Celebrating 25 years of any product is remarkable in the snowboard industry. But when that product has been a staple of aggressive, big-mountain riding for a quarter-century, it becomes legendary. The Capita Black Snowboard of Death has been the go-to board for riders who demand power, speed, and precision when charging steep lines and deep powder. This year marks its 25th anniversary, and we sat down with industry legend Tony Leafroy to break down what makes this board special and what's new for 2024.
"There's not a lot of companies that can claim 25 years of any model. Very few. We can count them probably on one hand."
The Black Snowboard of Death has been Capita's flagship big-mountain snowboard since day one. While the company itself evolved and grew, this board remained unchanged in its core mission: to be the ultimate tool for aggressive, technical riding. Whether you're sending it down steep chutes or floating through deep powder, the Black Death has been the board of choice for riders who refuse to compromise on performance.
The Return of Kevin Jones
For the 25th anniversary, Capita made a special move that brings the story full circle. Kevin Jones, the original designer and inspiration for the board, is back on the team and has his own signature model for 2024. His one-size 159 model comes in pure red: red base, red top sheet, red sidewall. It's a distinctive look that stands out from the classic black aesthetic.
"For our 25th anniversary, we're celebrating the white snowboard of life. So we made it all white, which is pretty cool."
Interestingly, the very first prototype of this board was actually called the "Kevin Jones Black Snowboard of Death," but it never made it to production. Only a few of those original boards exist today, making them incredibly rare collector's items. Now, with Kevin back on the team, this year's model finally delivers the vision that started 25 years ago.
Unidirectional Camber: Built for Power and Precision
The Black Snowboard of Death features what Capita calls "unidirectional camber," which is specifically designed to optimize power delivery and control in one direction. This isn't a twin board with even camber. It's a directional tool built for aggressive riding.
Here's how the camber profile works:
- Reverse camber in the nose: From the insert pack forward, the board has reverse camber to provide float in powder and smooth turn initiation.
- Positive camber between bindings: The area from insert to insert features traditional positive camber, giving you power, pop, and edge hold.
- Flat camber in the tail: The tail section runs flat, which allows you to load it up and get maximum power out of each turn.
- Slight reverse at the contact points: Just at the contact points, there's a subtle reverse that helps with turn initiation and exit.
"The camber really kind of rides one way. Doesn't mean you can't ride this switch. Doesn't mean you can't do whatever you want when it comes to freestyle riding on it, but it's really designed that way so you get a lot of power and pop in the tail."
This profile is optimized for back-seat power riding: loading up the tail, driving through turns, and using the board's natural tendency to help you charge. While you can ride it switch, it's designed to reward aggressive, directional riding. For riders looking to pair this with the right bindings, the board's power and response characteristics demand equally aggressive equipment.
Setback and Taper: The Powder Setup
Unlike some directional boards that have extreme setback, the Black Death uses just under an inch (0.8") of setback. This is more than your average board's half-inch, but it's not an extreme amount. Combined with minimal taper (just 1mm), the board maintains a wide, stable tail that's perfect for loading up and driving through turns.
"I always say this one too in particular, I really do ride it. I ride a lot of the boards back seat, but I really do ride this one back seat because the application usually is powder."
That subtle setback helps in several ways: it takes some weight off the nose to reduce hookup on firm snow, puts you in a better position on the sidecut for carving, and gives you more nose float in powder. Even on hard pack, many riders find this board rides better with a slightly back-weighted stance. When you're charging lines in variable conditions, having proper protective gear becomes even more critical. This board's responsiveness means you're going to be moving fast.
Progressive Sidecut and Death Grip
The Black Death uses a progressive sidecut rather than a traditional radial sidecut. As Tony explains, the specs change with length, running "a little bit bigger, little bit smaller, little bit smaller." This progressive profile allows for incredibly quick turn initiation and exit, making the board feel responsive and nimble despite its stiff, powerful nature.
"For an aggressive board, this thing turns on a dime. And it really does. Like it just you can whip this snowboard around so fast."
Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the Black Death is what Capita calls "Death Grip": small bump-out zones that provide extra edge contact on hard pack. This feature was first introduced on Capita's 10-year anniversary Black Death and has since been added to other high-performance models like the Mercury.
Death Grip addresses a fundamental trade-off in snowboard design: when you add reverse camber and elevated contact points for powder float, you reduce effective edge and potentially lose grip on hard snow. The Death Grip zones compensate for that by giving you extra bite where you need it most.
"By adding this death grip to the snow, gives you that control back by shortening off your effective edge. So it's a really nice little feature."
