The YES Jackpot got a little overhaul in 2020 to its shape with a blunted nose and has a little bit overall wider width, especially so when factoring the tip/tail width. It’s one of those boards that just makes park riding easier without taking away a lot of fun so it works with most ability level park riders.

Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews.  We do make money from the “Where To Buy” links, but this is our best attempt at an honest and objective review from an average riders’ perspective.

How This Review Happened:  We borrowed this for an extended demo and then returned it.
Size: 156
Days: 2
Conditions: Pretty great conditions with packed powder and soft snow almost everywhere. 
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-195lbs)
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV
Insoles: Sandsole Custom Insoles
Bindings: Union Superpro

Similar Boards We Like That We Tested This Against- The Old YES Jackpot 154. Never Summer Funslinger.

Set-Up: 22” wide, 15 front -15 back, Centered.

Approximate Weight: Feels normal and on the touch of the lighter side of normal.

Sizing: The156 felt a bit big for my size 9 feet but for my weight, this felt about right. Still, overall, I would prefer the 154 and even more so with the slight bump in the overall width of the board. My 154 isn’t much wider than the 2019 but when looking at the waist but in the tip/tail there is a decent bump so it seems like under the bindings there is more room than before. Like before, the indention in the waist does allow a little bigger boot to fit on this board than you would think for its waist width. It’s nothing extraordinary but if you could probably go up 1/2 to 1 full size without booting out. Even better just keep the same size you would normally get and have less toe/heel drag. The 2020 Yes Jackpot doesn’t have a mid/wide size this year but the bigger sizes like the 156 and 158 have a little more width under the binding to handle those borderline mid-widers.

Flex/Buttering: Such an easy flex in the tip and tail and the 2020 YES Jackpot feels softer than it says on the site. 7/10 is pretty stiff for a park board but to us, this is more like a 4 out of 10 when compared to the rest of the industry. The tip/tail make for very easy buttering but it does feel a little stiffer between the feet where the camber is. it has a nice rubbery personality that still has good but not super springy pop to it. It doesn’t have the hybrid rocker pop like the Funslinger does out of the tip/tail when buttering but it’s a trade-off between stability in all conditions vs. pop.

On Snow Feel/Ability Level/Skidded Turns: The way the 2020 YES Jackpot feels on snow is very similar to the past SWS made models. It’s consistent underfoot in all types of conditions, easy to skid turns and easy to one foot/flat base. It won’t punish you if you get off your game as much as some boards will.

Edge Hold: Very good edge hold underfoot and this is almost as competent as full magnetraction but without the aggressive grab in softer snow. The 2020 Yes Jackpot, like the older models, is a great choice for those that see hard to icy snow.

Turn Initiation: The 156 felt pretty quick and I didn’t have a hard time turning it. It wasn’t super fast but not super slow either. Kind of right in the middle. Once on edge, it felt like it accelerated through the turn a little faster than the older model. So in some ways, it’s the same as the old Jackpot and in others, it isn’t.

Turning Experience/Carving: This isn’t the board you get if you want to rail hard turns. You probably want a little more camber, a stiffer flex, etc but for what it is, the YES Jackpot carves pretty well. It is just a fun board to turn for a soft flexing twin and it turns well edge to edge.

Powder: I only had a little powder and I spent the best days on other boards in the YES line. For a centered stance twin that you might ride a little smaller than a mountain freestyle board, it isn’t bad. If you ride switch alot in powder this could work and the wider tip/tail should give you a touch extra float than the older model.

Speed: If you want a twin for riding the mountain with moderate speed than that is the Yes Greats. That being said the Yes Jackpot 2020 handles the mountain well enough.

Uneven Terrain: Yes has this rubbery personality to their board which makes it a great all-day resort board. It really bends over and absorbs most messy snow unevenness. It’s not super fast between moguls but at even a size up it negotiated bumps well enough.

Switch: Practically perfect either way. The only thing that is arguably better is going with an Asymmetrical board like the YES Greats or Never Summer Funslinger.

