Capita Defenders Of Awesome 2013-2023 Snowboard Review
Riding Style | All Mountain Freestyle |
Riding Level | Advanced - Expert |
Fits Boot size (US) | 8-10, 10-12 |
Manufactured in | Austria at The Mothership |
Shape | True Twin |
Camber Profile | Hybrid Camber |
Stance | Centered |
Approx. Weight | Feels Normal |
Split | No |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
On Snow Feel | |
Turn Initiation | |
Skidded Turns |
Flex | |
Buttering | |
Edge Hold |
Where To Buy
See All Prices & Sizes
No obligation, but these links & ads support the site.
Amazon
CAPiTA D.O.A. Wide Mens Snowboard, 159 |
$549.95 | Buy it |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. |
Amazon
Capita Defenders of Awesome Snowboard - 156 |
$699.00 | Buy it |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. |
Where To Buy
80% of outdoor sports products are not listed or sold online.
Our team has relationships with hundreds of local snowboarding and outdoor sports shops.
We'll call the shops and email you a list of stores along with pricing and availability.
Not sure what to buy?
Get custom advice from Good Ride editors James and Steph.
Capita Defenders Of Awesome 2023 - 2013 Review by The Good Ride
The Capita Defenders Of Awesome is a board we have ridden year over year and while the same general personality is consistent with the ride every year, Capita keeps refining/upgrading the flex, base and such. It’s for those that like air and want a modern take on a more technical mountain freestyle ride.
Update 2023: The Capita DOA 2023 has had some updates to the core and top sheet but still has the same shape, camber profile, and flex personality of the 2020 we tried.
Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews. We do make money from the “Where To Buy” links, but this is our best attempt at an honest and objective review from an average riders’ perspective.
How This Review Happened: We borrowed this for an extended demo and then returned it.
Size: 156
Days: 2
Conditions: Decent but not great spring conditions.
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-195lbs) Jimbo (Size 11, 5’11” 160lbs)
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV
Insoles: Sandsole Custom Insoles, Footprint Insole Technology Gameghangers Low Profile
Bindings: Union Strata, Union Superpro,
Similar Boards (but not the same) That We Compared This To or you might reference this against:
Capita Mercury, Lib Tech TRS HP, Never Summer Proto Type Two, Nitro Fury, Yes Greats, Lib Tech Hot Knife, Stone Message
Set-Up: 22” Wide. 15 front -15 back. Centered.
Approximate Weight: On the light side of normal.
Sizing: The 156 is great for my size 9 boots and specs but not for Jimbo’s 11’s. He needs a wide for sure. Overall keep it under size 10 for the regulars and more 10-12 for the wides.
Flex/Buttering: The medium flex combined with the flat in the tip/tail seems to make it a little harder to butter but it is still very doable and there is a lot of energy and return coming out of it. The Capita DOA has a very lively flex that can bend easy but pop hard back into place.
On Snow Feel/Ability Level/Skidded Turns: The camber from center to flat to a little rocker in the tip/tail makes for a somewhat locked in/technical ride that isn’t for everyone. It’s more for the advanced to expert rider. It doesn’t skid turns too easy for a hybrid camber board but it tracks well, one foots well and flat bases well. It has a very consistent feel underfoot in all conditions.
Edge Hold: The edge hold seems to start letting go for us in hard snow and the way it comes out of the factory is best for good conditions.
Turn Initiation: Medium quick edge to edge but not super-fast as you engage the sidecut in a more committed turn.
Turning Experience/Carving: The Capita DOA carves pretty well but it isn’t a super carver. Even though the Outsiders is softer in flex we had more rewarding turns out of that compared to the DOA. It’s no slouch though and making turns on groomers regular and fakie/switch is pretty fun.
Powder: Probably the weakest element of the Capita DOA. It just doesn’t float that well and there are many other boards we would rather be on when it’s deep. It is a board you want to keep centered and it doesn’t set back far. At a 22.75″ stance width set all the way back you only get a 2.25″ difference between nose/tail and 1.125″ back from the center of the board. All this said, if you can ride a camber twin well in powder, the DOA will be easier.
Speed: Good speed and the Capita DOA has a little more dampness than the Outsiders so that is a plus for this board in this section.
