Black Crows Anima
By PTO Team, Based on official Black Crows specs and independent review consensus · Spec analysis + professional review consensus on this ski
The take
“Power and maneuverability in one 115 — calm at speed, quick to pivot, happiest where the snow is soft.”
The Black Crows Anima gets an unusually specific official brief: a 115 mm ski with a big-mountain job — powerful and maneuverable at once, for quick pivots, jumps, big lines and riding switch — that stays stable at high speed. The construction story — double rocker, short camber, long radius, no metal — is covered in the description above; the question here is whether it delivers, and against what. It is Kristofer Turdell's ski — Freeride World Champion, 2021.
One caveat first: the third-party reviews cover the previous generation. Its dimensions, size run and radius are identical to the 26/27 ski, but Black Crows publishes no change log, so treat ride impressions as prior-generation testimony rather than a verdict on this exact build. That testimony backs the official pitch: riders describe it as remarkably stable for how playful it is; a long-form independent review calls it a 'versatile, fairly stable, pretty playful soft-snow ski'; another rates its edge hold 'very respectable' for a 115 and credits the damping to real mass plus the carbon/kevlar reinforcement. On piste it works, but user reviews call it not the easiest ski.
The limits are just as clear. At 2150-2450 g per ski the Anima is a lift-served tool — short hikes are fine, big touring days are not, and Black Crows builds the Freebird line (Navis, Draco) for that buyer. Its hard-snow competence carries the brand's own qualifier, good for its size, so a season spent mainly on groomers belongs on a narrower ski. It is not the deepest-day specialist even in its own family. And scattered user reviews report topsheet and edge durability complaints — unverified, but we note them.
Within Black Crows' big-mountain trio the split is official: the 122 mm Nocta ($1,199) exists above all to surf soft, deep snow; the 110 mm Corvus ($1,049) runs a single titanal plate and a 25 m radius for big, fast curves and couloir pivots; the Anima ($1,099) is the creative middle — the one that also jumps, pivots tight and rides switch. Cross-brand, the Atomic Bent Chetler 120 is far lighter by independent measurement and surfier in review comparisons; one review credits the Anima with stronger grip and damping in rough snow.
The Anima comes in 176.6, 182.1, 189.2 and 194.4 cm, all at 19 m, with a directional -6 cm mount. It is sold flat — budget for a binding; we mount it and set it up for you.
Bindings we'd pair with it
Mount point: Flat ski — sold without a binding; official mounting point is -6 cm (directional). Our pick: Chosen at fitting — Black Crows publishes no binding pairing for the Anima.
- Alpine freeride bindingLift-served freeride
Black Crows publishes no official pairing, so we never assume one — we match a model to your setup in the shop.
The Anima ships flat. We help you pick a binding and mount it; a technician adjusts it to you at the shop.
Common Questions
- What is the difference between the Black Crows Anima, Corvus and Nocta?
- All three are big-mountain skis with different jobs. The 122 mm Nocta is built above all to surf soft, deep snow; the 110 mm Corvus runs a single titanal plate and a 25 m radius for damp, fast charging; the 115 mm Anima sits between them — playful, stable at speed, no metal.
- Is the Black Crows Anima good for beginners?
- No. It is a 115 mm freeride ski with a directional -6 cm mount, and independent reviews — of the previous generation, which shares this ski's dimensions, sizes and radius — put its floor between strong intermediate and advanced. If you ski cautiously, a narrower ski is the better starting point; we will help you choose one at fitting.
- What lengths does the Black Crows Anima come in?
- Four lengths — 176.6, 182.1, 189.2 and 194.4 cm — all with the same 19 m radius. Tell us your height, weight and terrain and we will recommend a length.
- Does the Black Crows Anima come with bindings?
- No — it is sold flat, without bindings. We help you choose a binding, mount it, and a technician adjusts it to you.
- Is there a women's version of the Black Crows Anima?
- Not in the 26/27 catalog — there is no Anima Birdie this season. The Anima is officially a unisex ski; Black Crows' own motto for it is 'virility isn't just for men'. Prior seasons had a women's-marketed Anima Birdie, but it is not in the current line.