Jumps: There is good pop between the feet and a stable approach. One of the only complaints about this board would be the pop. Still, it has a stable approach before a jump and is good for landings as long as you aren’t going too big. It’s far from being dead but we wish it had more than the middle ground pop it does have.

Jibbing: At this age hitting the jib park just feels scary but with the Jackpot, there is confidence-inspiring stability and forgivingness that makes me want to do more than I normally would with other boards. It isn’t a perfect jib board but is good enough without shitting the bed when it comes to riding other places in the park.

Pipe: The extra edge hold between the feet (mid-bite tech) really helps in hard to icy pipes and it climbs a wall really well.

Overall, the 2020 Yes Jackpot still has a lot of that fun forgiving personality of the 2019 but with a little more width and refinement. It is still a very recommendable freestyle ride.

2015 Yes Jackpot Review

The YES Jackpot was a park specialist but with the enhanced camber upgrade it’s got a more of a fee that’s just as fun in the park as well as the mountain. We had a lot of fun on the Jackpot and felt it’s one of the better all mountain freestyle boards you can get. The one thing is the 2013 to 2015 models are not as soft as it’s marketed these days. It’s got a lot more mountain comfort.

The 2013 – 2015 Yes Jackpot models are made from a new factory (GST), have more camber, stiffer flex, pop and is a little more aggressive than the older models models. If this Jackpot’s camber were a woman she would of walked into the Dr’s office with an A cup and came out a playful voluptuous C cup. The 2015 is the same great Jackpot but without the mellow magnetraction in the side cut. It also comes in a Mid/Wide size for 2015.

2015 Yes Jackpot Review

Size: 156 and 154
Days: 5
Conditions: All spring conditions with it being hard in the morning then slowly transitioning to some moderate slush.
Riders: James, Jimbo,
Boots: Burton Imperial, Burton Hail, Burton SLX,
Bindings: Burton Genesis, Flux DS, Union Contact Pro, Burton Cartel

Set Up: Centered approx 23″ wide 15 front -15 back

Approximate Weight: Feels normal

On Snow Feel: Yes boards and their Camrock profile have a very consistent feel under foot in every condition which gives them an edge over most hybrid profies out there. From hard pack to soft snow you get the same predictable feel so there are no surprises. It’s stable in the flats and easy to one foot while not being catchy. The jackpot is much more than the freestyle board they say it is on their site. It’s got a pretty good mountain feel and has a pretty stiff core.

Turn Initiation: It’s not super quick but it’s quick and it’s really easy to make turns when you need it.

Flex: Now this is quite the opposite of the Yes Basic when it comes to flex in the tip/tail. It’s not super easy to butter but you can get the board to flex a little past the the natural bend of the camber. The 154 we tried was easier and fun to butter but the 156 felt a little bit on the stiff side and we would of liked to see it a little softer. Overall the board has a pretty medium flex going.

Edge Hold: So yeah the older Jackpot had a little better edge hold and we expected this traditional side cut to have less edge hold but it wasn’t as bad as I thought. It’s still in the same general category and held well in the hard morning snow we encountered. The 2013 was just a little better in hard to icy conditions.

Powder: No powder but it has the same camber profile as the 2014 and 2013 models and I’ve ridden that in powder a few times. It’s not a show stopper but it’s got decent float for a twin. I’d rather be on a more floaty board in deeper snow but the Jackpot was fine in under 2 feet of powder.

Carving: This was a fun board to make a hard carve. There is enough camber to give you a little spring out of a turn. It’s not going to own it but you can definitely get satisfaction on an uphill carve.

Speed: Pretty good speed for open mountain riding. We had no problem going down steep runs at pretty high speeds and the base keeps it’s speed rather well.

Uneven Terrain: We had no problem negotiating a mogul run and it turns through them well. Choppy tracked end of the day snow is pretty easy to deal with too.

Switch: It’s a true twin so it’s very easy either way.

Jumps: Nice pop here for an ollie and it’s got a nice stable take off in the park as well as an easy forgiving landing. It feels like a camber board here but without the catch of camber.

Jibbing: The older Nidecker made Jackpots were better jib boards and the 2015 to 2013 models aren’t really as jib friendly. If you are a good jibber you can make it work but I felt a little less confident in the jib park with it’s stiffer flex.

