Author: Gavin Hess

Black Crows Draco Freebird: A First Look

Black Crows Draco Freebird: A First Look

Written by | Oct 26, 2023

A new, Orange, Black Crows ski arrived for testing the other day. A replacement for the Ferox? A wider Atris? Named after a Harry Potter character? A whole new beast of freeride Freebird? 

Perhaps a comparison with the famous “Pink ski” the Corvus Freebird is a good place to start. The Draco is a bit like a freestyle-Corvus. Designers add a twin tip and more tail rocker, as well as moving the mount 5cm forward (from -10cm on Corvus Freebird to -5cm on Draco Freebird). There are other differences too, like a slight weight and turning radius increase for the Draco. 

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ZAG Adret 85 Review

ZAG Adret 85 Review

Written by | Oct 14, 2023

The Adret 85 fits an interesting niche amidst skinny and light skis. I hesitate to call any 1100g ski “hard-charging,” but relative to its class, the Adret is quite capable at speed and in variable snow. From the inside out, the Adret starts with a Paulownia wood core, wrapped in multiaxial carbon/fiberglass and capped with a phenol reinforcement in the mountain area. Paulownia and carbon—pretty standard fare at this point. The phenol reinforced mounting area is interesting to me. I certainly prefer a metal mounting plate – something about a tapped hole through metal gives me warm fuzzies. That said, I didn’t have any issues with stripped holes or the like—the phenol plate seemed to have a solid bite with screws. A 3.8x9mm bit was recommended. I used a 3.6x9mm as that’s what I had on hand. 

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Backcountry Skiing First Aid Kit Series: Starting in the Middle

Backcountry Skiing First Aid Kit Series: Starting in the Middle

Written by | Oct 3, 2023

First aid kit contents are one of the more varied/contested items among ski touring partners and communities. From the legendary French guide’s first aid kit: two cigarettes and a cell phone, to a seasoned guide/search and rescue member who has seen too much and prepares as such, there is a huge variety of kits that folks are carrying.

In this series, we will explore both extremes and more middle-of-the-road kits that various folks carry during their day-to-day skiing. The goal here isn’t to provide a definitive kit for a reader to copy for themselves but rather to give context and a framework for building a first aid kit that matches your location, risk tolerance, medical training, and personal needs.

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Ice Axes for Skiing: A Primer

Ice Axes for Skiing: A Primer

Written by | Sep 26, 2023

The ice axe is as much a mountain tool as it is a universal symbol for mountain climbing. You may find yourself on this page because you are shopping for a first ice axe or want to expand your knowledge of these tools and the modern options available. An ice axe, in the context of modern technical skiing, is quite a different beast relative to the wooden-handled, wedge-headed mountaineering axes of years past.

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