrain. A must for adventurous skiers looking for something that excels in challenging conditions.Terrain Type & Ability LevelTerrain Type The Freebird is the lighter version of the standard Navis and is a versatile backcountry option, designed to be paired up with a hike enabled binding. It has the width for softer and deeper snow with a shape that produces a surfy feel when the snow is fresh and provides stability when it gets rough. The construction ensures that there is grip and control when the conditions are harder. You can take it anywhere!Skier TypeSkiers who skin to get the best snow and want some width for when they find it. The width and shape ensure stability and float, without being so wide to add excess weight. It\'s certainly not the lightest ski in the category, but the performance is more important that the grams saved to this skier.OverviewShape102mm in the waist with a 19m radius (179cm) make this capable of dealing with any snow. Stable and wide enough to deal with soft, deep or mixed conditions and still lay down medium and long radius turns on piste. Contact points are closer to the tip and tail than many BC skis, giving it a long contact length and excellent edge hold.RockerThe Navis Freebird uses a progressive front rocker and long classic camber underfoot. This gives excellent pivot control and maoneuvrability. The slight rise on the tail helps turn completion without interferring with skin placement or the ability to place the tail in the snow. The camber improves stability and the nose rocker makes turning easier whatever the conditions.CoreA paulownia and poplar wood core has excellent strength to weight characteristics and ensures good energy. This is reinforced with Titanal in the binding area to add strength and exra torsional rigidity for edge grip, without over-stiffening the ski. Overall, this core set-up helps the Navis Freebird feel a bit more solid than the Camox Freebird.ConstructionThe cap sidewall mix offers the best of both. The cap sections at the tip and tail increase durability and help with ease in and out of the turn. The sidewall improves the grip and precision. This combination works well on a 102mm ski as it allows strong skiing on firm snow and isn\'t over-responsive when the conditions get difficult or soft.Key FeatureseB tester’s comments: Simon (Fort William) I skied powder with a fair amount of chopped up terrain and they felt superb. The shape and flex make them really easy to use but there’s a ton of performance if you want to go for it.Technical SpecificationsSize (cm)Tip Width (mm)Waist Width (mm)Tail Width (mm)Radius (m)Weight (g)167136102116181550173138102118191675179138102119191700185139102120191800General InformationSkier Ability: Advanced/expertTerrain Type: BackcountryRocker: Tip/Tail RockerRadius: MediumBase: SinteredBindings: Ski sold flatDIN: n/aConstruction: Semi SidewallCore: Wood, CarbonDemo: N/ASizing Description: Go shorter for reduced weight and quicker climbing properties, chose a longer length for more floatation and stability.