It's a subtle addition that you feel as an advantage in grip without any noticeable drag. You get the benefits of reverse camber in powder while maintaining confidence-inspiring edge hold on firm snow. This kind of technical innovation is what separates premium snowboards from basic boards. Every detail matters when you're pushing your limits.
Sizing: From Medium to Extra-Large
One of the unique aspects of the Black Snowboard of Death is its extensive sizing range, particularly for larger riders. Standard waist widths come in 156, 159, and 162. Then you have the wide versions: 57, 61, 65, and 69. Yes, a 69-wide board for riders who need serious underfoot.
"So it is one of those rare opportunities where, you know, the big dogs can get on a capita. And this board is legit."
That 69-wide version fits 13-14 sized boots with room to spare, giving bigger riders the chance to experience a Capita board designed specifically for their needs. Not many brands offer this level of width range, making the Black Death a go-to option for large-footed riders. Whether you're on a standard or wide board, the right bindings setup is crucial for unlocking this board's full potential.
The Merchant of Death: Iconic Artwork
For 25 years, the Black Snowboard of Death has featured one of snowboarding's most recognizable base graphics: the Merchant of Death skull. Created by Capita's long-time art director Ephraim since day one, this skull has become synonymous with aggressive riding and uncompromising performance.
"This is incredibly iconic. This is a very iconic skull. It's called the Merchant of Death."
There were a couple years in the late 2000s where the base graphics changed to different skull designs (including a skull with a dollar sign), but for nearly its entire run, the Merchant of Death has been the constant. It's a symbol that riders recognize instantly. The artwork has become as much a part of the board's identity as its performance characteristics, cementing its status as one of the most recognizable Capita boards ever made.
Premium Base Materials
As you'd expect for a flagship big-mountain board, the Black Death comes with premium base materials. It features a full sintered base (Capita's high-level centered base) that's structured and incredibly fast. For the 25th anniversary, you have two base options: black or white.
The black base includes graphite content, making it the faster of the two options. The white base is perfect for photography (as Morrison can attest) and is easier to repair. Both are high-performance, but if you want the absolute fastest base, go with black.
The board also comes with Capita's Moonshot Omni Tune: a core structure that looks great on the shop floor but, more importantly, helps in moist conditions. For riders in British Columbia or anywhere with wet, heavy snow, this base structure provides tangible performance benefits. When you're dealing with variable conditions, having the right tuning tools helps you maintain that premium base performance all season long.
"But this is absolutely one of the fastest bases on the market. Blue makes sure that the bases that we have on our highest end boards, black snowboards of death, you know, Mega Merks, Mercuries, Super DOAs, they're all very highly formulated, very fast, very good sintered bases."
A Note on the Top Sheet
For several years, the Black Death featured a wood grain top sheet that added significant dampening and made the board even more aggressive. This year marks a return to a standard PLT top sheet, which actually makes the board a bit more accessible to riders.
"I think it's a little bit more appealing to the masses now. I think it was a very very very aggressive snowboard. It still is that, but I think with this regular PLT top sheet on it, I think it's a little bit nicer for most of the folks out there."
Don't get the wrong idea. This is still an extremely stiff, demanding board. But removing that wood top sheet takes just a tiny bit of edge off the intensity while maintaining the Black Death's core character. If you're considering this board, make sure your snowboard boots are up to the task. This board demands responsive input, and your boots are the interface between you and the board.
Who Should Ride This Board?
The Black Snowboard of Death is not for beginners, and it's not for intermediate riders. This is a board for advanced riders who have the skills and desire to ride aggressively. If you're looking for a soft, forgiving board for learning, this isn't it. If you're ready to charge steep, technical terrain and want a board that responds to power and precision, this could be your dream stick.
"There's a reason it's getting this kind of love and there's a reason it's been around for 25 years."
Whether you're riding big lines, deep powder, or firm steeps, the Black Death delivers power, control, and confidence when you need it most. After 25 years, it remains one of the most respected big-mountain boards in the industry. When you're pushing these kinds of limits, having proper head protection and goggles becomes non-negotiable. The terrain this board excels in demands full attention to safety gear.
The 25th anniversary model represents a perfect fusion of legacy and innovation. Whether you opt for the classic black anniversary edition or Kevin Jones's signature red version, you're getting a piece of snowboarding history backed by cutting-edge performance technology. If you're building out your complete setup, pair this with high-performance bindings from brands like Union or Burton, and make sure your boots can keep up with the board's demands. The Black Snowboard of Death has earned its reputation over 25 years. This special edition celebrates everything that's made it legendary.
Content courtesy of our friends at The Riders Lounge
