The Raven - Hoji's New Masterpiece

[MagnificentUnicorn]

It took a while to figure it out why the Ravens only felt good in easy snow but what I found was that I’m really sensitive to ramp angle. Once I put a shim under the toe to make the ramp basically flat the change was remarkable. I also made sure that they were flat and the base bevels were right. Now they’re point and shoot regardless of boot stiffness.


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[Andyski]

It took a while to figure it out why the Ravens only felt good in easy snow but what I found was that I’m really sensitive to ramp angle. Once I put a shim under the toe to make the ramp basically flat the change was remarkable. I also made sure that they were flat and the base bevels were right. Now they’re point and shoot regardless of boot stiffness.


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What boots/bindings?


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[MagnificentUnicorn]

I’ve got Vipecs on mine with a 5 mm toe shim. They ski well with Lupo 130Cs and Salomon MTN Explores


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[Andyski]

I’ve got Vipecs on mine with a 5 mm toe shim. They ski well with Lupo 130Cs and Salomon MTN Explores

Got it! 2 pretty upright boots.

[oetk2]

I skied mine last night inbounds to test out a new boot liner, 1st gen hawx xtd with backland bindings, and they skied amazing. 35 cm overnight that had all been skied out by the time i got there so it was a mix of soft bumps, fresh patches, and hard snow troughs/sections. I don't get many touring days in these days and forgot how much I love these skis. Has me wondering what is the inbounds version of the raven is. FR110, rockered volkl, mfree108? Time to do some reading.

[tang]

Of the current hoji line up, I think the Raven is the most OG EHP-like - stiffer ends, more flat vs full rocker.
The two bigger “ravens” these days I’d guess are HL FR110 (but haven’t skied) and SGN Togga. I’ve got a big 194 Togga, don’t use it much but it does rock.
I found the less tapered, more splayed (and softer) tips on the newer gen Rens to sometimes hang up in deep or heavier snow. You gotta stay very centered.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

It looks like Heritage Labs limited release r105 is a Raven with a freeride layup. Very close in shape but with a stout layup


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[oetk2]

Saw those, they and all the HL skis look interesting. Mount point would be further back than where I have my ravens at -7.5. Not in a rush this year, have enough skis for the ski days I'll get (blasphemy I know)

[Andyski]

Data points from sample of 1: zgtps in more upright setting + shimmed ATK raiders + gfts liners = way too upright for this ski for me. Unbalanced, harsh, rarely slarvable, rocking horse. Put a shim behind my calf and backed off the buckle tightness and all was well. Was able to slarve through saturated snow, wiggle around wet groomers and generally stay in a strong position without having to think about it. Still need the pow test, but i think I’ve got it now. What first lit these up was skiing Vulcans without tongues, which are both softer and more forward lean than the zgtps.

[OttoP]

Been skiing the Renegades (191) for the most of the early season. Had only a few tours with the Ravens (190), mostly in the worst conditions of the winter, in which they've been the reliable tool they are. Yesterday I got on the small skis again for some very pleasurable mellow tree wiggling and was reminded for no logical reason of this run from last March in some of the best snow I've skied.

Perhaps serves as a data point if someone's skeptical of the Ravens in deep snow and pondering. I had plenty of room and pitch to let them run, though. Would like to ski the Rens in these conditions too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3Yjy-hMBCg

[Perlhammered]

Picked up a pair of 184 Ravens last week and got them out for a couple days of touring this weekend. Super fun in the soft snow we encountered (duh), predictable and fun wind affected firm, predictable on breakable crust, got me down sun affected melty bullshit (my quads gave me more issue than the skis). Needless to say, am a fan. Easy on the skintrack and the 4lock skins rule!

[JRainey]

Just to add some points on ramp. I got the updated Hoji recently and did the same binding mount I've done for my last few skis: OG Ravens, Down CD5s. I've use a radical toe and the ATK FR14 heel (original) mounted straight to the ski with no adjustment track.

Pin ramp is around 5.5mm.

