Location: Loveland, Breckenridge & Copper, Colorado
Snow Conditions: Mixture of weather with hardpacked groomers, slush and hardpacked icy conditions.
Setup: I rode the Capita Ultrafear FK with my Union Force SL’s and my Bonfire Geo boots.
First Impression: This is my kind of porridge, just right for shredding…not insanely soft but not insanely stiff…still a fun deck to ride.
Size: 155cm
Weight: lighter than average
Flex: The Ultrafear FK is an upgraded horrorscope, the core plays a huge part in the flex differences between the boards. The Ultrafear is stiffer than the horrorscope and gives it a more stable feel freeriding with. The longitudinal flex feels a tad stiffer and torsionally it’s a tad stiffer but between both there’s a lot of play to it, you can still get quick sharp turns that are stable and you can still butter and play with the nose and tail of the board. It’s not as easy to butter as the horroscope but it still is playful. But overall this board is not a stiff ride, it’s a good medium flex board and just so happens to be stiffer than the horrorscope but softer than the Indoor Survival from my experiences riding them.
Turning: Overall it’s an easy ride, easy transitioning into turns and stable throughout short and long radius turns. I can quickly put it on edge and not encounter any catching or hooking when I go into a carve with it. The sidecut and effective edge are right in the middle of a good balance for riding consistently without needing to worry about the board not handling.
Stable: For the early season riding, I haven’t encountered a problem with stability but I also know the terrain is just groomers right now. When I’m riding at my normal speed and encounter bumps, it absorbs them better than when I’m going faster. For hauling down runs, it can handle the speed but I still feel any bumps that come out and it doesn’t charge as well as other more freeride orientated boards. On icy patches it does hold an edge better than the horrorscope and I have yet to feel it wash out on me.
Pop: I’ve been popping off the tail of the board and landing centered on the bindings. When I have landed off, I definitely feel it but I can ride out from it. Ollies on the board aren’t hard but if I pop off balance then I don’t get as much pop from it. In the park I like that I can ollie onto a feature or ride on, not feel the board catch on anything and be able to tail bonk everything I like easily.
Switch: I’ve encountered no problems with riding it switch, really easy to spin around from the weight and no catching on the snow. It rides the same switch as it does regular.
Overall Impression: Of the 10+ days I’ve been on this board I’ve enjoyed every second of it and when I demo other boards I still enjoy coming back to it. It’s a park board that can handle the mountain and freeriding but you can still take it into the park to get your tricks. I’m no park master but I’ve been playing with boardslides and new rails that I normally wouldn’t. I feel safe on it and despite it being flat kick I actually have grown to like it a lot.
With the base I’ve only waxed it once since I’ve taken it out on snow and I’ve noticed that hasn’t been an issue. It’s still going fast and doesn’t appear like I need more wax yet even though I think I do.
Shay’s Honesty Box: If I didn’t like this board I wouldn’t keep riding it and use it as “my” board but I’ve been enjoying it quite a bit. I enjoyed the horrorscope but I wouldn’t ride it all the time on the mountain because it’s just a bit too soft for me, but the ultrafear is the next step up and a stiffer flex than the horrorscope but with the same added parks like good pop and a fun flex that I can take into the park or freeride with. Between my Force SL’s and this board, I have a light setup that works well together.
Construction wise, I’ve done probably about 50+ tree bonks with this board and encountered no problems with trying to chop down a tree with this deck. Oh yeah there’s only 274 of these out there after mine and I’m certainly not getting rid of mine anytime soon.
Ready to buy? Head over to evo for the 2011 version of the Capita Ultrafear FK or shop their full line of CAPiTA snowboards
Review Disclosure: This product was given to me from C3.
Erlantz
November 23, 2009 at 8:40 amI have just received as a present a 157 Bataleon Goliath, so now i dont need an all-around board. I am a lucky guy, i guess.
