- Price: £450
- Sizes: 151, 154, 157
- Flex: 6
- Profile: Setback Camber
- Shape: Directional Twin
- CAPITASNOWBOARDING.COM
It was only a matter of time. In 2016/17, CAPiTA pay tribute to team linchpin and a longtime Whitelines favourite, Kazuhiro Kokubo. The Japanese legend now has a new backcountry-focused trick stick: the CAPiTA Kazu Kokubo Pro.
The CAPiTA Kazu Kokubo Pro is built for the kind of riding that he’s been specialising in ever since he turned his back on the halfpipe circuit. The stunt-ditch’s loss was powder’s gain, and everything about this is aimed at sticking heavy tricks in the backcountry.
“The core is augmented by eight bamboo rods that make this lively as hell without weighing it down”
Its freestyle chops are obvious from the start. While it boasts a few directional elements such as a backseat camber profile and tapered tail, they’re all quite subtle, so landing that back 5 off the beaten track won’t mean getting a faceful of pow seconds later. Of course, when you are pointing it in the right direction, there’s just enough extra rocker at the nose to make things more comfortable.
There’s some all-new tech featured in the CAPiTA Kazu Kokubo Pro, in the form of curved carbon rods. According to CAPiTA these are the fruits of an extensive R&D process that aims to make such additives perform better than ever before. In the case of the Kazu, four lengths of carbon begin at the inserts and move out towards the contact points, arcing out towards the edge all the while. Naturally this affects both the torsional and longitudinal flex, with the aim of making the board better at carrying out what you ask of it.
It goes without saying that the Kazu’s remit includes the ability to pop to the moon, so the core is augmented by eight bamboo rods that make this lively as hell without weighing it down. Furthermore, thanks to the resin used in the production process, the core is thinner than normal (and therefore lighter) without being any less strong.
A unique board designed for a unique rider, the CAPiTA Kazu Kokubo Pro will nevertheless win over plenty others this year. If you think you might be one of them, go check it out.