I've done various boot mods previously to make sure I could get forward (like running a booster instead of a top buckle on ZGTP).

For this year I switched to a light-lupo/heavy-lupo boot quiver and took the Hojis out with my heavy boot at the resort.

With that 5mm of ramp, I just couldn't flex the boot.

So instead of redrilling for the track, I just modified an old B&D toe shim I have to put under the heel at 6.5mm. 12mm total pin ramp.

Measured internal boat board ramp against a Pivot. Pivot = 5deg New pin ramp = 6deg.

Much better. All this to say is consider measuring your boots in alpine bindings and then mocking up your pin binding shims to match.

Oh, and New Hojis and 4Lock rules. New Ravens will be mine someday.

[tang]

This is prob the best spot for this... Latest Blister Gear 30 podcast, there was a tease for a new 4frnt BC ski that will be coming out - lighter, more versatile (some camber, less sidecut). I'm really hoping for a Down CD104L clone, since the reemerged Down brought that ski back totally different. In short... 1500-1550 gr ski, 100ish waist, 2-3mm of camber, long and low tip and tail rocker, moderately stiff. Super versatile, can go pretty far. We'll see!
Is there any more info out there on this that I missed?

[MagnificentUnicorn]

The Raven is pretty perfect for general purpose ski touring, not interested in camber because the Raven has great edge hold


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[nickinbc]

This is prob the best spot for this... Latest Blister Gear 30 podcast, there was a tease for a new 4frnt BC ski that will be coming out - lighter, more versatile (some camber, less sidecut). I'm really hoping for a Down CD104L clone, since the reemerged Down brought that ski back totally different. In short... 1500-1550 gr ski, 100ish waist, 2-3mm of camber, long and low tip and tail rocker, moderately stiff. Super versatile, can go pretty far. We'll see!
Is there any more info out there on this that I missed?

MORE sidecut not v.v. is what was said.

[meepmoop24]

I’ve got Vipecs on mine with a 5 mm toe shim. They ski well with Lupo 130Cs and Salomon MTN Explores


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Did you get the shims from B&D? Also, what size screws did you go with?

[MagnificentUnicorn]

Did you get the shims from B&D? Also, what size screws did you go with?

I can’t remember, I just measured the screws and added 5 mm. I got some long panhead ski screws and cut them shorter iirc.


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[JRainey]

Yeah, interested in what they put out, but it's hard to imagine wanting something similar width to the raven, but not the raven. At least for wild snow, where flat camber is the best camber.


Hoj is the high priest of reverse camber, but happy to be surprised.

I do feel like ultralight construction is something the bigger brands handle better, with increased engineering resources.

[Johnny Utah]

Today reminded me that the raven is such a weapon in bad snow


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[PeachesNCream]

How’s the raven at slow speeds? Would it work as a girlfriend learning to ski ski or is it happier at speed?


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[Backward_Banana]

I think it's fine at slow speeds, but might be a bit stiff and center mounted for a beginner, IMO

[Skip Dooley]

Anyone have actual measured weights for the newer Ravens? It seems like when they came out the weights were listed as in the 1600s, now its 1830/1890 in the 184/190 lengths..

[PeachesNCream]

I think it's fine at slow speeds, but might be a bit stiff and center mounted for a beginner, IMO

I should have been more clear. They’d be for me, tagging along with a beginner


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[MagnificentUnicorn]

I should have been more clear. They’d be for me, tagging along with a beginner


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They’re fine for that. I’m considering mounting my blue and white Ravens with STHs for low tide lift served and getting a new 4lock pair with Alpinists to take over touring duty.

They’re fine noodling around or hauling ass.


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[mr_pretzel]

I should have been more clear. They’d be for me, tagging along with a beginner


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As someone who’s teached a significant other to ski. Generally the beefier skis are better for teaching since you can’t actually ski fast enough to enjoy sidecut anyway. Long radius skis with short slarves is also great technical practice.

My 184cm 2022 ravens weigh 1794 and 1788. Old blue and white ones were similar. I’ve never heard 1600g being toted anywhere.