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Snowboards

CAPiTA Defenders Of Awesome 2018-2019 Snowboard Review

  • Sizes: 148, 150, 152, 154, 155W, 156, 158, 158W, 160, 161W
  • Flex: 5.5
  • Profile: Hybrid Camber
  • Shape: True Twin
  • Price: £409 / €449

UPDATE: Check out our review of the 2019/2020 Capita Defender of Awesome here

Far and away the brand’s best-loved board, the CAPiTA Defenders Of Awesome snowboard has delivered the true all-mountain experience to thousands of riders. After a few key upgrades last winter – developed in house at CAPiTA’s ‘Mothership’ factory in Austria – it’s largely unchanged for 2018/19.

The CAPiTA DOA packs a lot of tech for its price point, including a fast sintered base and carbon reinforcement. There’s also Kevlar (like you find in bulletproof vests) built into the sidewalls, giving you extra protection against impacts.

“The true twin shape is park-ready, but the profile ticks all the right boxes for all-mountain riding”

No amount of clever stuff can compensate for a bad design, though, but that’s not an issue with the CAPiTA DOA. The true twin shape is park-ready, but the profile – mostly camber, but with flat sections near the contact points – ticks all the right boxes for all-mountain riding. There’s still plenty of pop and carveability, but the overall feel is less catchy, and even slightly better in powder than the classic bend.

The flex is just about straight-down-the-middle, so you can push it if you’re feeling confident or just cruise instead. Likewise the biax glass is less torsionally stiff than the triax equivalent, and it’s built to last too.

A longtime seasonaire favourite, the CAPiTA Defenders Of Awesome has earned its place as one of the most admired all-rounders on the market.

Tester’s Verdict

Sam McMahonwhitelines.com

“Many all-mountain boards do exactly what it says on the tin, but it’s rare to find one that brings the same level of hype and joy to every area on the hill. For my money, there are two that excel as one-board quivers: the Ride Helix and this, the CAPiTA DOA.

So as you’d expect, this year it rode much like the last few years because why would you change a winning formula? The only thing different this time around is the graphic, with a slightly less gratuitously tits ‘n’ ass feel for 2019.

“It’s fun and easy to chuck around, but point it at something more serious like a park jump or rock drop and you’ve still got something confident under your feet”

The camber between the feet blends seamlessly into the early-rise rockered nose and tail, giving enough control when on edge but heaps of forgiveness if you sketch out a landing.
It’s fun and easy to chuck around, butter and bounce off side hits, but point it at something more serious like a park jump or rock drop and you’ve still got something confident under your feet.

For someone looking for a board to do it all for a season, there are still very few contenders out there that can compete on the DOA’s level.”

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