Capita Kazu Kokubo Pro

Capita Kazu review

The Capita Kazu is Kazu Kokubo’s powder and all mountain board. A cambered, smooth turning machine – a solid board all over the mountain.

Features of the Capita Kazu Kokubo Pro

Directional Shape

Radial Taper

0.5″ Setback

6.5/10 Flex

Like a few of the higher end Capita boards, I think that that the flex rating is lower it feels in real life.

Alpine V2 Profile

Although this name has changed a little since I originally made the first video, the features stay the same. Overall, the board has a large camber section, with a reverse camber nose.

capita alpine v2 profile

Panda Hover Core

A lightweight core, with added bamboo rods.

Skinless Core Ash Woodgrain Topsheet

Amplitex V-Tech Amplifier

Holysheet Fiberglass

Magic Bean Resin

Hyperdrive Base

A high density, sintered base material.

Moonshop Pro-Tune

The board comes from the factory with a stone ground structure. I think that this is a great feature for any board to have. Separate from the performance jump that having a base with structure gives you, it also proves that the board is well made.

You can’t put a nice structure on a board that isn’t flat edge to edge, so it means that it will ride well, and is technically well made.

Sublimation Base

This is the printing process used to get the detailed graphics on the base of the board.

360 Degree Steel Edges

Nothing special about this, it just means that the edges run the full way around the board. Almost every brand does this, except for Lib Tech and GNU.

Stainless Steel Inserts

Sizes Available

  • 151cm
  • 154cm
  • 157cm
  • 160cm

How the Kazu Rides

Board size: 157cm 2019 model

Boots: Salomon Launch Boa SJ (Size 9.5/27.5)

Bindings: Salomon District set with a 22.5″ stance width, at +15 and -9.

I weigh around 70kg, and am 6 foot tall.

I rode the 157cm Kazu, in Australia and Japan.

In Australia, I was riding in late spring conditions. Hard, fast and frozen in the morning, turning to soft slush in the afternoons.

In Japan I had a combination of hard packed cold snow, a little bit of soft fresh, with some warm slushy days.

Camber Profile

Overall, the Alpine V3 (now called the Alpine V2) rides just like a traditional camber board. The rocker on the nose does take away a little of the aggressivness that you normally find on full camber boards, and makes the start of turns quite smooth and easy.

Overall the majority of the board is camber, so the board has a stable or solid feel when riding fast.

Flex and Pop

To me the Kazu had a stiffer flex than the 6.5 rating the Capita give it. There is plenty of power to smash through chopped up snow, and the board doesn’t throw you around.

The tail is quite stiff, so I found that I could land quite tail heavy, and the board wouldn’t want to wash out. Like you would expect, with a stiff tail, you could get a good ollie out of the board.

The board I was riding was fairly “broken in”, and the camber section is fairly low overall. In general I wouldn’t describe it as a super lively or poppy board.

Edge Hold

Edge hold is really good, very close to the feel you would get on a full traditional camber board. Through the middle and end of a turn, I could push the edges hard into the snow, and was always confident that the board wasn’t going to slide out.

Speed

Even though they change the name of their bases all the time, the Kazu has one of Capita’s fastest base materials on it. I freshly waxed the Kazu before riding it, and on cat tracks and flat section you really noticed the speed. There was no problem at all keeping the speed up, maintaining the speed took no effort at all.

Pros:

  • Lightweight
  • Good edge hold
  • Very smooth turns

Cons

  • Expensive

Overall

Overall, the Kazu is a very solid choice as an all mountain board. Although it is aimed at pretty advanced riders, I think it would still be a good choice for an intermediate rider. The camber profile with the rocker nose takes away that “catchy” camber feeling, and makes turns very smooth and easy. It is one of the nicest turning boards that I have ridden, edge to edge feels super quick, and it still rides well switch.

For all mountain riding, drops and jumps it has a very solid feel, and the tail is strong enough to save you if you don’t land perfectly. The price is pretty high, but you get a very fast and smooth riding board for the price.

Where does the Kazu sit in the Capita line?

Navigator

  • 5.5/10 Flex
  • Resort V2 Directional Profile
  • Hover Core
  • Powder Drive Base
  • $499.99

The Navigator is a cheaper option that does what the Kazu does, in a softer and easier riding package.

Read more

Kazu

  • 6.5/10 Flex
  • Alpine V2 Profile
  • Panda Hover Core
  • Hyperdrive Base
  • $649.99

A high end, fully featured powder and all mountain board.

Find prices

Black Snowboard of Death

  • 6.5/10 Flex
  • Alpine V1 Profile
  • Thermopolymer Hover Core
  • Hyperdrive Base
  • $699.99

An expensive, light and fast directional all mountain board. It now sits with boards with the same group of features as the Super DOA, Mega Merc and the new Mega Death.

Read more
Size (cm)Waist (mm)Edge (mm)SidecutTip / Tail (cm)Taper (mm)Weight Range (kg)Weight Range (lbs)
15125111708.0029.6 / 28.96.345 – 68100 – 150
15425312068.2030.0 / 29.28.245 – 72100 – 160
15725512228.4030.4 / 29.58.459 – 86130 – 190
16025712548.6030.7 / 29.78.663 – 90+140 – 200+

Previous season graphics

capita kazu 2024

2024

capita kazu 2023

2023

capita kazu 2022

2022

capita kazu kokubo pro 2021

2021

capita kazu kokubo pro 2020

2020

capita kazu 2019

2019

capita kazu kokubo pro snowboard 2018

2018

capita kazu 2017

2017

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2 thoughts on “Capita Kazu Kokubo Pro”

  1. Hey Lachy, I’m after a bit of advice. I’m heading to Japan in 2weeks time – mid Feb – I was planning on taking 2-3 boards with me. From previous comments I’ve posted on your very helpful videos, it will be obvious I’m a bit of a Capita fan. That said, I’m taking a Mantaray Gentemstick, but still a bit undecided about the other 1-2 boards. I have access to a:
    1. Capita Aeronaut. I rode it in New Zealand last year & love it & it feels like it could be good in deeper snow.
    2. Capita Kazu Pro. I have ridden it in New Zealand & Whistler, Canada in mostly icy conditions. It was my favourite board until I got on the Aeronaut. I guess on paper it would be better suited to deeper snow than the Aeronaut.
    3. Capita Mega Death. Bought it on the back of the hype & go it for a heavily discounted price in Australia. I’m yet to get it in the snow. It could be good for the trip & being lighter is an advantage for travel.
    4. Libtech Orca. I’ve ridden it in New Zealand & Canada. In Canada there was some deeper snow, albeit heavy snow. I quite liked it, but I think I prefer themore traditional Camber profile boards that feel more solid & controlled under foot.

    What would be your picks?

    Cheers,

    Roger

    Reply
    • Hi Roger,

      Like you I like the Aeronaut but haven’t had a change to ride it in proper deeps snow. It would be a good backup, but I think go for the Mega Death.

      The overall shape of the Mega Death super nice, and it was so fast for me, the fastest board I have ridden. Seeing that you have it, might as well bring the fast and light board with you. See if you think the hype is deserved! I would be interested to hear how it goes in some proper powder.

      Reply