Hello and welcome to my Capita Black Snowboard of Death review.
In this review I will take a look at the Black Snowboard of Death (BSOD) as a Freeride snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the BSOD a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other Freeride snowboards.
Overall Rating
Board: Capita Black Snowboard of Death 2020
Price: $629 (USD recommended retail)
Style: Freeride
Flex Rating: Medium-Stiff (6.5/10)
Flex Feel: Medium-Stiff (7/10)
Rating Score: 85.3/100
Compared to other Men’s Freeride Boards
Out of the 39 Men’s Freeride snowboards that I rated:
Overview of the BSOD’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Black Snowboard of Death’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | Freeride |
Price: | $629 |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Feel: |  |
Turn Initiation: | Medium-Fast |
Edge-hold: |  |
Camber Profile: | Hybrid Camber | camber virtually back to the tail with rocker towards the nose |
Shape: | Tapered Directional (but a very subtle taper) |
Setback Stance: | Setback 25mm (1") |
Base: | Sintered (Hyperdrive NC12 base) |
Weight: | Light |
Sizing
LENGTH (cm) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
156 | 253 | 130-190 | 59-86 |
159 | 256 | 140-200 | 63-90 |
162 | 259 | 150-210 | 68-95 |
165 | 262 | 160-220+ | 72-100+ |
Who is the BSOD Most Suited To?
Anyone who isn’t superstitious about the name!
Jokes.
This board is ideal for anyone looking for a freeride deck but wants one that has all-mountain tendencies. It's pretty much a cross between a freeride and an all-mountain board. I could have just as easily put this in the aggressive all-mountain category - but I feel it just slightly leans more towards freeride.
If you want to ride the backcountry finding powder, carve up the trails and generally ride hard and fast – but want a little bit more forgiveness in the flex, compared to a super stiff board, then the BSOD is a great choice. It also handles jumps pretty well – so if you like to throw in some jumps over rollers and drops off lips etc.
The 2018 & 2019 models especially are a little bit more towards the do-it-all type of board, but I still consider it freeride – just a little closer to the all-mountain end of the freeride spectrum than previous models. It’s something you also ride switch OK on too, now.
This is definitely not for beginners – this is an advanced rider’s board only.
The BSOD in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Black Snowboard of Death is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: Capita Black Snowboard of Death 2019, 159cm, (waist width 256mm)
Date: March 23rd, 2018
Conditions: Snowing! At times it was hail like snow. Really cold day with relatively strong winds at times. -12 degrees celcius with the wind. Visibility was pretty bad first thing in the morning but got better, though was never great.
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance width: 555mm (21.9″)
Stance Setback: Setback 25mm
Width at Inserts: 268mm
Weight: 2700grams (5lb 15oz)
Weight per cm: 16.98 grams/cm
Average Weight per cm: 18.21 grams/cm*
*based on a small sample size of 24 boards that I weighed. Like most Capita boards, the BSOD is really light. Given that it’s also quite a wide board, makes it a very light core.
Powder
Really good in powder. Floats pretty effortlessly.
Though there is only a very subtle taper, there is a decent setback (25mm on effective edge, 40mm on overall length). Also there is rocker in the nose but not in the tail. This board felt best in powder or not-to-hard, groomed snow.
Carving
Felt really confident just opening out with this board, getting up on edge and letting rip.
It was also surprisingly quick edge-to-edge given that it’s a little wider and was quite fun in the trees, especially since there was plenty of freshies in there.
Speed
So stable at speed. Just felt like you could bomb the steeps without consequence. Didn’t feel a wobble at all – and it’s not necessarily that damp a board as such. But in soft snow, you can let it rip and was just super confidence inspiring riding at speed and riding steeps.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Uneven Terrain
It’s not the dampest feeling board, but you get that when it’s this light. But overall, it’s not bad in messy snow and can handle undulating terrain well too.
Jumps
Definitely better with jumps than your average Freeride deck. If you really want to go through the jump line in the park you can but mostly this is great for popping off lips, rollers, etc.
It’s got a fair bit of pop and that lightness makes air time easy to get. It’s super stable on landings but also forgiving enough, though a little too stiff to be ideal for smaller jumps.
Not the best for spinning, especially taking off or landing switch, but a good straight air board.
