2021-2022 Black Crows Justis

Ski: 2021-2022 Black Crows Justis, 183 cm

Available Lengths: 171, 177, 183, 189 cm

Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length: 181.7 cm

Stated Weight per Ski: 2150 grams

Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 2078 & 2138 grams

Stated Dimensions: 138-100-123 mm

Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 137.9-98.6-122.2 mm

Stated Sidecut Radius (183 cm): 21 meters

Measured Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 68 mm / 33 mm

Measured Traditional Camber Underfoot: 3 mm

Core: poplar + titanal (2 H-shaped plates) + fiberglass laminate

Base: sintered

Factory Recommended Mount Point: -7.55 cm from center; 83.3 cm from tail

[Note: our review was conducted on the 20/21 Justis, which was not changed for 21/22.]

Luke Koppa reviews the Black Crows Justis for Blister
Black Crows Justis
Review Navigation:  Specs //  First Look //  Bottom Line //  Rocker Pics

Intro

For the 2020-2021 season, Black Crows are discontinuing two of their popular all-mountain skis, the Daemon & Navis, and replacing them with a new ski that reportedly combines design elements from both. The new ski is called the Justis, and we’re pretty excited about it and where it could slot in the crowded category of ~100mm-wide all-mountain skis. 

Construction

Like the 19/20 Black Crows Orb, the Justis features two “H-shaped” titanal plates. The titanal plates are fully edge-to-edge around the middle of the ski, but near the shovels and tails, the plate splits so that only the areas near the ski’s edges are covered with metal, with a cutout in the plate between the ski edges.

Similar to the many other companies using titanal plates with cut-out sections, Black Crows says the H-shaped plates in the Orb and Justis are designed to provide much of the damping and power transmission of a full titanal plate, but are designed to make the skis a bit more forgiving, lighter, and playful vs. skis with full, edge-to-edge titanal layers.

Oh, and the unique shape and metal inlays of the Justis’s tail? That’s just for aesthetic purposes and durability, not for attaching skins.

Shape / Rocker Profile

When it comes to shape, I’d say the Justis shares more in common with the Daemon than the Navis. The Justis is not a very tapered ski. Its widest points are very close to the ends of the ski (the Navis had notably more tapered tips and tails). Overall, the Justis’s shape looks fairly similar to the Volkl Mantra 102, Armada Declivity 102 Ti, and Parlor Cardinal Pro.

That very traditional shape is contrasted by a very not-traditional rocker profile. While, unlike the Daemon, the Justis does feature traditional camber underfoot, it also has very deep tip and tail rocker lines compared to most directional skis in this class, and it also has a lot of tip and tail splay. Overall, the Justis’s rocker profile looks like a bit of a cross between some freestyle skis like the Armada ARV 96Ti and more directional skis like the Mantra 102, Cardinal Pro, Blizzard Bonafide, Nordica Enforcer 100, etc.

Flex Pattern

Here’s how we’d characterize the flex pattern of the Justis:

Tips: 6.5
Shovels: 6.5-8
In Front of Toe Piece: 8.5-10
Underfoot: 10
Behind the Heel Piece: 10-9
Tails: 9

The Justis is a very strong ski, particularly in the middle and back. It has a very directional flex pattern with tips that are much softer than the tails. While the Justis’s tips and shovels are pretty easy to bend, its flex pattern ramps up quite quickly and its tail is no joke — it’s stiff.

Overall, the Justis’s flex pattern is pretty similar to the new 20/21 Nordica Enforcer 100, with the Enforcer having slightly stiffer shovels but a softer tail.

Mount Point

We’re seeing more and more directional skis with more progressive mount points, and the Justis fits this trend. At around -7.5 cm from true center, the Justis’s mount point is not as traditional / far back as skis like the Mantra 102 and Bonafide, but not as far forward as freestyle-oriented skis like the ARV 96 Ti, ON3P Magnus 102, and Armada Edollo.

Weight

Our pair of the 183 cm Justis has a 60-gram difference between the two skis in the pair, but the average weight is ~2108 grams, which is on the slightly heavier end of the spectrum for a ~100mm-wide ski in the current market. The Justis is not as heavy as directional chargers like the Volkl Mantra 102, Kastle MX99, or Folsom Blister Pro 104, but it’s notably heavier than some of the lightweight, easy skis in this category like the Elan Ripstick 96, Blizzard Rustler 9, Atomic Bent Chetler 100, or the Black Crows Daemon.

For reference, here are a number of our measured weights (per ski in grams) for some notable skis. Keep in mind the length differences to try to keep things apples-to-apples.