I am thinking about a park only stick, i would like the ultrafear but its a litlle pricey so i am watching the Horroscope in 151 or the Sierrascope special edition 152 but i think the sierras will be harder. Have you demoed them? 151 too small for me? 6.0 tall, 160 lbs. I am a park beginner with no high aspirations, just pressing some boxes and hitting the small jumps.
PD: You look great with these pants and the jacket, i like that combo.
Taylor
November 23, 2009 at 1:11 pmHow does this compare to the skate banana??
Shay
November 23, 2009 at 6:41 pmErlantz, Sweet on the Bataleon…let me know how you like it! I think if you are going for the park only board, the 151 or 152cm would be fine and make it super easy to handle rails and playing around with. I have only rode the horrorscope but not the sierrascope yet (a friend has it so hoping to try it out eventually). It’ll make park a lot of fun.
Great you like the combo, it’s a favorite too but 3 other riders at Loveland have the jacket so I’ve been avoiding wearing it till my home mountain opens in 2 days and hopefully no one here has it, haha.
Taylor, stiffer than the skate banana and doesn’t have the loose feeling that the skate banana has for me.
ghostovan
November 24, 2009 at 3:58 amHey Shay, thanks for the review! Good to see you on slopes already. I’ve got rain outside, that’s devastating.=\
I’m looking to get Horrorscope one day for park practice (guessing the right size for my 140lbs though).
Off-topic question: Is that a 686 Times Kr3W Lumberjack jacket on you? Looks sweet! And have you tried 686 Times Kr3W Knuckle pants?
FLuiD
November 24, 2009 at 6:23 amLooking good shay. I rode the IS FK I got finally this past weekend an it was awesome. Now how can I convince myself it’s ok to get an Ultrafear too. I am amazed there are still some for sale but IA have found quite a few!!! Thanks for the review!
No the Union bindings. I bought a set this year after seeing everyone rave about them. I hate to say it but I have used a LOT of bindings and the Union’s weren’t my fav at all! The Toe straps did not fit any boot I own right and the strap/ladder screws tend to work themselves loose time and time again. What’s the secret? I loved the baseplates, ratchets, highbacks etc… 🙂
Shay
November 24, 2009 at 8:05 amGhost, thanks! Bummer on your rain that is devastating! Sweet on the horrorscope for park! It’d say the 151cm for your 140lbs unless you want really tiny park board.
Yep on the lumberjack jacket on me, good softshell and perfect for early season before it gets cold. i haven’t tried the Knuckle pants, I got smarty pants again for this season.
Fluid, Sweet on your Indoor Survival! haha you can borrow my ultrafear if you want to try and compare it to your indoor survival. When it came time to pick a board, I was between those two boards to ride…so I understand completely.
I’ve heard that with the Union’s not fitting everyone’s boots. I saw on sierra spenser did a good job of posting a picture of how the toe strap should sit on your boot and I think most people put it on inaccurately where it will slide easily and you want the toe strap to be cranked down so it molds around the boot. I haven’t had an issue with screws coming loose on my bindings but heard that too. I think some people just have more issues with them.
Erlantz
November 24, 2009 at 1:10 pmThanks Shay, you are very polite and the blog is really helpful.
Josh
November 25, 2009 at 5:06 pm“Have you demoed them? 151 too small for me? 6.0 tall, 160 lbs.”
I bought an Ultrafear FK 151 this season for park and messing around- I’m 5’10”, 155lbs, and I agree with Shay, it works out wonderfully! I really like this board, and I find I’ve been taking it out this season (so far) more than my NS Evo-R, it’s just a LOT of fun, especially in the 151- VERY easy to spin!
Danny
January 3, 2010 at 6:11 pmHiya Shay, I have a question….whats an alternative to the ultrafear fk for guys like me?
5’11” 179lbs
11-12 boot size
I saw that the stairmaster extreme has most of the same tech but it doesn’t have fk on it.
