Hello and welcome to my Capita Ultrafear review
In this review, I will look at the Ultrafear as a freestyle snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Ultrafear a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other freestyle snowboards.
Overall Rating
Board: Capita Ultrafear 2020
Price: $479 (USD recommended retail)
Style: Freestyle/Jib/Park (Capita call it “The Urban and Park Destroyer” which is pretty apt)
Flex: Medium Soft (4/10)
Rating Score: 83.5/100
Compared to other Men’s Freestyle Boards
Out of the 38 men’s freestyle snowboards that I rated:
Overview of the Ultrafear’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Ultrafear’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | Freestyle/Jib/Street |
Price: | $479 |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Feel: |  |
Turn Initiation: | Fast |
Edge-hold: |  |
Camber Profile: | |
Shape: | |
Setback Stance: | Centered |
Base: | Sintered |
Weight: | Very Light |
Sizing
LENGTH (cm) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
147 | 248 | 90-150 | 40-68 |
149 | 250 | 90-150 | 40-68 |
151 | 252 | 100-150 | 45-68 |
153 | 254 | 110-170 | 50-77 |
153W | 259 | 110-170 | 50-77 |
155 | 255 | 120-180 | 54-81 |
155W | 260 | 130-190 | 59-86 |
157 | 256 | 140-200 | 63-90 |
Who is the Ultrafear Most Suited To?
The Ultrafear is best for anyone who wants to only ride the park or the street – or anyone who wants a separate board to ride the park or the street.
That’s not to say you can’t take it down the trails – of course you can and it’s actually quite fun there. But it’s not the board you’d use to charge steeps, bomb or venture into the backcountry on. But if you want to cruise some groomers between park sessions it’s fine.
It would be ok for a beginner because it’s pretty easy going and catch free. But not an ideal beginner deck. Great for someone who is a beginner in the park though and has other aspects of their riding down already. Also great for any level of rider in the park/street. Particularly strong with jibs, which is where this board really kills it – but definitely no slouch over jumps either.
The Ultrafear in more Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Ultrafear is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: Capita Ultrafear 2019, 153cm (254mm waist width)
Date: March 20, 2018
Conditions: Slushy. Poor visibility to begin especially the higher up the mountain. Relatively clear towards the bottom and got clearer as I rode.
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance width: 570mm (22.4″)
Stance Setback: Centered
Width at Inserts: 260mm
Weight: 2480grams (5lb 7 oz)
Weight per cm: 16.21 grams/cm
Average Weight per cm: 18.21 grams/cm*
*based on a small sample size of 24 boards that I weighed. This was the lightest board I weighed.
Powder
It’s got enough rocker in the profile to float ok. But it’s still a cenetered true twin board so not amazing.
Took a bit of work really putting weight on the back foot to float over some of the deeper slushy areas I encountered on it, but it’s not made for that kind of thing so it was actually a bit better than I would have expected (But my expectations were low!). This was true for the 2017 model I rode and the 2019 model.
Carving & Turns
It’s pretty quick edge-to-edge and really maneuverable when making quick tight turns but not so good when you really wanted to carve. But again, it’s not made for carving.
Turning wise it’s good at what it needs to be – maneuverable for approaching features.
Speed
Got a bit chattery when picking up speed but again that’s to be expected it’s not the kind of board made for speed. It’s not a downhill bomber – it’s a creative park tool.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Check out the video below for more details on the tech.
Uneven Terrain
It’s pretty good over uneven terrain when going slow. The softer flex helps it to hug the curves quite well. A bit more sketchy when hitting it faster though.
Switch
O.k. now onto the things that this board is really good at and was really made for, starting with switch.
Really easy to ride this thing switch and the transition to and out of switch is smooth and catch-free.
This is no surprise, given the profile and the centered stance and true twin shape.
Jumps
Super fun over small jumps and small hits on the trails. Too soft to be ideal on bigger jumps – a bit squirrelly on approaches to large jumps but it’s doable – but where this thing feels best, in terms of jumps, is popping off small to medium jumps and natural hits and of course throwing spins in there.
