Black Crows

Atris Skis

Destined to be one of the most versatile skis in the Black Crows lineup, the Atris was made in the image of versatility. If you're trying to buy only one new set of planks to get you through this season, pull the trigger on the Atrix already. Its moderately sized waist, double rocker profile, and flex that's soft enough to surf and smear your way through the deep days, but still stiff enough to charge between storm systems, will playfully see you through a season without leaving much to be desired.

The Atris' 108mm waist falls in the sweet spot for everyday boards, offering plenty of float for the storm days that deliver knee-deep powder, rather than chest-deep goods. You'll want a fatter ski for the few days when the snow gods really smile down on you, but the Atris' width and rocker profile will keep it afloat in most soft tree lines and above-the-lift bowls. Plus, this versatile shape and width means that on the other side of storm days, you can still slice through days-old chop and jump onto the occasional groomer without your tips folding over and giving up.

The Atris' semi-cap construction comes with a top sheet that rolls over the edges for increased durability, and Black Crows wisely adds powerful ABS sidewalls to keep the skis from chattering around underfoot at speed. A light and nimble poplar wood core encourages the Atris' playful behavior, while triaxial and biaxial fiberglass laminates keep the ski torsionally stiff when you're rolling it over from edge to edge. If you usually avoid a double rockered ski due to the risk of tail wash, don't discount the Atris on principle alone. A progressive rockered profile gives it float at the tips and stability underfoot, and the tips themselves raise only slightly off the snow, meaning they're less likely to dance around behind you while you're trying to arc a clean turn.