Black crows Sato — Review

The Black crows Sato is the men's / unisex sibling of the Black crows Sato birdie: a frontside-focused 88 mm all-mountain ski built around a poplar wood core, fiberglass laminates and a semi-cap construction with full sidewalls. At 128 / 88 / 114 mm in 173 cm and an 18 m radius, it positions itself as Black crows' friendlier on-piste 88 — more forgiving than the cult-classic Black crows Mirus cor, but with a more orthodox shape and rocker pattern than the wider Black crows Serpo.

Classic camber underfoot with medium tip and tail rocker gives the Sato a predictable, planted feel on groomed pistes — at 88 mm under the boot it still rolls edge-to-edge quickly enough to feel agile, but the fiberglass-and-poplar build keeps things calm rather than nervous. The 18 m radius at 173 cm wants medium-radius arcs more than slalom-tight turns. Off the groomed runs, the rocker-camber-rocker profile and 128 mm shovel skim through chop and refrozen crud without darting, while the tail releases without the hookiness you can get from a flatter-tailed carver.

The Sato uses a poplar wood core with fiberglass laminates and a semi-cap construction that runs full sidewalls under the foot for edge bite and quietens the platform on hardpack. Profile is Rocker-Camber-Rocker with medium tip and tail rocker around classic underfoot camber. Verified spec at 173 cm: 128 / 88 / 114 mm sidecut, 18 m radius. Weights per length: 167 cm = 1650 g, 173 cm = 1700 g, 179 cm = 1825 g per ski. Sold flat (no system binding), available in 167, 173, 179 cm.

The Sato suits intermediate-to-advanced skiers who want a forgiving frontside-leaning daily driver around the 88 mm waist — primarily on piste, with confident detours into soft snow on the edges. Compared to the Black crows Mirus cor (87 mm, swallowtail, ~13 m radius) the Sato is the calmer, more conventional option — it gives up the Mirus cor's tight-turn pop in exchange for an easier ride and longer arcs. Compared to the Black crows Serpo the Sato is narrower and more piste-biased, with less float in deep snow. The Black crows Sato birdie is the dedicated women's build at 90 mm with shorter lengths and lighter-flex tuning.

Pros

• Poplar/fiberglass build with full sidewalls keeps the platform calm on hardpack at 88 mm.
• Rocker-Camber-Rocker shape stays predictable in chop and soft snow without darting.
• More forgiving on-piste 88 than the Mirus cor at the same waist — easier daily driver.
• Three lengths (167, 173, 179) cover most adult sizes; sold flat for binding choice.

Cons

• No metal laminate — at very high speeds and on true ice, metal-stacked 88s feel damper.
• 18 m radius wants medium arcs; not a slalom-snappy short-turner.
• 88 mm waist is limited for deeper resort powder days — look wider for that.
• Touring is possible but uninspired; this is a downhill-biased frontside chassis.

Verdict: A frontside-focused 88 mm all-mountain ski that trades the Mirus cor's tight-turn intensity for everyday composure. Pick the Sato when you want a Black crows piste-leaning daily driver that stays friendly when the snow turns variable.