Switch
Switch is doable but not that comfortable. It’s got directional camber, it’s setback and has a mild taper. But certainly doable.
Changes from the 2019 Model
There have been some changes to the core and to the base but the 2020 model is predominantly the same board as the 2019 model.
Changes from the 2018 Model
The 2019 model has apparently being softened in terms of flex. I certainly still felt it at a 7/10, or possibly even more, compared to the 6.5/10 that Capita rate it at (the 2018 model was rated as 7/10 by Capita. Other than that very similar to the 2018 model, with a couple of other little tweaks.
Changes from the 2017 Model
Th 2018 model has undergone a few changes.
- It’s slightly stiffer than the 2017 model
- It has gone from a 5mm taper to a virtually non-existent 0.3mm taper
- Carbon X-Arc stringers added to the nose (in place of straight stringers)
- Different fibreglass formula
- Different resin formula
- New Hyperdrive NC12 base
Changes from the 2016 Model
There have been a couple of changes for the 2016/17 compared with the 2015/16 model.
- The camber section has been elongated
- Lower tip height
- Nano-Carbon Race Base™
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
CARVING | 4.0 | 24/30 |
POWDER | 4.0 | 16/20 |
SPEED | 4.5 | 18/20 |
UNEVEN TERRAIN | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
JUMPS | 3.5 | 7/10 |
SWITCH | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 85.3/100 |
Even though it didn't make my top 5 Freeide List, it's only really that it suffers from its own ability not to be labelled. It's a demon of a board and super fun. It's stuck between categories, but that's only a labelling exercise.
Overall this board is serious fun in a freeride come all-mountain board.
Performs best on good snow, rather than harder/icy snow but when you get that good snow, it's a real powerhouse.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you’re looking to learn more about the Black Snowboard of Death, are ready to buy or want to research current prices, check out the links below.
Thanks for reading and I hope you found this review helpful. If you want to check out other freeride options or see how the BSOD compares to other freeride decks, check out the link below.
Hello and welcome to my Capita Black Snowboard of Death review.
Hi Nate, I’m thinking to buy the BSOD or the PYL. I Like speed and powder and I’m a Capita fan. After reading your comments I have the doubt. Which one would you recommend me? Thanks
Hi Carlos
Thanks for your message.
The PYL is my personal favorite freeride board, but the BSOD is an awesome board itself. I don’t think you could go wrong with either. And really the only reason the BSOD didn’t make any of my top 10 lists, is that it doesn’t fit neatly into any category. It’s kind of in between freeride and all-mountain.
I would say that the PYL, in my experience, was a little better for carving and in powder but only by a little bit. And there both as good as each other at speed, IMO.
Overall, I prefer the PYL, but I think you would really enjoy the BSOD too. The other thing is to think about sizing. If there’s a size of one or the other that suits you better then that might be the best tie breaker. If you could let me know your height, weight & boot size and also your current board’s model and size. Then I can give you my opinion as to whether there’s a size of PYL or BSOD that would better suit you.
Hope this helps
How does this compare to the gold member?
Hi Justin
I haven’t ridden the Gold Member, unfortunately, so I can’t give you any personal insight.
But spec-wise and based on other Lib Tech boards I’ve ridden with the C2X camber profile, I would say:
1. They would be very different feeling boards – the C2X profile is a looser feeling profile to what the BSOD has. So it would be a more surfy feeling ride. The BSOD is more stable feeling, bordering on locked-in
2. Sounds like they would be a similar flex based on Lib Tech’s flex rating
3. The BSOD is a little more directional – with directional camber and a directional shape. The Gold Member is more directional-twin.
4. Overall, I would say that the Gold Member is squarely all-mountain/aggressive all-mountain, whereas the BSOD I would class as freeride with an all-mountain-ish feel to it. These are only labels but can sometimes help. I imagine the BSOD would be better in powder, anyhow.
That’s a few differences anyway. Without having ridden the Gold Member though, I couldn’t say for sure.
Awesome! Sounds like a super fun ride. My plan is to size up to a 59 for deep days and use my mercury 57 as my daily driver. Not to mention that graphic is rad
Hey Justin. Yeah definitely a fun ride – and a sick graphic, for sure! Good idea to size up, if you already have a 57 Mercury, so you’ve got that contrast in your quiver for those pow days.
