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Snowboards

YES. Emoticon 2020-2021 Women’s Snowboard Review

  • Price: $400
  • Category: All-Mountain
  • Ability Level: Beginner, Intermediate
  • Size: 143, 149, 152
  • Flex: 4/10
  • Shape: True Twin
  • Profile: CamRock
  • Base: Extruded
  • BUY DIRECT FROM YES

Riding the YES. Emoticon is like coming home and putting on your favourite pair of slippers, it’s comfortable and predictable, and oh boy do you look forward to it. This is a confidence boosting all-terrain snowboard, one that won’t catch you out and trip you up for making mistakes but also won’t inhibit you when you want to start exploring more.

The Emoticon hasn’t really changed much in the six years it’s been on the market, but if it ain’t broke and all that jazz… Whilst the true twin shape and soft flex make it the most jib friendly of the women’s YES. line, the Emoticon is more than happy to venture out across all types of terrain.

“This hybrid profile gives you a lively and playful feel of both camber and rocker, without the traditional hangups of either”

A camrock profile is arguably the most versatile profile you can find in a snowboard. You get the dynamic camber dominance to pump you in and out of turns, with the mellow rockered nose and tail to add effortless float in the deeper snow. This hybrid profile gives you a lively and playful feel of both camber and rocker, without the traditional hangups of either.

YES’ UnderBite outline made serious waves when they debuted it, and after a few tweaks over the years, it’s basically become industry standard. This, as they say, is where the magic happens. Small sections of the edge are pulled in by the bindings, separating the edge into three specific zones. The overall effect is the ability to carve with more confidence as the edge holds better through the initiation, hold, and release of the turn.

“For a cruiser that can take you from powder stashes to park ripping in the same breath, you’ll struggle to find something with more bang for its buck”

If you’re not a latex-clad speed demon looking to break land speed records then oftentimes expensive additives in a snowboard just go to waste. The Emoticon has everything it needs, and absolutely nothing it doesn’t. An extruded base, biax laminates and a full poplar core aren’t the most high tech ingredients on the market, but at this price, who can complain? If you’re looking for something for a more aggressive ride, chock full of YES’ space age tech, then take a gander at the Hel.

Like any price point all-mountain board, The Emoticon will be beat by something that’s built specifically for one thing, but for a cruiser that can take you from powder stashes to park ripping in the same breath, you’ll struggle to find something with more bang for its buck.

Tester’s Verdict 2020/21

Stella PenttiWhitelines

“I really enjoyed riding the YES Emoticon – it was smooth, easy, fun and predictable to ride in the most loveliest way. Cruising through the resort on this is effortless, but not in the sense that the board would be boring – quite the opposite.

“The beauty of the Emoticon is its versatility”

The beauty of the Emoticon is its versatility. You can cruise, jib, carve, and float through powder without the board struggling through any of it. You’re also able to speed up, but the extruded base won’t let you go full senderella in downhill, which isn’t the end of the world as the other qualities of the board makes up for that. However, if aggression and speed is what you’re looking for, maybe this isn’t the board for you.

The YES. Emoticon is a very pleasant board, and if your legs aren’t really feeling it, the Emoticon has a strange ability to change that. It’s so effortless to manoeuvre that you won’t even remember waking up with heavy legs, and by the end of the day, you’ve probably had the most fun and creative day of riding, thanks to the board ability to adapt to nearly any terrain.”

Tester’s Verdict 2019/20

Joy DutchWhitelines

“The Emoticon is an enjoyable ride anywhere on the mountain, and while it’s not specific for any particular place, it can handle anything you want to throw it into. It’s an easy-going ride, but one that you’re able to push if you want to. It can ride quite hard, but it won’t take you for a ride if you don’t want it to.

“It holds its edge well, even when it gets a bit sketchy and icy and you can get low into carves without slipping out”

It holds its edge well, even when it gets a bit sketchy and icy and you can get low into carves without slipping out. It’s not the fastest board around, but that just added to the mellow nature of the board.

Flexwise it felt playful in the nose and tail, you’re able to get some flatland fun in easily. You do have to work a bit to get height when ollieing, but it has a nice spring to it if you’re boosting off something.

I’d recommend it more for a newer rider, or for someone who is looking for something super mellow to boost their confidence. If you’re looking for something a bit gnarlier, check out the HEL. ”

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