Hello and welcome to Capita Space Metal Fantasy review.
In this review, I will take a look at the Space Metal Fantasy as a freestyle snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Space Metal Fantasy a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other women's freestyle snowboards.
Overall Rating
Board: Capita Space Metal Fantasy
Price: $429
Style: Freestyle
Flex Rating: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Flex Feel on Snow: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Rating Score: 84.8/100
Compared to other Women’s Freestyle Boards
Out of the 21 women’s freestyle snowboards that I rated:
Overview of the Space Metal Fantasy’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Space Metal Fantasy’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | Freestyle |
Price: | $429 |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Feel: |  |
Edge-hold: |  |
Camber Profile: | Flat to Rocker Capita's "Park V2 Profile" |
Shape: | |
Setback Stance: | Centered |
Base: | Extruded (Superdrive EX base) |
Weight: | Felt Light |
Sizing
LENGTH (cm) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
139 | 228 | 80-130 | 36-59 |
141 | 231 | 85-135 | 38-61 |
143 | 233 | 90-140 | 41-64 |
145 | 236 | 95-145 | 43-66 |
147 | 239 | 100-150 | 45-68 |
149 | 241 | 105-155 | 47-70 |
151 | 243 | 110-160 | 49-73 |
153 | 245 | 120-170+ | 54-77+ |
145W | 246 | 95-145 | 43-66 |
149W | 250 | 105-155 | 47-70 |
153W | 254 | 120-170+ | 54-77+ |
* the 145W, 149W and 153W are all new sizes for the 2024 model.
Who is the Space Metal Fantasy Best Suited To?
The Space Metal Fantasy is a great option either as a freestyle/park board or as a beginner board.
It's a playful, easy going ride that can be used by any level of freestyle rider - or for the beginner who is just learning to link turns.
The Space Metal Fantasy in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Space Metal Fantasy is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: Capita Space Metal Fantasy, 2022 145cm (236mm waist width)
Date: February 25, 2021
Conditions: Mostly overcast with patches of blue. Quite a cold wind.
Temp was -3°C (27°F) and -10°C (14°F) with wind chill factor.
24 snow: 15cm (6")
7 day snow: 41cm (16")
On groomer: Soft and smooth for the most part! Did get a little cruddy later in the day but for the most part very friendly fun conditions.
Off groomer: Plenty of fresh snow. Was really nice off groomer - soft and whilst not super deep, enough of a layer to be really fun.
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance width: 505mm (19.9″)
Stance Setback: Centered
Width at Inserts: 246mm (9.69")
Weight: 2570g (5lbs, 11oz)
Weight per cm: 17.72g/cm
Average Weight per cm: 17.12 grams/cm*
*based on a small sample size of around 20 women's boards that I've weighed in 2020, 2021 and 2022 models. The Space Metal Fantasy is a little heavier than normal but Jade found it to feel really light on snow. Part of that is probably that she's used to slightly longer boards, but also some boards just feel lighter on snow than what the scales might suggest.
Tester: Jade
Rider Height: 5'7" (170cm)
Rider Weight: 145lbs (66kg)
Rider Boot Size: Women's US6.5 Thirty Two Exit
Bindings Used: Burton Lexa, Medium
Damp or Chattery?
It's not super damp. More chattery than damp overall.
Smooth or Snappy?
More snappy than smooth. It's not ultra snappy, but it's certainly on the snappier side.
Powder
Performed pretty well in powder for a twin. We didn't have anything waist deep or anything - and going on its specs, it's not going to be amazing in deeper powder, but Jade felt it performed really well in the amount that we had.
But there is that flat-to-rocker profile with quite a bit of rocker which does certainly help it to float.
Carving & Turning
Carving: Never going to be a carving machine, but was OK on a carve. Favored shorter sharper carves more than longer drawn out carves - and preferred them at slower speeds.
Turning: Really easy turning board. Easy to initiate turns and quick edge to edge.
Maneuverability at Slow Speeds: Very nimble at slow speeds. Very easy to maneuver.
Skidded Turns: Really forgiving of skidded turns. Helps to make this a great beginner option.
Speed
Surprisingly good at speed and surprisingly stable. Still definitely not a bomber - but for the flex and camber profile it did better than expected.
Uneven Terrain
Crud: It could get bucked around a little, but was super easy to correct when it did get bucked around.
Bumps: Nice and nimble for weaving between the bumps and hugged them well when riding over top.
Let's Break this Text up with a video
Jumps
Decent for jumps, particularly if you're not looking to get heaps of air.
Pop: Not a whole lot of pop. What's there is super easy to extract, but overall pop wasn't huge.
Approach: Easy to speed check and make any minor adjustments on the approach. For faster approaches not as good, but for approaches to small or medium jumps or side hits, it's all good.
Landing: Not a stomper but could handle landings from smaller jumps fine. Forgiving of any landing errors.
Side-hits: Really fun for sidehits - easy pop and great maneuverability. A bit more pop would make it better, but overall really nice.
Small jumps/Big Jumps: Best for small jumps, but fine for medium. Not as good for larger jumps.
