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 2021
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 36 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 12.5mm (0.5") |
Base: | Sintered (Hyperdrive base) |
Weight: | Light |
Sizing
LENGTH (cm) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
156 | 256 | 130-190 | 59-86 |
159 | 259 | 140-200 | 63-90 |
162 | 262 | 150-210+ | 68-95+ |
161W | 267 | 150-210 | 68-95 |
165W | 270 | 160-220+ | 72-100+ |
169W | 274 | 170-230+ | 77-104+ |
* note that there are 3 new sizes for the 2021 model - the 161W, 165w and 169W. The 165 that the 2020 model had is no longer available. Note that the shape changed a bit too, so even the existing sizes are a little different in terms of width and other things (see below "changes from 2020 model for more details).
Who is the BSOD Most Suited To?
The BSOD is well suited to those looking for a lightweight board that straddles the gap between all-mountain and freeride. It's a great board for freeriding with an all-mountain kind of feel.
If you want to ride the sidecountry/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.
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 BSOD is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: Capita Black Snowboard of Death 2019, 159cm, (waist width 259mm)
Date: February 26, 2020
Conditions: No fresh snow but there had been some in the days leading up. Cloudy with variable visibility. Worse higher up.
Groomer was firm but not icy with a bit of soft on top and quite smoothly groomed. Off groomer quite similar.
Cold enough without being super cold.
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance width: 585mm (23″)
Stance Setback: Setback 12.5mm
Width at Inserts: 267mm (10.51") at front insert and 268mm (10.55") at back insert
Rider Height: 6'0"
Rider Weight: 175lbs
Rider Boot Size: US10 Salomon Lo-Fi
Bindings Used: Burton Malavita M
Weight: 2800grams (6lbs 3oz)
Weight per cm: 17.61 grams/cm
Average Weight per cm: 18.36 grams/cm*
*based on a small sample size of roughly 80 models that I've weighed in 2019, 2020 & 2021 models. So, a little lighter than average but felt about average on snow, maybe a touch lighter on snow.
Flex
Capita rates this 6.5/10 for flex, but I still feel this board at 7/10 - perhaps even pushing 7.5/10. But perhaps with it being a little wider than normal, I would prefer the 156 over the 159 and I suspect the 156 would feel more like 6.5/10.
Damp or Chattery?
Feels the chatter a bit. One of the things of a light board. But it's not super chattery by any means, but just on the chattery side of the scale.
Smooth or Snappy?
More smooth than snappy for sure.
Powder
Didn't have a lot on the day, but from previous models and based on specs, the BSOD is a decent board in powder. Like the Mercury it transforms into a surfy, nimble feel in powder versus a more aggressive feel on harder snow (as most boards do to an extent, but the Mercury and BSOD do it to a more noticeable extent).
Carving & Turning
Carving: Really nice to carve. Gives back some great energy when you put energy into your carves. Holds an edge well.
Turning: You've got to put into this board to get it out. So if you want energy out of the turn you've got to put it in. But when you do it rewards you. You just can't be too lazy on this board.
Maneuverability at slow speeds: It's not a slow turned at slow speeds, but it's not super nimble either.
Skidded Turns: Not that easy to skid turns on. Can do it, but you can get punished for it too.
Speed
Feels really stable at speed. Can really open it out and bomb it.
Uneven Terrain
It's not super maneuverable in trees/around bumps when there's no fresh powder. But when there is the BSOD really takes on a different personality and becomes floaty and nimble - far more so than you'd think from it's feel on groomers or from it's specs.
Pretty good in crud too - the kind of board you want to use to crush through it, rather than ride with it.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Jumps
It's one of the better jumpers for a freeride board - all be it that it's freeride bordering on all-mountain.
Pop: Great pop. Really noticed in for ollies, flat-land 180s and popping off lips of jumps. You've got to put a bit in to get it out, but it gives back when you give.
Approach: Super stable but not ultra-nimble. Best for bigger jumps and those experienced with jumps. Not for beginner jumpers.
Landing: You can really stomp your landings on this board. Not super forgiving if you get it wrong, but some forgiveness. So best for those who want to go big and really stomp their landings.
Side-hits: Great energy off the lip - not nimble enough to be amazing for trickier approaches, but when you can line up and easier approach side hit, it's super fun.
Small jumps/Big jumps: Large jumps are its forte, IMO. Medium good too, and small OK, but large is the sweet spot on this beast.
Switch
Not to bad riding switch - and that's one advantage of this being a "very close to all-mountain", freeride board.
