Hello and welcome to my YES Emoticon snowboard review.
In this review, I will take a look at the Emoticon as an all-mountain-freestyle snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Emoticon a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other women's all-mountain-freestyle snowboards.
Overall Rating
For this season, I found someone to test women's gear, so this review is based on my tester's (Ash's) experience with the board, as well as my own experience with the men's equivalent (YES Basic) of this board.
Board: YES Emoticon 2020
Price: $399
Style: All-Mountain-Freestyle
Flex Rating: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Flex Feel on Snow: Medium-Soft (3.5/10)
Rating Score: 81.5/100
Compared to other Women’s All-Mountain-Freestyle Boards
Out of the 26 women’s all-mountain-freestyle snowboards that I rated:
Overview of the Emoticon’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Emoticon’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | All-Mountain-Freestyle |
Price: | $399 |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Feel: |  |
Turn Initiation: | Fast |
Edge-hold: |  |
Camber Profile: | Hybrid Camber - 3-2-3 (rocker-camber-rocker) |
Shape: | |
Setback Stance: | Centered |
Base: | Extruded |
Weight: | Normal |
Sizing
LENGTH (cm) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
143 | 237 | 100-150 | 45-68 |
146 | 239 | 100-150 | 45-68 |
149 | 241 | 110-160 | 50-72 |
152 | 243 | 110-160 | 50-72 |
Who is the Emoticon Most Suited To?
The Emoticon is great for anyone looking for a playful, buttery, easy going, easy to ride, super nimble at slow speeds, all-mountain-freestyle board.
It's also great for beginners, and ideal for that high end beginner approaching intermediate, that wants a board to last a long time with them as they progress.
Not a bomber, or anything that you'd take into the backcountry - but otherwise very versatile.
The Emoticon in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Emoticon is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: YES Emoticon 2020, 149cm (241mm waist width)
Date: March 15, 2019
Conditions: The day started off quite soft and a little sticky, but by the evening time, as it cooled down, it started to harden up. The Emoticon was the first board that Ash got on and it was still a little sticky in places - but things had already sped up a little and was getting quite firm in places.
Bindings angles: +15/-12
Stance width: 515mm (20.3″)
Stance Setback: Centered
Width at Inserts: 247mm (9.72")
Weight: 2480g (5lbs, 7oz)
Weight per cm: 16.64g/cm
Average Weight per cm: 16.48 grams/cm*
*based on a very small sample size of 8 women's boards that I've weighed.
Ash described the board as feeling light on snow. Some boards weigh in light but feel heavier on snow or visa-versa.
Rider Height: 5"6" (168cm)
Rider Weight: 130lbs (59kg)
Rider Boot Size: Women's US8.5 Ride Hera
Bindings Used: NOW Vetta, Small
Flex
In hand it felt significantly softer than the 2 Jones boards that were tested against it (Twin Sister & Dream Catcher).
Ash said it felt considerably softer on snow than the two Jones and even a little softer vs her board (GNU Gloss), certainly in the nose and tail - but maybe a little stiffer than the Gloss in the center of the board.
Powder
Didn't get any on the day - but based on my experience with the YES Basic (men's equivalent of this board) and the specs, it's not a great board for powder. Fine in shallow powder though, but when it gets deeper, then quite easy to sink the nose.
Carving & Turning
Carving: Feels nice on a carve at slower speeds, but gets a bit wobbly when carving faster - not one for aggressive carves.
Maneuverability at slow speeds: Super nimble at slow speeds. Really fast edge-to-edge.
Overall edge-to-edge speeds: Gets wobbly as you ride it faster and turning at high speeds isn't ideal, but overall at slow to medium speeds, super nimble edge to edge.
Skids: Really easy to initiate turns on and forgiving of skidded turns.
Speed
Not that stable at speed - can handle speed to an extent but then gets wobbly.
Uneven Terrain
Nice and nimble for getting around bumps, and has enough flex to absorb going over - but not that damp, so you feel the bumps as you go over. And you feel it when you're in crud too.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Jumps
Overall, almost ideal for smaller jumps, but not as suitable for large jumps.
