In the world of snowboarding, the Jones Mountain Twin and the CAPiTA Mercury are two heavyweights that have made a name for themselves. Both boards are designed for all-mountain riding, but each has its unique strengths and features that set them apart. The Jones Mountain Twin is a versatile directional twin that's perfect for riders who want to explore the entire mountain with a freestyle flair. It's a true all-mountain board that can slay the biggest features, the best jumps, and even hit rails. On the other hand, the CAPiTA Mercury is an aggressive, fast, and poppy all-mountain ride that's designed for intermediate to advanced riders who want to take on the entire mountain with aggressive riding and speed. It's a bit stiffer than the Jones Mountain Twin, making it great for charging fast and holding an edge in firm snow. Both boards are not beginner-friendly and require a certain level of skill and experience to fully unlock their potential.

Jones Mountain Twin Snowboard · 2023 summary

The Jones Mountain Twin is a versatile directional twin designed for riders who want one board that can ride the whole mountain. This board is a true all-mountain rider, designed to handle everything from the steeps and deeps to the park and the rest of the mountain. It's a slopestyle board at heart that will conquer the entire mountain.

Carving on this board is super stable. Thanks to its slightly stiffer flex, riders can lock in turns and get high up on their edges pretty quickly. The board's torsional stability allows for quicker, more dynamic turns, which is very helpful in different terrain and conditions.

When it comes to freestyle, the Jones Mountain Twin feels like a slopestyle board that you can take to the rest of the mountain. It butters well, but it’s not extremely jibby because it's not super soft. It's at that point where you get the right flex pattern, so you can press into where you need to, but still get that snap, pop, and control on the entire way down the hill.

The freeride aspect of this board shines, but with a freestyle flair. It can aggressively ride the entire mountain, but it will not overpower you. It gives riders the confidence to really push their ability to find those tree runs, drop a little cliff, ride in confidence when the conditions aren’t ideal and still have a good time.

CAPiTA Mercury Snowboard · 2023 summary

The CAPiTA Mercury Snowboard is an aggressive, fast, and poppy all-mountain ride that's designed for intermediate to advanced riders. It's a bit stiffer than the Jones Mountain Twin, making it great for charging fast and holding an edge in firm snow.

The Mercury is a relatively advanced board that may be too challenging for novice riders who are still developing their skills. It features a lightweight core made of sustainably-sourced paulownia wood, which makes it easy to maneuver and reduces fatigue on long days.

The board's slightly-stiffer flex pattern and the board's setback make landing in deeper snow easy and take a lot of pressure off of your back leg. It is also agile in the trees thanks to the lightweight core.

The Mercury is a fully directional board designed for riders who want to ride fast, while still having a blast in more low-key areas of the mountain. The camber throughout the center of the board gives tons of control and power in carving and jumping, while the "wah-pow" sections of rocker on the nose and tail add tons of space to land and press on.

Similarities

Both the Jones Mountain Twin and the CAPiTA Mercury are designed for all-mountain riding, making them versatile and capable of handling a wide range of terrain and snow conditions. They both feature a slightly stiffer flex, which provides stability at high speeds and in uneven terrain.

Both boards are also designed with advanced riders in mind. They require a certain level of skill and experience to fully unlock their potential. They're not beginner-friendly and are more suited to riders who have a good understanding of how to ride and control their boards.

In terms of construction, both boards feature a lightweight core that makes them easy to maneuver and reduces fatigue on long days. They also both have a camber profile that provides excellent edge hold, pop, and stability.

Differences and Who They're Good For

While both boards are designed for all-mountain riding, they each have their unique strengths and features that set them apart. The Jones Mountain Twin is more of a freestyle-oriented board. It's designed for riders who want to explore the entire mountain with a freestyle flair. It's a true all-mountain board that can slay the biggest features, the best jumps, and even hit rails. This board is perfect for riders who love to mix it up and try new things on the mountain.

On the other hand, the CAPiTA Mercury is more of a hard-charging, aggressive board. It's designed for riders who want to ride fast and push their limits. It's a bit stiffer than the Jones Mountain Twin, making it great for charging fast and holding an edge in firm snow. This board is perfect for riders who love speed and precision and want a board that can keep up with their aggressive riding style.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

1. Versatility: Both boards are highly versatile, but the Jones Mountain Twin takes the edge here due to its freestyle flair that allows it to handle a wider range of terrain and riding styles.

2. Performance: The CAPiTA Mercury shines in this category. Its aggressive, fast, and poppy nature makes it a beast on the mountain, especially when riding at high speeds.

3. Construction: It's a tie in this category. Both boards feature a lightweight core and a camber profile that provides excellent edge hold, pop, and stability.

4. Skill Level: Both boards are designed for advanced riders, but the Jones Mountain Twin is a bit more forgiving and easier to control, making it a better choice for riders who are still honing their skills.

Conclusions

In conclusion, both the Jones Mountain Twin and the CAPiTA Mercury are excellent choices for advanced riders looking for a versatile, all-mountain board. The Jones Mountain Twin is a great choice for riders who want a board that can handle a wide range of terrain with a freestyle flair. On the other hand, the CAPiTA Mercury is perfect for riders who love speed and precision and want a board that can keep up with their aggressive riding style. Both boards are not beginner-friendly and require a certain level of skill and experience to fully unlock their potential. So, choose the one that best fits your riding style and hit the slopes!