Spins
Actually not too bad to get the spin around, and has good pop and not too bad landing and taking off switch. Better than I thought for spins. That pop's not super easy to extract for quick little spins off not much. More suited to going big.
Butters
Not impossible to butter by any means, but not super easy either. I would say 3/5.
Changes from the 2020 Model
There are 3 new sizes for the 2021 model - the 161W, 165W and the 169W. The 165 from 2020 is now gone. Of the remaining 156, 159 and 162 sizes, the shape has changed a bit (see below):
All materials from the 2020 model remain for the 2021 model, but the shape has changed. Notably:
- The effective edge is a little shortened, but quite subtly
- The waist width is a little wider
- The width at the contact points is a little narrower
- The sidecut has changed and become slightly tighter (i.e. 8.20/7.80/7.70 on the 2021 156 versus 8.40/8.20/7.80 on the 2020 156)
None of the above are massive differences, but overall a few tweaks there.
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 | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
CARVING | 4.0 | 16/20 |
TURNING | 3.5 | 7/10 |
POWDER | 4.0 | 16/20 |
SPEED | 4.5 | 18/20 |
UNEVEN TERRAIN | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
JUMPS | 4.0 | 8/10 |
SWITCH | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 85.3/100 |
The Black Snowboard of Death is a demon of a board and super fun. It's a little stuck between categories (freeride bordering on all-mountain), but that's only a labelling exercise.
It's one you've got to put into to get out of, but when you do, it gives back in spades. And has an uncanny ability to really change personalities in powder.
Overall this board is serious fun in a freeride come all-mountain board.
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.
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Black Snowboard of Death is capable of.
Hello and welcome to my Capita Black Snowboard of Death review.
Hey!
I have a mercury and love it for an all rounder and my endeavor archetype for pow and carving grooomers. wondering if I should get this board , been riding for ten years and ride a lot of pow.
Hi Jeff
Thanks for your message.
I think you would love this board, for sure, but the biggest question is whether it’s redundant in that quiver. If you’re happy to have multiple boards and some that are quite similar, then go for it. But if you’re looking for a practical compliment to your quiver, it’s questionable. It’s kind of in between the Mercury and Archetype. Obviously a different feel, but in terms of what you’d want it for. It would be a great option if you were looking for something in between the Mercury and Archetype to replace both boards. Gives a little more for powder than the Mercury, but it’s more of an all-rounder and less directional than the Archetype.
Hope this gives you more to go off
Hey! 🙂 thanks so much for the review,
Question: So I bought this board and I love it its freakin fast and it feels more forgiving than the 2019 model that I own, but I fell like I can’t relax on it or just cruise always with my friends it feels more like I either bomb it and wait for my friends at the base or just stop every 30 seconds to wait for them to catch up, Is that the feeling u get when u ride it? like there’s no chill…
What board would u recommend for cruising and chilling with friends? Pref Capita or any board I guess:) thank you for reading haha
Hi Alex
Thanks for your message.
Yeah it’s not a super chill board. Certainly more for charging hard on – the kind of board that feels best when charging for sure. When you put energy in you get rewarded, but if you don’t put the energy in (i.e. want to ride it casually) it doesn’t respond in the same way.
From Capita for chilling and cruising, I’d look at the Outerspace Living. Or if you wanted to go even more playful and more freestyle focused, then the Scott Steven’s Pro. Or if you wanted something more directional, then the Navigator. But for just cruising the groomers, I’d go Outerspace Living.
Hope this helps
Hi Nate,
could you please help me to decide between 162, 161w and 165w Capita BSOD 20/21 for 13US boot size and 220 lbs rider? Really suffer with my GNU Billy Goat 165 2014 at the uneven terrain conditions, so looking for a board with more relaxed behavior, but also will be glad not to sink in the rare powder day couple times a year. Previously I don’t have a lot problems withboot dragging with GNU regular waist 255, but intend to improve carving skills in future. So I am looking for an fast and responsive all-mountain board but more relaxed and better powder ready then billy goat.
Could you also please clarify regarding Capita Death Grip technology, if this something like local magne edge points at the waist, or something different?
Hi Sergey
Thanks for your message.
I would be leaning towards the 161W for you. I think with 13s that extra width is needed, particularly if you’re going to be working on your carving. You could certainly ride 165W as well, but since you mention you’re after something more relaxed, I think the 161W will give you that something a bit more relaxed versus your 165 Billy Goat, particularly given you’re going wider with the 161W Billy Goat. The BSOD isn’t as aggressive as the Billy Goat, but it is a board you can still get quite aggressive on. In the 165W, I don’t know if you would find it that much more relaxed versus the Billy Goat.