Uneven Terrain: Not easy to skid turns through bumps but pretty good for how it powers over uneven terrain of all types for a medium flex twin. Capita has really improved the way all their boards interact with all kinds of snow.
Switch: The same either way.
Jumps: So this is the strong point of the Capita DOA. That flat in the tip/tail really load up and snap you into the air on an ollie. It also tracks really well approaching a jump and really helps you with a landing as well. It’s a great board for those that want to lap the kicker line or for those that want to air off everything they see. I think that’s why this board has soo much appeal to those that really rip.
Jibbing: Very doable but more for the advanced to expert jibber. I personally don’t feel as confident on this than I do other mellower Capita boards but I’m not a strong jibber. However Jimbo, who is much more accomplished at jibbing felt pretty comfortable.
Pipe: Pretty good in the pipe but not as good as it does hitting jumps.
So, all in all, the Capita DOA is a board that often get’s over recommended to riders that aren’t that strong and that usually ends in disappointment. However, if you rip and want an air friendly twin in your quiver this will for sure do.
Capita Defenders Of Awesome Past Reviews
The Capita Defenders Of Awesome is hybrid camber with camber between the feet, flat after and then a little rocker. This is an affordable but somewhat technical all mountain freestyle ride for those that like air most of all. If you got it as your primary board just make sure you know it’s strengths and limitations. The overall flex of the 2018 and 2019 Capita DOA feels like it’s easier to butter but it’s not any less poppy and overall flex has seemed to improve the last few seasons.
The 2018 and 2019 Capita Capita Defenders Of Awesome are the same rides so the 2018 review still stands.
Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews. We do make money from the “Where To Buy” links, but this is our best attempt at an honest and objective review from an average riders’ perspective.
Capita Defenders of Awesome 2013-2019 Snowboard Review
The Capita Defenders Of Awesome has a couple of things going for it that make it a great board for its price range. It’s aggressive for a twin, it’s super poppy and it has a camber like feel to it. However, don’t let the low price lead you into believing this is a beginner/intermediate board. This is still aggressive all mountain freestyle twin that’s only a little less forgiving than a camber ride. We think the DOA is a pretty good board and especially so for those that like air. If you want a more forgiving well-rounded ride that does everything that is mountain freestyle well but nothing exceptional the Outerspace Living is the better call. If you want a more technical mostly camber ride we prefer the way the Outsiders turns over the DOA’s camber to flat profile and to a lesser extent feel it pops better too. Still, this is a good board and I can see why so many park riders are into it.
Size: 154
Days: 3+ on the 2018, 4+ on the 2016 and 1 on the 2013.
Conditions: End of the year Sierra snow that’s hard in the morning, medium and then soft to slushy as the day goes by.
Riders: James, Jimbo, Peter
Boots: Salomon F3.0, Burton Fiend LTD, Burton Imperial,
Bindings: Union Superpro Union Contact Pro, Union Atlas, Union Contact,
Set Up: Centered always 23″ wide always 15 front and -15 back always.
Flex: Medium and lively from the middle to the end of the tip/tail. It’s a little work to butter for a board this type. You could get a nice snap off the tip/tail. The 2018 Capita Defenders Of Awesome feels like it’s a little easier to butter than past years models and the overall flex of the board has improved a good bit. Capita has been improving the flex year over year and I’m starting to notice a difference in the DOA’s overall ride. It’s softer but it’s more than just that. It feels like it can flex further than before but still keep that snappy lively personality Capita is known for.
On Snow Feel: This has a solid stable feel for those that like a stable feel underfoot and it picks up speed pretty well for its flex regular or switch on the groomers and also has a great ability to pop off rollers. It’s not super aggressive or technical in comparison to camber but it feels like it’s almost there with mostly camber boards like the Outsiders. That’s weird because there is more early rise with the DOA but they feel pretty close. The flat after the camber is close to the snow and there is still an edge waiting to be caught if you don’t stay on your game. The boards’ personality type calls for semi-aggressive to aggressive riders on a budget. It’s all about stability at pretty good speed, power butter, and mostly air.
Powder: This is better than a camber board but just by a little. Most riders who will like this board don’t mind the kind of stay on your game ride in powder that this has. So compared to camber this is better but there will still be some work of your rear leg to stay afloat If you are a rider that needs an easy float then look to another board when it gets deep.
