Black Crows Nocta Ski Reviews

Black Crows Nocta 2018 - 2017 Review by A Better Ski

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Black Crows Nocta 2017-18 Review by A Better Ski

Black Crows is relatively new to the US, and relatively new for that matter.  Launched in 2006 in Chamonix, France the brand has a strong identity and presence in the market.  The Black Crows Nocta is a 122mm powder boat, playful, lively and plenty of rocker to make sure things don’t get too serious.

Black Crows Nocta Review and Video

Size:  185cm

Shape: 140-122-132

Radius: 26m

Days: 1

Riders: Chris

Conditions: Hard Pack, Trees, Bumps, Crud

Boots: Salomon X-Max 120

Ski Personality: Playful, lively, floaty, the Black Crows Nocta isn’t a ski that should be taken too seriously, this doesn’t mean that it isn’t capable, just that you’ll look to jib and smear everything.

On the Snow Feel: This 122mm ski will keep things loose, sort expect a locked in feel from this one, its fully rockered which shortens the effective edge but makes it fun in chop and tight areas of the mountain.

Turn Initiation and Carving: Obviously, the Black Crows Nocta take a little extra effort to engage the edge, at 122mm underfoot you would thing that the Nocta would be sluggish, really, it wasn’t…fun to bounce back and forth, using the lively core to get you over quickly.  Really, its a smear and pop, fun and all but who really cares about this skis carving performance, I feel like I’m just wasting my breath here.

Speed: Confident, and torsionally stiff, I didn’t find this ski to light or short to handle itself as speed increases.

Powder:  This is what the Black Crows Nocta is designed to do, float high and proud.  Slash, smear, jib, butter, drop, spin…you get the point.  This is the ski for those “special” days, the ones where you want to have the biggest most fun skis on the tram deck. You’ll be lucky to ski them 10 times a year, but every time will be worth it.

Uneven/Variable Terrain:  Not overly damp or confident, but plenty of waist width to keep you above the heavy stuff, rocker both tip and tail will allow you to release easily without catching.

Trees/Bumps/Tight turns:  The Black Crows Nocta really shined as things got tight, it may have been because I was skiing a short skiing 185cm ski, but I had a blast on this ski in the trees and through tight bumps.

Edge Hold:  Not really what its made to do, effective edge is too short, there is too much rocker… but who cares.

Flex:  Pretty stiff for a big powder ski, I’ve grown to expect a soft tail from most of these float boats, but the Nocta is pretty moderate throughout, which allows for a more aggressive stance and forward lean in powder.   

Intended User:  An intermediate to advanced skier who wants a powder ski to add to his/her quiver, this isn’t your only ski, or even the one you grab on most days.  Its the ski that you grab when everyone else is stuck on the other side of the pass because the roads are closed.

Overall:  The Black Crows Nocta is a purpose driven powder machine, playful and lively, it will keep the smile on your face until you’ve slashed through all the fresh snow on the mountain.

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