Pop: Good pop (without being epic) and super easy to access that pop.
Approach: Good approach for smaller jumps and trickier approaches for side hits, but not stable enough at speed to be ideal for bigger jumps.
Landing: Good solid landing off smaller jumps - but not ideal for larger jumps.
Side-hits: Really really good - nimble for tricky approaches, good easily accessed pop and great to spin. Maybe not if you're hitting massive natural hits, but your typical side-his on groomers, it's pretty much ideal.
Small jumps: Almost perfect.
Big jumps: Not stable enough on approach and landing to be ideal.
Switch
Almost perfect. The same going both ways essentially. Only thing that would improve it, is asymmetry.
Spins
For small air spins, the Emoticon is pretty much perfect - easy access pop, great for landing and taking off switch and feels light to get the spin around. For big tricks it's not as good, but for most it will be a great spinner.
Jibbing
Great for jibs too. It's one of those boards that would rate really well purely as a park board - and that would have been just as appropriate a category for this board.
Butters
This is about as good for buttering as they come. Super buttery and super easy to butter on.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
JUMPS | 4.0 | 16/20 |
SWITCH | 4.5 | 9/10 |
JIBBING | 4.0 | 8/10 |
CARVING | 3.0 | 6/10 |
POWDER | 2.5 | 5/10 |
SPEED | 2.5 | 5/10 |
UNEVEN TERRAIN | 3.5 | 7/10 |
SPINS | 4.0 | 8/10 |
BUTTERS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
PIPE | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 81.5/100 |
Overall the Emoticon is a really easy going, super nimble at slow speeds, great for spinning, super buttery, playful all-mountain-freestyle board that could just as easily be categorized as a straight up park board.
Not one for bombing or super-aggressive carves, but great for regular turns and awesome for small jumps and side hits, with really easily accessible pop (i.e. don't have to wind up to extract it).
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the Emoticon, or if you are ready to buy, or if you just want to research prices and availability, check out the links below.
If you want to check out some other women's all-mountain-freestyle snowboard options, or if you want to see how the Emoticon compares to other women's all-mountain-freestyle snowboards, then check out the next link.
Hi!
I’m interested in getting this board! I am also wondering what size would be best for me, in your opinion. I am 169 cm and 65kg. My level is towards the beginner side of intermediate, if that makes sense haha, and I mostly ride normal pistes but I’m starting to go into the park more. I don’t really do off-resort riding.
Thanks for all your in-depth guides, they are very helpful!
Hi Rebecca
Thanks for your message.
Beginner side of intermediate totally makes sense! And this board is great for that level, and will be a great option, IMO, for what you’re describing.
Size-wise, it’s a tough call between the 146 and 149. Both would be suitable for your specs/ability. Some things to consider weighing up the 2 sizes:
The 146 will be subtly easier to maneuver, better in trees and better in the park
The 149 will have subtly more stability at speed and better float in powder
Neither size would be a bad choice, but hopefully that can help to narrow it down between the two, depending on what you want to prioritize more.
Hi Nate, I am thinking about upgrading my current board (K2 first lite) with the Yes Emoticon. The characteristics of the board really appeal to me and I believe it offers more room to progress in comparison to the K2. I am now between beginner/intermediate and would like a board that can do it all. However, I do not think you can find me in the park that often. Instead I prefer to go down the groomed pistes smoothly. I am 171cm and 60kg and have bootsize US8. What do you think would be the best board length in my case?
Hi Annabel
I agree that the Emoticon is something that take progress you further than the First Lite – and is a really good high-end beginner going on intermediate level board, IMO. The biggest weakness of the Emoticon is in powder, but if you’re not going to be riding deep powder any time soon, then that’s not a biggie. It’s otherwise very versatile.
Size-wise, I would say something in the range between 145-148 would be a good range to look at for your specs/level of riding. So I would go for the 146 for you, for the Emoticon.
Hope this helps
Thanks Nate for your clear answer, much appreciated!
You’re very welcome Annabel. Happy riding!