1629 & 1684 Elan Ripstick 96, 180 cm (17/18–19/20)
1734 & 1750 Renoun Endurance 98, 184 cm (18/19–19/20)
1807 & 1840 Atomic Bent Chetler 100, 188 cm (18/19–20/21)
1863 & 1894 Blizzard Rustler 9, 180 cm (18/19–20/21)
1894 & 1980 Black Crows Daemon, 183.6 cm (17/18–19/20)
1896 & 1919 Dynastar Legend X96, 186 cm (18/19–19/20)
1921 & 1968 Head Kore 99, 188 cm (18/19–20/21)
1925 & 1937 Liberty Helix 98, 186 cm (18/19–20/21)
1928 & 1933 Moment Commander 98, 178 cm (19/20)
1931 & 1932 DPS Foundation Cassiar 94, 185 cm (18/19–19/20)
1937 & 1945 Fischer Ranger 94 FR, 184 cm (19/20–20/21)
1966 & 1973 Liberty Origin 96, 187 cm (18/19–20/21)
1976 & 2028 Parlor Cardinal Pro, 182 cm (19/20–20/21)
1985 & 2006 Parlor Cardinal 100, 185 cm (16/17–20/21)
1994 & 2011 Fischer Ranger 99 Ti, 181 cm (19/20–20/21)
1998 & 2044 4FRNT MSP 99, 181 cm (17/18–19/20)
2007 & 2029 Armada Invictus 99 Ti, 187 cm (18/19–19/20)
2049 & 2065 Volkl Mantra M5, 177 cm (18/19–20/21)
2050 & 2080 ON3P Wrenegade 96, 184 cm (18/19–19/20)
2053 & 2057 Atomic Vantage 97 Ti, 188 cm (18/19–20/21)
2062 & 2063 Rossignol Experience 94 Ti, 187 cm (18/19–20/21)
2078 & 2138 Black Crows Justis, 183 cm (20/21)
2085 & 2096 Dynastar Menace 98, 181 cm (19/20–20/21)
2101 & 2104 Fischer Ranger 102 FR, 184 cm (18/19–20/21)
2114 & 2133 Nordica Enforcer 93, 185 cm (16/17–19/20)
2115 & 2149 J Skis Masterblaster, 181 cm (16/17–19/20)
2124 & 2137 Blizzard Bonafide, 180 cm (17/18–19/20)
2131 & 2189 Nordica Enforcer 100, 185 cm (15/16–19/20)
2218 & 2244 Volkl Mantra 102, 184 cm (19/20–20/21)
2233 & 2255 Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, 186 cm (19/20–20/21)
2256 & 2284 Nordica Enforcer 94, 186 cm (20/21)
2311 & 2342 K2 Mindbender 99Ti, 184 cm (19/20–20/21)
2324 & 2359 Kastle MX99, 184 cm (18/19-19/20)
2325 & 2352 Folsom Blister Pro 104, 186 cm (19/20)
2326 & 2336 Nordica Enforcer 100, 186 cm (20/21)

Some Questions / Things We’re Curious About

(1) The Justis’s traditional shape offers a lot of effective edge, while its rocker profile creates a much shorter running length. So how precise will it feel on edge, and how loose and surfy will it feel when you don’t want to carve?

(2) The Justis has a rocker profile and mount point that make me think it’d be quite playful, but then it has a very directional, strong flex pattern, so how playful and forgiving will it feel, or is this going to be an experts-only, directional ski?

(3) Skis in the ~100mm-wide category are all supposed to handle just about everything, so how will the Justis feel on everything from icy hardpack to deeper snow?

Bottom Line (For Now)

The Black Crows Justis is not your traditional metal-laminate all-mountain ski; while it has a traditional shape, it does not have a very traditional rocker profile, mount point, or construction. Blister Members can check out our initial on-snow impressions in our Flash Review linked below, then stay tuned for our full review.

Flash Review

Blister Members can now check out our Flash Review of the Justis for our initial impressions. Become a Blister member now to check out this and all of our Flash Reviews, plus get exclusive deals and discounts on skis, and personalized gear recommendations from us.

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2021-2022 Black Crows Justis, BLISTER
2021-2022 Black Crows Justis, BLISTER

10 comments on “2021-2022 Black Crows Justis”

  1. This write-up suggests the Justis could be a great everyday ski for a place like Alta. (Well, everyday except the deep days…….)