With how light the board is it’s really easy to throw around for spins and for ollies and popping off whatever you can find on it. Not heaps of pop, but that lightness is nice.
Jibbing
Now this is where the Ultarfear really shines. It’s a killer jibber. Nice flex and feeling on jibs and the maneuverability is awesome for the approach to jibs.
The board spins very easily too so it’s great for tricks onto jibs and on dismount.
Changes from the Past Models
Changes from 2019 Model
The 2020 model has a couple of changes vs the 2019 model:
- new “Dual Blaster Ashpop” core to replace the “FSC Certified P2 Superlight” core from the 2019 model
- new “Quantum Drive” base to replace the “Superdrive” base on the 2019 model
Other than that it’s the same.
Changes from 2018 Model
Apart from the graphic, the 2019 model is identical to the 2018 model as far as I can tell.
Changes between the 2018 and 2017 Models
The 2018 model has the following changes from the 2017 model
1. New fibreglass formula that is said to make the ride lighter and more dynami
2. New Magic Bean Resin in place of the Evo Resin used in the 2017 mode
3. New ABS1000 sidewalls
Otherwise it’s the same great board it has been the last few years.
The 2017 model is pretty much the same as the 2016 model as far as I can tell. But that’s a good thing.
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 | 5.0 | 20/20 |
SWITCH | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
BUTTERING | 4.5 | 9/10 |
SPINS | 4.0 | 8/10 |
UNEVEN TERRAIN | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
POWDER | 2.0 | 2/5 |
CARVING/TURNS | 2.0 | 2/5 |
SPEED | 2.0 | 2/5 |
PIPE | 2.0 | 2/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 83.5/100 |
A really fun board this one. Not the board you get if you want one board to do everything. But if you only really ride the park and/or the street or if you want a separate board to do that with, then this is a great choice.
It made my top 10 freestyle snowboards list and would be even higher on a jib/urban board list if I was ever to make one, given it’s jibbing prowess.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you’re interested in the Ultrafear or want to research current prices and availability or are are looking to buy online, check out the links below.
If you want to check out some other freestyle snowboard options or want to see how the Ultrafear compares to others in the same category, check out the next link.
Hi Nate,
Great site! I’m looking at the Ultrafear for our son. 23 years young, 6′ 1-2″ about 180 pounds and has a Thirty Two Lashed boot in an 11.5. He is an expert (done Mt Washington and Stowe backcountry) but riding 80%park/ jibbing and 20% tight New England trees. I found a 153 Wide Ultrafear at a killer price at our local mountain. Would that size/width be apropritate?
Thanks for any help!
Bob in Maine
Hi Bob
I wouldn’t say it’s a definite no-go on that size but I think the 155W would be a better size for your son. I know it doesn’t sound much different being only 2cm more and only 1.5mm wider but on both counts, the 155W is more ideal.
You usually want to size down for riding in the park and it’s also an advantage in the trees – so certainly sizing down a bit is good. But I put your son on a 161-162cm “all-Mountain” length. Going down to a 155 would be appropriate given how he likes to ride. Going down to a 153 is going down quite a bit.
But like I say it’s not out of the question. Some people like to really size down a lot. For me (6’0″, 185lbs) I would get the 155. i.e. I wouldn’t want to go as low as the 153 – but some might. What size does your son currently ride? If he’s already riding a size close to that, then it might make it more appealing but if he has to drop down a lot it might be a bit too far to go.
I hope this helps with your decision.
Thanks for the help Nate. He is currently on a regular width 2015/2016 Capita Horrorscope 155cm. He enjoys the 155 and thought that maybe the 153 wide would work. I know it’s only a great deal if it fits!
Bob
Hi Bob
If he’s used to the Horrorscope 155 regular, then the 153W Ultrafear could work – it wouldn’t be going down too much from what he’s used to and that little bit more width would add back a bit of stability. That said, the Horrorscope 155 does have a 256mm waist (and the ultra fear 153W a 258mm waist) so not too much wider – and you would be down-sizing in terms of effective edge (1193 on the 155 Horrorscope and 1160 on the 153W Ultrafear).