Black Crows Navis Freebird Skis Now On Sale

I saw a lot of the Navis Freebird skinning up Arapahoe Basin this winter—but fear of being cliche didn't keep me from picking up a pair for my new backcountry setup. These skis absolutely nail the sweet spot for a backcountry ski. At 102mm underfoot, they're wide enough to float and narrow enough to be quick and nimble. Relatively stiff, they're reliable in crusty chutes while also being light enough to be a worthy option for bigger tours. At 5'7"/160, I was tempted to size down to a 169, but the 179 has proven to be the best choice I've made all winter. Fun, fun, fun 'till daddy takes the Freebird away...

Photo Journal: Backcountry Skiing in Patagonia with Owen Leeper

PHOTOS: Owen Leeper and Matt McDonald In Bariloche, Argentina, we start with 17-ounce tenderloin cuts—bife de lomo—and a bottle of Malbec. "Anywhere in the States, this is $60 steak," Owen says. But we're in South America. We "ball out," and dinner costs each of us around $30. Our next vintage Argentina moment? Hiking through mud, slush, bamboo and rain from the parking lot at the Cerro Catedral ski resort to Refugio Frey, a hut in the Bariloche backcountry. Contrast two and a half hours of trudging through lenga forest with the winter scene when we ultimately reach the hut and you fully appreciate Patagonia's different biomes. In Lord of the Rings terms, it's Misty Mountains meets Fangorn Forest. Low clouds shield the upper spires from view as we chow down beef goulash. By ... Continue Reading

A Baker's Dozen of the Best 2018 Skis

Let's be honest: most of us here at Powder7 are in it for the gear. We like gear--buying gear, testing gear, talking about gear--and we won't apologize for that. That's why we're always pumped when chilly November air arrives and it's finally time for our first on-snow ski demo of the season, hosted by Loveland Ski Area. When it comes to picking our favorite skis at a demo day, however, it's impossible to choose just one. Even narrowing things down to the usual top 10 list feels too constricting for us. So, after testing out the latest gear and falling in love over and over again, we ended up with the following list highlighting a baker's dozen of the best 2018 skis from the Loveland demo. Justin - Rossignol Sky 7 HD: Though I'm listed on the official Powder7 gameday ... Continue Reading