  2. Hi, I’m 39 and just bought my first season pass since high school. I was on a race team for 12 years and competed in AAU but have averaged maybe 1 or 2 days a year the past 20 years, so would consider myself advanced but incredibly rusty. I’ve been out a few days this season and it’s clear I’ll be skiing with 2 types of skiers: Advanced skiers who can zip down double back bumps, and less experienced friends who like to slowly cruise blues (while I do wide slow turns, and clown around on side kickers). I picked up a pair of Kore 99s cuz they were super cheap but I’m finding they don’t like to go slow and are very unforgiving in the bumps. They’re amazing at ripping through flat chop, but since that’s the only thing I’ve found they excel at I’m looking to maybe switch up to something else and the Justis (and Daemon) are on my radar as well as the Line Sick Day 104. I’m skiing at Crystal Mtn. Washington for the most part and will be going on solo missions during pow days as well, so I want something with reasonable float too. Would this be a good ski for my situation?

    • So far, they don’t strike me as super similar, though I still want to ski the Justis with a new tune since the pair we got had a burr left on the edges (should be getting it re-tuned in the next week). With that caveat, the QST 99 feels more smooth / damp on firm snow, more forgiving if you get backseat, and slightly easier to pivot / slide around (that last point may change with the tune). I’d say the two feel similarly stable at speed, though the QST 99 has been a bit more predictable when skiing fast in more variable conditions since the Justis we have has felt slightly “hooky” when making big turns in inconsistent conditions.

  3. I am looking hard at this ski vs Salomon Stance 102 and Armada Declivity 102 for snow day daily driver at Big Sky, Whitefish, Jackson Hole, Steamboat and Snowmass. I need a ski that handles the long, wide groomers those mountains are known for but is also equally adept at their glade skiing and will serve well on powder days.

    I’m an intermediate skier, 6′ and 220 lbs who sticks mostly to blue runs and relatively shallow glades. I like to make slightly longer radius turns when on the groomers. I have a nice frontside ski already for days between snow and strictly hardpack conditions, so I want a nice resort snow day ski to make up a 2SQ.

  4. In your Buyer’s Guide this year, you mention the Justis’ tendency to get “hooky” when making wide turns in chop/crud. Can you provide (to the best of your ability) the definition of “hooky”? I can wager a guess, but I’d rather know for sure, seeing as this ski (at least on paper) is on my short list for my daily driver.

  5. I love the Justis, great all around ski off Piste, passes the tree turn test for me. Not a good carver, it puts too much load on the front binding, and the ski popped out of the binding on a heavy carve at Squaw, Red Dog Face, and also in a steep off Piste Cornice near Head Wall, in heavy snow, Din Setting was 7. The ski was great in the Red Dog Trees, skis fairly confident, and not hard on the body. It skis better than the Blizzard Sheeva 11, that is the Rustler 11, but I wanted to try it with the Marker Squire Binding over the Griffin. The Blizzard was a good ski, not great, basically an advanced ski, but not expert, but super fun in trees. The Justis is a lower level expert ski. The Mantra will crush it on carving, but the Justis is so playful. My old Volkl Katanas I always bring, like everyone else, I need to get rid of them but it just seems I can’t. The Katanas are more confident, and my preferred ski on big pitches, like Rock Garden, or skiing Silverado Chutes when open. The Justis handles tight chutes really well, and transitions very nicely. I would say the profile feels like a parabolic ski that is 100 under foot, skis a little short, unlike the Mantra which skis dead on. I set the binding back minus one, and I think the DIN should be set at 8 in retrospect for my weight at 154 lbs and at 5′ 10″. The Justis was not hooky. The Blizzards were hooky, but like I said, the Rustlers were fun, whereas the Conchise was a dead ski for me, boring, and not playful.

  6. How would you compare these with the new Corvus? I have the Serpo and want a slightly wider resort ski for days with more snow. I love the versatility of the Serpo and looking for something similar but wider.

  7. I’m super torn between these and the Masterblaster for a 1 ski quiver in the West. I ski CO, but usually get a few trips in the winter to Utah and Jackson or Taos. Both seem like I can’t go wrong. I did get to ride the 174 version of the Justis this year and really liked them, but I would get the 183 if I purchased (friend who is shorter than me demoed them). I think the MB would be a lot better on groomers, but I rarely ride groomers. Mostly trees and bowl skiing. I currently ride the Black Crows Camox in a 186 and love them, but am looking to size down and get something with a little more backbone. If anyone has experience on both or just some input, I’d really appreciate it.

    I am considering getting the 96 underfoot MBs and then a cheap used pow ski in the 105-110 range to match. But don’t think it is necessary, I’ve had my Camox in every condition and they kill it. Not sure there is a need for a pow ski with something right at 100 in almost all but the most extreme cases.

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