About this review This review is my own honest opinion of the snowboard, which I bought with my own money in January 2021.

My take

The CaPiTa Mercury Snowboard does it all, from crisp carves on groomers and awesome pop off of kickers and side-hits, to surprisingly great float in deeper powder. I would definitely recommend this board to any rider in the high-intermediate to advanced range, as it can feel pretty aggressive. The camber into reverse camber profile gives the board tons of pop off on pretty much any natural feature, while the naturally wider width gives some great float in powder. I can take this board anywhere and feel little to no chatter underfoot.

About the gear

• Model: 2021 CaPiTa Mercury
• Size: 157cm

About me

• Height: 5’11”
• Weight: 175 lbs
• Boots: Burton Rulers
• Boot Size: 11.5
• Bindings: Burton Cartels
• Experience: 10 years

Test conditions

• When I bought these: January 2021
• Days tested: 6
• Mount position: Centered, +15/-9
• Where I’ve used it: Beaver and Brian Head, Utah
• Terrain: Ice, packed powder, light powder, deep powder

How it performs

What I was looking for

I had been needing a good board upgrade for a long time – around four years long. Every season I would search and search, but couldn’t seem to find a board that perfectly catered to my riding style. I was looking for a board that could handle steeps and deep powder when needed, but would just be a blast to ride casually as well. The CaPiTa DOA always stuck out to me but was a little too freestyle-heavy for my taste. I love freestyle riding but didn’t want to be held back from really enjoying the amazing, deep snow and lush glade runs we get here in Utah.

Why I chose this gear

The first thing that really struck me about this board was the flex and profile. A directional 6.5 flex sounded perfect for deeper stuff, without being too stiff to play around. The positive camber center with reverse camber on the nose and tail looked like it would kill two birds with one stone – tons of pop and tons of float.

I don’t make big gear purchases often, so I figured I better go all-out with a board that would perform well for years, and sustain for several seasons of aggressive riding. I needed a board that would be aggressive on days with my more experienced buddies, and playful on days when I ride with beginners. Once I found the CaPiTa Mercury at a discount, I just couldn’t resist.

What I love about it

• Stability: The stability of the board was the very first thing that stuck out to me on my first run. I could not feel ANY chatter under the board. The conditions were rough, but I felt completely stable and could bomb groomers without any concerns.
• Jumps: Oh man...this thing launches! Near the top of my first run, I took the board through a small park just to hit some small kickers, and I was taken totally off guard. Where I would usually have to put a decent amount of effort to ollie off the kicker to clear the knuckle, the reverse camber of the board did all the work for me and I cleared it with no problems. Since then I’ve been sending it off of any hip, side-hit, or jump I can find. The wider width gives a great forgiving landing as well.
• Turns: Due to the camber profile, turn initiation is smooth and controlled, and locks in tight on deep carves.
• Edge Hold: I took this thing out on a windy, icy night in southern Utah and did not slip a single time. Even in a poorly lit park, I was able to line up and stomp landings perfectly.
• Powder: I was a little worried that with so much camber in the profile, this board wouldn’t float as well as others. Boy was I wrong. I took this board in 12” or more of powder and had no issues keeping the front end up. It did require a bit of leaning on my back leg, but once the nose was up, turning and floating were no problem at all.
• Performance: This board just feels like the best quality you can get. It is super responsive and smooth, to the point that at times it really feels like it is controlling itself.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Buttering/Jibbing: With a 6.5 flex, I wasn’t exactly expecting the most buttery board around, but it was definitely more difficult than I imagined. Even though simple tripods are possible, it definitely takes a decent amount of effort to pull off. However, it’s important to take into account that I’m not the best jibber in the world either.
• Turns at slow speed: Because this is a more aggressive and advanced board, it isn’t meant to be ridden at slow speeds. That becomes very apparent when trying to carve at slower speeds. I took my friend out boarding for her second time and found myself having trouble keeping tight carves.
• Switch: It’s important to note that I don’t ride switch super often as I don’t frequent the park. However, the directional placement of the bindings on this board does make riding switch a bit more difficult, as the nose is noticeably longer than the tail.

Favorite moment with this gear

In early February I took this board out with some of my buddies, all of whom were varying skill levels (a brand-new boarder, two intermediate skiers, and an advanced boarder). There had been a snowstorm earlier in the week and we went on a Thursday, so the resort was nearly empty. That day truly proved the versatility of the Mercury, as I would rotate from practicing with my beginner friend, freestyling on groomers with the intermediate skiers, and sending deep powder runs in the trees with the advanced boarder. Every run felt completely fresh and unique, because I was able to take the board anywhere with confidence that it would be a blast.

Value for the money vs. other options

This board is honestly a ridiculously good deal in my opinion. I’ve ridden the Salomon Assassin, Bataleon Whatever, and even some Burton boards in this price range. All of them were versatile, but the responsiveness and stability of the Mercury adds so much more value to its performance. I would definitely say if you are looking for a board that will last and feel like a high-quality performance board, it’s worth every penny.