4FRNT Raven 2027 Skis

The Raven is the entry point into Hoji's reverse-camber touring ski universe, and the one that makes the most sense for the widest range of backcountry skiers. Designed by Eric "Hoji" Hjorleifson and manufactured at the Utopie factory in Rimouski, Québec, it sits at 104mm underfoot, narrower than the Hoji (112mm) and the Renegade (122mm), and lighter than both.

The design logic is worth understanding before you ski it. ReflectTech reverse camber means the ski has a hull shape: rockered tip and tail, with the high point underfoot rather than the low point. In soft snow this pays off immediately: the tips naturally rise to the surface, breaking trail is easy, and the ski pivots and surfs with a looseness that a traditional camber ski can't replicate at this width. In powder, the Raven is genuinely fun in the way that makes you want to go back uphill. On firm snow or hardpack, the same geometry requires adjustment. There's less edge-to-snow contact than a cambered ski, and the large 29m radius means short turns require active input rather than passive edging. It skis better in soft snow than on firm, and that's the honest version of the sales pitch.

The core is aspen and maple with full-length carbon fiber reinforcements and neoprene inserts in the shovel for vibration damping in variable snow. At 1,600g per ski in the 184cm, it's meaningfully lighter than the older Hoji platform and well suited for longer touring days. 

Worth noting: the Raven rewards a relaxed, surfy skiing style. Skiers who prefer driving hard from a traditional stance, particularly on variable or firm snow, tend to get along better with the Nevar, which is the Raven spelled backwards and built with a modest 3mm camber for exactly that reason.

Made in Canada (Rimouski, Quebec)