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April, 2025

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Thoughts on the Black Crows Vertis for me?

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BrowseFlack
Posts: 2 - Karma: 18
Hey all,

I am looking at purchasing a new ski to add to my 'quiver.' A bit about me - I am 22 years old, 181cm tall, 64kg and I am an intermediate/advanced skier. I have done two seasons in Europe, one season in Whistler Canada and a couple of weeks in Australia so I regularly go off-piste and can happily go down any run (e.g. double black etc). Nevertheless, I started skiing quite late (18 years old) and even though I have my ski instructors licence, I am still working on my technique and am not a super aggressive skier. I currently have the Black Crows Camox 181 which I really like (though I do wish I got the size smaller) but I want a ski that will be more suited to days when I just want to stick on the piste or do some moguls - Ideally, I would want a ski that can deal with the variable conditions towards the end of the day whilst also maintaining really good edge control for carving and on ice. I found the camox wouldn't hold an edge that well on ice compared to other skis. I am currently skiing in Australia for the foreseeable future thanks to COVID restrictions.

Do you think the Black Crows vertis would be a good pick for me? Or do you think maybe the Orb's would be better? I have found very little online in terms of reviews for the vertis. I have a feeling the orbs would require too much aggression (in terms of skiing). I am open to other brands but I have really enjoyed my black crows. Cheers!

**This thread was edited on Apr 21st 2021 at 7:18:33pm

**This thread was edited on Apr 21st 2021 at 7:19:56pm
4 years ago
2 0
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animator
Posts: 4576 - Karma: 26,428
The camox holds a fantastic edge, if you can’t get the edges in on those you may wanna work on your technique re: “Still working on your technique and not a super aggressive skier”
no hate because everyone starts somewhere, but the Camox holds a really really good edge. I had the Anima which is 115 underfoot and even that ski held a better edge than a lot of skis in the 95-100mm wide category.

the vertis is a decent ski but the radius is super short (only 15m) so it feels very locked in to super short, high angle carves. Trying to get longer, GS style turns out of it is a chore.

the orb has the dual H titanal or whatever they call it underfoot so it’ll be a bit more demanding definitely. It’s a more versatile piste ski IMO but like you said it is aimed at the more aggressive skier.

idk man maybe just rock with the Camox for another season and try and focus on your edge control? 97mm underfoot isn’t wide and it’s a very easy ski to engage, Juliens main focus with all of their skis is versatility and easy of engagement.
4 years ago
2 0
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BrowseFlack
Posts: 2 - Karma: 18
animatorThe camox holds a fantastic edge, if you can’t get the edges in on those you may wanna work on your technique re: “Still working on your technique and not a super aggressive skier”
no hate because everyone starts somewhere, but the Camox holds a really really good edge. I had the Anima which is 115 underfoot and even that ski held a better edge than a lot of skis in the 95-100mm wide category.

the vertis is a decent ski but the radius is super short (only 15m) so it feels very locked in to super short, high angle carves. Trying to get longer, GS style turns out of it is a chore.

the orb has the dual H titanal or whatever they call it underfoot so it’ll be a bit more demanding definitely. It’s a more versatile piste ski IMO but like you said it is aimed at the more aggressive skier.

idk man maybe just rock with the Camox for another season and try and focus on your edge control? 97mm underfoot isn’t wide and it’s a very easy ski to engage, Juliens main focus with all of their skis is versatility and easy of engagement.


Thanks for replying! Really appreciate it :) I think you are right - I think I'll just work on locking the edges in more. I guess the reason I started looking for alternatives was when I tried a narrower ski in Val D'Isere and found that on the really steep icy runs (e.g. La Face), they performed much better. I don't have any issue holding an edge on most runs but its when its super steep and icy - but as you said, I think thats my technique that just needs fine tuning - thanks again :)
4 years ago
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animator
Posts: 4576 - Karma: 26,428
BrowseFlackThanks for replying! Really appreciate it :) I think you are right - I think I'll just work on locking the edges in more. I guess the reason I started looking for alternatives was when I tried a narrower ski in Val D'Isere and found that on the really steep icy runs (e.g. La Face), they performed much better. I don't have any issue holding an edge on most runs but its when its super steep and icy - but as you said, I think thats my technique that just needs fine tuning - thanks again :)


Definitely man. Also, re your comment about steep icy runs, something like the vertis would probably perform better, but at the trade off of not being as good in more varying conditions (pow, chop, slush, crud). The Camox is much more versatile of a ski, so it’ll be a jack of all trades sort of thing, where the vertis will be good on ice and groomers, but that’s it. If you do want to build a quiver, it’s not a horrible idea to pick up a vertis if you have the money for it. But if you’d rather just have one ski for everything, there’s very few skis that can do that better than the Camox in my opinion. If you have any more questions just lmk!
4 years ago
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,759
He’s right about the camox, and working on technique is always important especially if your gonna have multiple skis in your quiver , I’ve skied every ski black crows makes and the camox has great edge hold, the captis is better and still easy to ski, I would choose it over the vertis, orbs if you really want ice knives from crows, also look at mantras and varying sizes of kastle mx or dynastar m pro
4 years ago
2 0
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powpatrol
Posts: 1752 - Karma: 11,419
BrowseFlackThanks for replying! Really appreciate it :) I think you are right - I think I'll just work on locking the edges in more. I guess the reason I started looking for alternatives was when I tried a narrower ski in Val D'Isere and found that on the really steep icy runs (e.g. La Face), they performed much better. I don't have any issue holding an edge on most runs but its when its super steep and icy - but as you said, I think thats my technique that just needs fine tuning - thanks again :)


First time I skied my Camox’s was in Val D’isère, so have experience on la face in all weathers. The edge hold is strong like animator says, it requires good strength to force the camox as it’s still quite a burly ski. The camox likes you sitting into your boot and pushing it’s nose forward, with the way the tip and tail rocker are this places the ski in the best shape it can be and gets your centre edge hold in a sweet spot underneath your foot
4 years ago
2 0
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anders_a
Posts: 1680 - Karma: 5,604
camox on ice is mehhhhhh

when you drive the camox, it folds.

camox is a good ski, its a friendly ski, its not an agressive ski, it doesnt like speed, high edge angle in combination with high speed, but it was never designed to be good at that! 60-70mm skis on the other hand...

**This post was edited on Apr 24th 2021 at 5:32:36pm
4 years ago
0 0
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animator
Posts: 4576 - Karma: 26,428
anders_acamox on ice is mehhhhhh

when you drive the camox, it folds.

camox is a good ski, its a friendly ski, its not an agressive ski, it doesnt like speed, high edge angle in combination with high speed, but it was never designed to be good at that! 60-70mm skis on the other hand...

**This post was edited on Apr 24th 2021 at 5:32:36pm


I’ve skied 65mph on mine in Zermatt, but I’m also not as tall or as heavy as you....
4 years ago
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