Shay
January 5, 2010 at 3:55 pmErlantz, thank you!
Josh, I feel the same way.
Danny, Stairmaster extreme doesn’t have FK on it so there’s no wide version of FK. You could go for the softer Horrorscope which comes in a wide and FK. Depends what kind of riding you are looking for though?
telesnow
January 13, 2010 at 10:09 pmHi Shay 🙂
Did you get a chance to check out the Sierrascope? I think that board is also supposed to be in between the Horrorscope FK and Indoor Survival FK (closer to the Horrorscope) so I figure it would be good for me on intermediate groomers and not-too-deep powder. But the reviews at Sierra are insane with stuff like “I JUST PUT IT ON MY CARPET 5 STARS!!” so I can’t trust them. 🙁
If the Sierrascope is a little more flexy than your Ultrafear FK / a little stiffer than the Horrorscope FK do you think it would be good for someone less advanced than you are on intermediate runs? I don’t do park stuff other than natural terrain so I’m worried it’s too much of a park board but the price sure is nice.
Shay
January 14, 2010 at 6:58 amtelesnow, I just got the sierrascope in the mail so I’ve got one day on it and will be riding it more this weekend to compare and review. It’s between the horrorscope and indoor/green machine and I’d say it leans a lot more towards the indoor/green than the horrorscope…it’s not a soft board like the horrorscope. It’s definitely stiffer than the ultrafear as well. I’d say it’s not too much of a park board and can handle intermediate runs very good. It’s right along the lines of the indoor/green but just a tad softer and both of those boards are all mountain focus which would suit you.
telesnow
January 14, 2010 at 1:50 pmWow thanks Shay! I didn’t know it would be closer to the Indoor. Sounds perfect for me. I put in an order and got the notice it is waiting to be shipped. I’ll be trying it out in the next two weeks.
22
January 24, 2010 at 6:49 pmso i’m guessing you’ve been on the ultrafear for a bit now. how is it holding up? i’m around 5’9 and 160lbs, i’m looking to do 50/50 park/riding. do you think 155 is best for me? or should i just go with the indoor?
Beau
February 2, 2010 at 4:34 pmI am just wondering how this board does on the jumps, I am looking for a freestyle board that is soft but not as soft as the horrorscope, I like jibbing and buttering but i also want to be able to hit the jumps and spin and land. Also if you recommend a different board please let me know. Also would a 147 be too small? 5’8 120?
nick sommer
February 21, 2010 at 5:45 pmbought an ultrafear 148 couple days ago however my unions keep moving around on them its getting quite annoying at one point my binding was hanging off in the heel like an inch and the other the toe was hanging over an inch cus they had moved so much. should i trim the screws or what tightening them doesnt work becasue they still move let me know i really like this board but have been unable to enjoy it fully
Shay
February 21, 2010 at 5:58 pmTele, definitely let me know how you are liking it so far!
22, spent a good amount of the winter on the board and holding up great…it’s been my park board so nothing major damaged yet. 155cm works for you and could handle both.
Beau, haven’t taken it on jumps sorry! It’s not as soft as the horrorscope and my friend Zac rides his ultrafear in the park off jumps haven’t heard any complaints. 147 is on the small size so you won’t be as stable on jumps with it.
Nick, do they move around when you aren’t strapped in yet? If you are using the right length screws, then you could try loctite screws with the blue so it stays better. I’d make sure you are using the right length screws though.
Willis Grindstaff
February 24, 2010 at 10:50 amhaha i got this board and it is legit! loving it! i had a 155 machete and it was to stiff so i went and got the ultrafear and fell in love! great review on this
milly
August 13, 2010 at 11:41 amis this board not good for a beginner/intermediate rider? and is it basically an all mountain freestyle? like is it good for not only jibbing, but jumps, aerial tricks?
bono
October 25, 2010 at 7:34 pmSomeone sell me there 155 09 ultrafear!