Mark Faucet and Shane Johnson from Riders Lounge get hands-on with the newly revived Spring Break Stairmaster: a classic Capita twin that's made its return under the Spring Break division with updated graphics, proven technology, and a killer $479 price point.
"This board has always been durable, kickass, and super fun to ride. It's a twin. How can it not be fun to ride? They put beef and technology in the places you really need it, and leave out the bells and whistles you don't."
A Classic Returns
The Stairmaster was always one of Capita's staple boards, part of their history alongside legends like the Black Snowboard of Death. After seeing popularity wane as riders gravitated toward the DOA or Indoor series, the board has been revived under the Spring Break division with designer Corey's graphics and refinements.
What makes this return special is the $479 price point: a killer value for what you're getting. As Shane Johnson emphasizes, this is a board you can have in your quiver for urban riding, park laps, or even all-mountain days without breaking the bank.
"It's $479: a price point we freaking love. This thing has always just been durable, kickass, and super fun to ride. If you've got a couple of freeride boards, this is what you keep in the truck for park days and jibs."
For riders who already have their freeride or big mountain boards dialed, the Stairmaster offers an affordable way to add a dedicated park and urban stick without spending another $600+. It's the perfect addition to any quiver.
Smart Design Choices
The Stairmaster's design philosophy is all about putting tech where it matters and keeping costs down where it doesn't. The extruded base is a perfect example: totally serviceable for sliding on, easy to repair if you catch an edge on urban features, and it doesn't add $125 to the retail price like a sintered base would.
The matte topsheet is another smart choice. Not only does it look clean, but snow doesn't stick to it, making it perfect for deep pow laps or spring conditions where snow wants to cling to the board.
Johnson points out the attention to details that matter: "These guys are urban riding. You want durability. A centered $400 [board]. You don't need it. These are durable and easier to fix."
"Kudos on the matte topsheet. I love it. Snow comes off easy. Cory's graphics are clean without being wild. Sometimes he does super colorful stuff from the DOA line, but this is just great."
The Core Construction
While it avoids premium features that inflate price, the Stairmaster doesn't skimp on where strength matters. It features a dual core with harder wood material at the binding insert areas: the classic "kinky zones" where boards often fail or lose pop.
Carbon boosters flank either side of the inserts, giving targeted reinforcement exactly where your bindings lock in and where impact forces are highest. It's not a full carbon layup (which would double the price), but strategic reinforcement where you need it.
"It's got a dual core: harder wood where the inserts are, then carbon boosters on either side. Just adds strength right where the bindings are, those classic kinky areas. It's smart. You get the strength where you need it without the full carbon price tag."
Camber Profile: Classic Blend
The camber profile is where the Stairmaster shows its park heritage. Instead of the long early rise nose that Capita typically uses, the Stairmaster goes to dead flat in the center zone. This short zero zone is key for pressing. The board doesn't fight you in nose or tail presses the way a fully cambered board or one with extended early rise would.
Faucet explains: "The blend goes camber down into a nice little zero, then into tip and tail. It's not cambered to this long early rise. That wouldn't be optimum for pressing. You want a little more oomph in the front, not fighting against you."
The profile works perfectly for the classic late 90s shape: full twin with classic round nose and tail. This shape plus the short zero zone means consistent performance when you're pressing rails or spinning off the nose and tail.
"Look at this shape: classic twin, that late 90s shape I love. The zero spots don't allow it to grab and dig in in softer snow. And on rails, it's really consistent. You know what you're going to get when you're pressing or spinning off the nose and tail."
Sizing Options: Wide Models Added
New for the Spring Break version is expanded sizing including wide models. The 156W and 158W offer 26cm and 26.4cm waist widths respectively: perfect for bigger feet without going crazy wide.
Standard sizes run 152, 154, 156, and 158, with the 156W and 158W available as wide options. This gives riders with size 11+ boots options that don't feel like water skis: just a slightly roomier platform for better leverage on rails and presses.
The sizing reflects Spring Break's focus on core riders who want boards they can actually press without dragging toes or heels. For urban riding and park laps, having that extra room makes a huge difference.
The Capita Blend Technology
Faucet and Johnson discuss how Capita handles the nose entry with their signature blend: that small zero zone right at the nose tip that prevents hook-up in grabby snow. It's a detail that makes the board ride predictably whether you're on groomers, in pow, or hitting urban features.
"That's Capita's way of doing the small zero zone: really helps prevent hooking up. Sometimes I'll have to mount back because I don't want the nose to grab. With this, I can ride it twin because those zero spots don't let it just grab and dig in."
The camber-to-zero-to-camber transition is pop-friendly while being press-friendly. It gives you that classic twin board responsiveness without the unforgiving nature of a pure camber board or the mushiness of a full rocker setup.
The Verdict
For $479, you're getting a board made in Austria at Capita's "mothership" facility with proven technology, strategic carbon reinforcement, and a profile that's been dialed over years of rider input. It's not trying to be the most expensive board in the lineup. It's trying to be the best value.
As Faucet puts it: "They nailed it with the price for what you're getting. Made in Austria at that price? Pretty amazing value. Stoked they let Corey bring it into Spring Break and add his touches to it."
The Stairmaster represents that sweet spot between performance and price: it has the tech where you need it (carbon boosters, dual core, smart profile), avoids expensive features that don't add much for park/urban riding (premium bases, full carbon), and hits a price point where you can actually afford to beat it up.
"Bang for your buck for core riders. It's got everything you need in here. There are a few historical boards in Capita: the Black Snowboard of Death of course. But this is definitely another one."
Who It's For
The Stairmaster is perfect for riders who want a dedicated park/urban stick without spending $700+. It's ideal for:
• Riders who already have freeride boards but want a park-focused twin
• Urban riders who need durability and easy repairs
• All-mountain riders looking for a playful, responsive twin
• Anyone who's been waiting for the Stairmaster to return
• Riders who appreciate the late 90s twin shape and want it updated
Available in Capita 2025 graphics through the Spring Break division, this board represents a return to what made snowboarding fun: affordable, durable gear that performs. With snowboard technology constantly pushing prices higher, the Stairmaster offers a counterpoint: great riding without the premium price tag.
The fact that it's back at all speaks to how much riders missed it. That it's back under Spring Break with Cory's graphics and still under $500 speaks to how much Capita gets what riders actually want.