I think you may need to review this one on the snow. Complete redesign. Updating numbers isn’t going to give you the picture based on specs.
Hi Danny
Definitely agree, and the new ratings are to be taken with a grain of salt for that reason. I tried (and kept trying) to get hold of a 2018 BSOD to demo but didn’t get a chance. Will be hoping to get on the 2019 model this season.
I’ve ridden a lot of freeride boards, and this by far exceeded my expectations, and has been one of the few boards I’ve purchased twice.
That said, I had some comments on the ratings.
Speed – this is the fastest board I have ridden, and I’ve ridden the Burton Flight Attendant and Custom x, Arbor Iguchi, All NS decks, Ride Highlife, K2 Turbo dream, Yes Pick Your Line, etc etc. this board is the fastest. If you didn’t feel it was, it was likely because it isn’t the dampest board, but that is rider level, not actual speed of the board. The core is thin and light, and built that way.
Carving – The rebound in this board is insane. I can generate as much power through the carve us a Custom X
Powder – there isn’t a huge difference between this board and the Charlie Slasher. It’s gotta be a 5. Every other free ride board I’ve ridden lacks the ability to float that this one has. The combo of the taper, setback, flex, and nose shape make it so.
I feel like you sold the board short because you rode it on a sloppy slushy day, which in turn caused user error. Riding a thin core, powder hound in mush mounds and rain is certainly going to take away from a board with a core this thin. If you want a resin loaded tank to feel more comfortable, sure, this board would be average. Personally, the pop, edge hold, float, and speed of this board made it elite for me. The Flight Attendant and Pick Your Line are just planks in comparison. Just feel you left this board short.
Hi Pete
Thanks for your comments. Great to hear another rider’s opinion on this board.
In terms of the speed rating, I did find this board fast – but my speed rating also takes stability at speed into account and it didn’t feel like it had the stability at speed of other boards that I’ve ridden. But as you say I probably didn’t have the ideal conditions for this board.
I hope to have the chance to ride this board again this winter and maybe my ratings will change if I get it in different conditions. Though my ratings do take into account reviews from others as well, because I know that my experience is only one experience. But we’ll see when I get a chance to ride this board again.
Glad you really like this board. I did too – this is still a high rating for me and I did enjoy riding it. In general the Capita boards I’ve ridden have all been great. Hope to get the chance to ride this board in different conditions and see if I have the same excitement that you have experienced on it.
I think you’ll find that it does in better conditions. This is one of those special boards that’s capable of so much due to the flex and shape.
You didn’t address powder however. I read your NS reviews, which scored higher. Question. How does a board with taper, setback, large nose, and a flat tail, not float better than a board with rocker between the bindings and camber outside the bindings?
Again, you need to ride this board in proper conditions to review it. The Capita BSOD is up there with pow specific boards. It has to be rated higher than center reverse NS boards. And that is where core and dampness have nothing to do with float – in a powder field.
Again, don’t understand how you scored this one…
Thanks again for your input Pete.
I did rate this board as 4.5/5 in powder. Now I might up this to 5/5 if I feel that it performs as well as others I’ve taken in powder, the next time I ride it. But to be honest 4.5/5 is still a very high rating for powder. There’s not much between a 4.5 and a 5.
Those specs are all very well and I see your point, but it’s not just about the specs of a board that I base my ratings on – it’s also about how the board feels.
But I take your points and I am always happy to change my ratings when I ride the next seasons board and feel that they warrant changing.
How stiff is it compare to the Turbo Dream?
Hi Jim
Thanks for your message.
The Black Snowboard of Death (BSOD) is rated as a 6.5/10 and I would say that is about. It’s softer tip and tail and stiffer between the feet – so maybe a 7/10 between the feet and a 6/10, or maybe slightly less even, tip and tail.
The Turbo Dream is rated as a 5/10 and again, I would say that’s pretty accurate – certainly no stiffer than that. Maybe feels 4.5-ish. It’s a pretty laid back easy to ride kind of deck, and that can make it feel a little softer than it’s rating but I’d say 5 is pretty accurate.
So, not heaps in it but I would say that the BSOD is definitely a notch stiffer – it’s soft compared to your average freeride deck for sure – but still a bit stiffer than your average all-mountain.
Hope this helps
Thanks Nate!