Death Grip, as I understand it, is pretty much how you’re describing it. Essentially a magnetration bump around the waist of the board. Capita describe it as “a point of contact to maintain control throughout the turn” but I would say it’s biggest advantage of it is that point of contact for control in hard/icy conditions.
Hope this helps
In the review you say: “This is definitely not for beginners – this is an advanced rider’s board only.” What does this mean exactly? I’ve snowboarded for 20 years and I’m now looking to retire my Burton Custom 2009.
So I am just wondering whether they’ve put so much tech in these new boards that I’d have a hard time keeping up.
Hi Timo
Thanks for your message.
Having been riding for 20 years and coming off a 2009 Custom, I don’t think you’d have any issues with this board.
For beginners, having a board that’s too stiff or with too much camber it’s much harder to learn on, much harder to control the board. But for an experienced rider like yourself, I don’t think you’d have any issues. I haven’t ridden a Custom from that far back, but comparting to the new Custom’s the BSOD is only mildly stiffer and has less camber. Assuming the 2009 Custom isn’t too dissimilar, I can’t imagine you’d have any issues riding this board.
Hope this helps
Similar question, riding off and on for about 20 years on a pretty stiff, heavy board I bought from a local manufacturer, Gordo Snowboards. It was actually probably way too big for me when I first bought it tbh. Being from the Midwest I’m not super comfortable in the back country because we don’t have any but when I get out in the mountains once a year or so I like to carve pretty hard and will usually top out around 40+ mph on big runs. Noticed last year’s BSOD is on clearance at REI, would this board work for me or would I be miserable? Also looking at the Yes Standard, Typo, and the Capita Mercury. Thanks.
Hi Carter
Thanks for your message.
From what you’re describing, I think you would be fine on the BSOD. Assuming you get it in the right size, I don’t think it would be too much board for you or anything and I think it would be well suited to your style. If you wanted something a little more easy going, the Mercury is 1/2 a step more casual, and then another 1/2 step down to Standard and then down again to Typo, which is pretty playful. I probably wouldn’t go down to the Typo for your riding, but the Mercury and Standard are options if you wanted to go a little easier going. But the BSOD isn’t like the stiffest, most aggressive ride out there either – you want to have solid technique to ride it, but if you do, it gives back.
Hope this helps with your decision
Hi Nate
so i am looking at this years BSOD, i am deciding between the 159 and 161w, i currently ride burton small footprint boots size 11, and usually weigh between 185-190 lbs. i really want to improve my carving and be more aggressive this year. most days are spent in New England and 1 trip west, hopefully big sky this year. any suggestion on which size i should look into? thanks for the help!
Hi Carmine
Thanks for your message.
The BSOD is relatively wide at the inserts in the regular widths – the 159 is 268mm at the back insert, which is wide for a regular width 159 (and wide at the waist – 259mm for a 159 regular). So, it’s definitely close. If you ride with a straight back binding angle – like 0 degrees, 3 degrees or something like that – and want to carve aggressively, as it sounds like you do, then it might be pushing it. But otherwise, I think you get away with it on this particular board with Burton 11s.
I would almost go 162 before you went 161W. The 161W is quite wide and not much shorter than the 162. But the 162 is a little wider than the 159, so if you were worried about the 159 being too short or too narrow, then I would probably look at the 162 before the 161W. But I think the 159 could work for you, if that’s the length you’re more leaning towards – again, depending on how low you want to get on those carves and depending on binding angles.
Hope this helps with your decision
What bindings would go well with this board?
Hi Jordan
Thanks for your message.
For the BSOD, I would be looking at something around a 7/10 flex, or thereabouts. Check out the following for some good options, that would work well with the BSOD, IMO:
>>Top 5 All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings
Hope this helps
Hi Nate,
I just bought this the other week and had a day on it yesterday.159(almost got the 56 but needed the extra width, probably would have been ok though but this is mainly for charging) spring conditions so hard then soft. i had a lot of fun with this! it carved very well and i felt was not bad at slow speeds. like slightly forgiving if it needed to be. definitely rewards you the more you push it. i found it quite damp(might have been conditions) but still quite lively. Great pop, like awesome jump board i thought. probably the best pop ive felt on a board and quite easy to obtain. i found it matches well with the asymulator for a two board quiver. 4.5/5 for me.Carves hard, reasonably playful not too stiff and the pop is amazing. only thing is i got a small core shot on first day!.
Cheers Nate
Hey Tim
Thanks for your insight and feedback on the BSOD. Love getting this kind of feedback on how others found boards. Sounds like a killer quiver to me! Shame about the core shot – hope it’s not too bad.
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!