THE GEAR PICKER
skis / compare
Head-to-head · all-mountain

Black Crows Vena Cor vs DPS Kaizen 100

The Vena Cor and the Kaizen 100 compared. They share 100 mm underfoot. The Vena Cor is 92 g lighter at the default length (1,775 vs 1,867 g). Turn radii are 17 m and 15 m.

Black Crows Vena Cor — topsheet
Vena Cor
$999 MSRP 4 lengths · 167, 174, 181, 188 cm
DPS Kaizen 100 — topsheet
Kaizen 100
$1,695 MSRP 6 lengths · 153, 163, 171, 179, 184, 189 cm

Where each ski sits across every ski we carry

Vena Cor
Kaizen 100
Waist
100 mm
100 mm
Narrower · firmer-snowWider · powder
Weight
1,775 g
1,867 g
Lighter · playfulHeavier · damp & planted
Tip taper
34 mm
32 mm
Straighter · grippyMore taper · loose
Turn radius
17.0 m
15.0 m
Shorter · quickLonger · stable

Head to head, by character

Each ski's own read, side by side — the same three things that define how it skis.
Turn & shape
A 17.0-meter radius draws medium-to-long turns and holds a line through them; a moderate taper keeps entry manageable without giving up much grip mid-arc.
A 15.0-meter radius sits in the all-purpose range — turn shapes that shorten up or open out without committing to either; a moderate tip taper keeps turn entry easy while the shovel still engages.
Stability & dampness
Built without metal on a poplar wood core, it's lighter and livelier underfoot — easy to release from a turn and quick edge to edge. At 1,775 g it stays light and maneuverable.
Built without metal on a wood core, it's lighter and livelier underfoot — easy to release from a turn and quick edge to edge. At 1,867 g it stays light and maneuverable.
Float & width
At 100 mm it leans toward soft-snow float while keeping enough edge to hold when it firms up. Rocker at tip and tail lets it smear and release easily, while the camber underfoot keeps an edge.
At 100 mm it leans toward soft-snow float while keeping enough edge to hold when it firms up. Tip rocker eases turn entry and float; a cambered tail holds the edge through the turn.

Full spec comparison

SpecVena CorKaizen 100
Waist 100 mm 100 mm
Sidecut 134·100·125 mm 132·100·117 mm
Weight @ default 1,775 g 1,867 g
Weight range 1,550–1,875 g 1,433–2,080 g
Turn radius 17.0 m full-length 15.0 m full-length
Metal None None
Core Poplar wood core Wood
Lengths 167–188 cm 153–189 cm
MSRP $999 $1,695