Turn Initiation: The DOA is pretty quick edge to edge and starts turning quickly.
Turning Experience: The first few times I rode this I liked it for turning and carving but the more I compared it to other hybrid camber boards the more I found it to have some detractions. When it comes to medium to wider radius turns it’s pretty not bad. Carving is pretty good but when comparing it to the Mercury on the same day it just didn’t have the same magic in and out of a carve. Also comparing the DOA to the new Outerspace Living it just didn’t complete the turn in a fun way.
Carving: While the flat after the camber pops really well for an ollie it seems like it’s messing up the radius of the carve. It’s just not as dynamic as Capita hybrid camber boards without flat after the camber and like regular turning, it’s just not as fun.
Skidded Turns: It’s not great for beginners and intermediates that rely on skidding their turns and don’t let the low price tag fool you into thinking it’s a beginner board.
Speed: The base isn’t super fast but there is little chatter for a board of this type. The Capita Defenders of awesome feels stable and pretty damp for a twin.
Uneven Terrain: So the stiffer flex and faster ride are great for better conditions but this comes at a disadvantage when it comes to powering through a bumpy end of the day groomer. You can feel a little more rough stuff under your foot than you can with other boards with better dampening tech. It’s a board you want to pair up with bindings that have lots of shock absorption like the Contact Pros. Even then you can still feel things you wouldn’t with those bindings on more damp boards. Still, it’s better than most with this board. Now the 2019 and 2018 Capita DOA is much better than in the past and feels like it can handle more uneven snow of all kinds.
Approximate Weight- Pretty light for its price but I’d say it’s more on the normal side.
Edge Hold: the edge hold is more of a good snowboard that doesn’t hold that well in harder snow. We’d love to see the bump in the center that the BSOD and Totally FK’n Awesome has. Our only gripe is we wish Capita would have spent a little more money and put in the same sidecut as the Mercury and Totally FK’n Awesome that has a little bump dead center in the waist. It would have made this board much better in conditions that aren’t as good.
Switch: This is a true twin and it’s going to be the same either way. The only board I personally like riding switch better is an asymmetrical shape.
Rails- Not the best rail board but it can be done if you are a strong confident rider. For me, I’d much rather be on the Horrorscope or even better the Ultrafear.
Pipe: If the edge hold was a little better and there was a little less flat after the camber the DOA would be an excellent board for those that know how to ride the pipe well.
Jumps: What a fun board to Ollie and jump. The combo of flat and camber is great for generating your own air. If you are into bigger jumps this is a fun board and the tip/tail won’t give way that easy if you land a little off of center. Probably one of the strongest points about this board. It seems to be designed primarily for those that live to be in the air.
So, all in all, turning the board is a little dead with the flat after the camber but it sure does pop well on an ollie. It’s hard to find a good aggressive board like this at this price range and while we prefer the Outsiders and Outerspace living a little more this might work for you more than it did for us.
Capita Defenders Of Awesome 2013-2017 Review
Other than a few minor tweaks not much has changed for the 2017 model so most of the 2016 review stands. It has been updated to reflect how it stands with the 2017 line.
Capita Defenders Of Awesome Specs
Capita Defenders Of Awesome Images
Capita Defenders Of Awesome User Reviews
Pretty Fine
Rode this as a rental. 2020 158 with size 11 boots. Ran groomers all day.
I'm not a ripper by any means.
I didn't find it catchy at all - and I catch edges. I was able to throw it into turns with ease, lots of tight cornering, good in the choppy stuff. I thought it was going to be a handful but found it quite forgiving and very stable.
Maybe this is more of a reflection on the usual crappy boards that I ride but I was impressed.
Overrated at best
Overrated rubbish. This is average everywhere at best...with less than average for powder. It really sucks in powder.
I've owned at least 50-60 boards in the last 5 years (yeah, I have a problem), and this (IMO), is nothing that stands out. Much better options out there.
Carving - average
Park - meh
Powder - blah
Pop - sure...if you're willing to load it.
Reminds me of an old Atomic board I had, and we all know how that went.
Didn't last long....and is now sold.
Best AM board
The best board I've tried for all terrains. Very handy to play and stable at high speed.