Switch
Basically ideal for riding switch. Easy to rotate into switch and back out again and riding switch, taking off and landing is basically the same as riding in your natural direction.
Spins
Easy to get the spin around and great for setting up and landing switch. Could use a little more pop and not as suitable for larger tricks, but otherwise a very good board for spinning.
Jibbing
Very well suited to jibbing. Great for making any adjustments on the approach, rides the jib well and easy to dismount as well.
Butters
It's a really buttery board - easy flex in tip and tail to press and easy to control when pressing/buttering.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
JUMPS | 3.5 | 14/20 |
JIBBING | 4.5 | 18/20 |
SPINS | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SWITCH | 4.5 | 9/10 |
BUTTERING | 4.5 | 9/10 |
UNEVEN TERRAIN | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
POWDER | 3.0 | 3/5 |
SPEED | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
CARVING | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
TURNS/SLASHING | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 84.8/100 |
The Space Metal Fantasy is a fun playful park/freestyle oriented deck, that works equally as well as a first board for a beginner (whether riding freestyle or not).
It's biggest strengths are for butter tricks and jibs, but also fine for jumps, particularly smaller jumps, and even just for cruising the mountain - good in the trees and decent in powder for a twin.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the Space Metal Fantasy , or if you are ready to buy, or if you just want to research prices and availability, check out the links below.
If you want to check out some other freestyle snowboard options, or if you want to compare the Space Metal Fantasy to other freestyle snowboards, then check out the next link.
Hi Nate, would you recommend this Capita as a first board?
I tried several years ago for a couple of days the salomon lotus (completely flat profile) and found it difficult to turn without catching edges..
I’d like to buy an easy board to learn fast and maybe progress on it.
I’m 57kg and 164cm…Could the 145 be OK?
Thank you!
Hi Ste
Thanks for your message.
Yeah, I would consider the Space Metal Fantasy a good first board. If you’re concerned about the flat profile, you could look at some all rocker or hybrid camber or hybrid rocker options, but the SMF isn’t all flat – it has rockered sections towards the tip and tail, which help to reduce catching an edge. But if you’re still concerned, then there are certainly some really good rocker, hybrid camber or hybrid rocker beginner options.
If you did want to check out other options check out:
>>My Top 10 Women’s Beginner Snowboards
If you want to go SMF, then I would go with the 141 or 143. Whilst I would consider your “standard length” to be around 145 that assume an advanced level. As a beginner, taking off 3-5cm is a good rule of thumb and will make your progression easier and faster. I think ideally 141, but 143 would also be suitable. At this point I wouldn’t go 145 though. If you could also let me know your boot size (or shoe size if you don’t have boots yet), just to make sure the width will be suitable.
Hope this helps
Thank you for your answer!
My boot size is 8!
Another question: a shop in my town has a 2021 version of this board, can I consider it or it’s better to wait for the newest 2023 version?
Thank you again!
Hi Ste
And 141 or 143 should work fine width-wise.
As far as I know the 2021, 2022 and 2023 versions are all the same – apart from the graphic. So if you can get the 2021 cheaper, that’s a good bet, assuming you can get it in a good size for you.
Hey Nate,
Been asking you questions about the Never Summer Proto Slinger, Burton Kilroy Twin, Niche Wraith, and Slash Happy Place and somehow found out about this board elsewhere and coincidentally you just posted a review about it! I’ve actually read another reviewer find the Wraith and Happy Place to be a bit stiff but it sounds like everyone finds this board to be a fun, soft board (bonus that my gf can borrow from me) – any thoughts on this being my freestyle board?
Thanks a lot!
Hi Derek
The SMF could work for sure. It’s not going to have the pop of the other options, IMO. But you should certainly find it easy to butter. Not sure who’s find the Happy Place and Wraith stiff though! But yeah, this would certainly work. More jib and butter focused freestyle than jumps – still fine for jumps, but just not as good as the others mentioned, IMO.
Size-wise, I think I’d be looking at 147 for this board. It’s narrower (should still be fine for 7’s, IMO), so you don’t have to go as short as 145/146. Still wouldn’t go as long as 149, given that you’re looking for something super buttery.
Hey Nate,
So I just got the SMF and Burton Kilroy Twin (both 145) and to my surprise, the Kilroy Twin feels a lot more flexible than the SMF! I am also just pressing the middle of the board with my hands instead of attaching bindings and pressing (since I’ll be returning one of these); is that the wrong way to evaluate flex for presses? I’m clearly new to this haha!
Thanks!
Hi Derek
Yeah it’s pretty hard to access how it will press by flexing in hand. Flexing in hand mostly gives you the flex of the middle of the board, which is often different. I find it’s hard to really tell flex for presses/butters, until you actually get on the board and test it.
The SMF in hand does feel stiffer than it rides. When I flexed in hand next to the Capita Birds of a Feather and the Capita Equalizer felt very similar in flex, but on snow it’s softer than those. It also felt stiffer than the YES Emoticon in hand, but on snow is about the same. So yeah, unfortunately hard to tell in hand. Could maybe try to really flex it near the contact points of the board. Might give you a little more of a feel for it, but still going to be hard to tell for sure, until you actually press it on the board.