Pipe: Not a bad pipe board. The decent amount of camber between the feet as well as the solid edge hold drives well from pipe wall to pipe wall and I wouldn’t mind lapping the pipe with this. I liked the 2014 model a little better because of the extra edge hold but the 2015 is very close.

So all in all it’s still the same fun all mountain freestyle ride it’s been for a long time now. I think that over time the tip/tail will soften up a bit but I’d like to see just a little better buterability going on with the ride. It’s a great choice for those who like jumps, pipe and riding the mountain regular and swtich.

2013 and 2014 YES Jackpot Review

The 2013 and 2014 Yes Jackpot has a better build quality as well as a nice camber augmentation. The camber extends past the binding inserts and it’s much more pronounced. It feels more like a camber board compared to the older model where you felt a lot more rocker going on. Its less forgiving than the old board but still has a more forgiving playful ride than traditional camber.  This makes the board much more poppy, more fun to turn, better to carve and a more of an all mountain freestyle ride.

Size: 156
Days:  15+
Conditions: Everything from borderline icy conditions to 1.5 feet of powder.
Riders: James, Jimbo, Peter and Lee
Boots: Burton Imperial, Burton Ruler
Bindings: Burton Cartel, Burton Genesis

Weight: 5.8lbs Size 154

On Snow Feel: The new enhanced camber Yes Jackpot is a big improvement in terms of stability and really has much more of an all mountain freestyle feel to it due to the extra camber. It’s got a lot more of a ride the mountain or the park kind of feel and it also has a lot more spring in the feel of the board.

Powder:  The newer Jackpot from 2013 and 2014 has a little less float in powder due to the extra camber so now it’s more on the average side of good but it still does better than a true camber board. There is still a bend up after the camber but it’s just not as pronounced. It doesn’t want to sink and isn’t bad for those that like an all mountain freestyle/centered stance approach to the mountain on a pow day.

Turn Initiation and Carving: The newer GST made/camber profile  has a much better carve that makes for a lot more fun on the mountain.  The extra camber makes the board spring out of short radius to carving turns better than the old minimal camber model.  It’s not as easy to turn and feels more like a camber board than the old but most advanced to expert riders will appreciate this more than the older models. Short radius, meduim radius and wide radius turns aren’t as easy but quick and snappy but are more lively and springy if you are a more advanced rider you will really appreciate the extra camber and pop.  It’s much more of a balanced board now where before it was a more jib/butter friendly board.

Speed: The 2013 and 2014 Yes Jackpot has a faster base that picks up speed and keeps speed a little better than the older model.  It’s still not as damp as the Greats but it’s an improvement over the older models and it’s much more fun for mountain riding.

Uneven Terrain: Really easy to deal with shitty snow and bumpy conditions. It’s medium/soft flex and still easy turning ride handles bumpy end of the day snow very well. Emerging moguls are pretty easy to deal with.

Approximate Weight-This is right in the middle and doesn’t bother your foot on the chair. All years feel about the same.

Edge Hold:  We felt the newer enhanced camber Jackpots had a little better edge hold but not by too much.  It’s mellow magnetraction has enough bite for easy hard snow riding  and doesn’t feel grabby in soft thicker snow.  If you are going to hit the jib park a lot then your rails will obviously loose their bite.

Flex: The 2013 felt like the flex was a little more aggressive on the hill due to the extra camber but when you flex the board in a shop it feels the same as the 2012.  There is also a little more snap with the 2013.  The 2012 buttered and pressed easier but the 2013 still does a pretty good job with a little more effort.

Switch: Its a true twin so it’s fine switch.

Jibbing– The Newer Jackpot board has a little more camber and isn’t as forgiving in the jib park.The older models had a more mellow consequence free ride.  The 2014 and 2013 Yes Jackpot still isn’t a catchy technical jib board but it’s got a little more going on to where it isn’t the easy smooth jib board it use to be.  We find it a much better pipe and jump board these days.

Pipe: The Newer Yes Jackpots offer a great ride in the pipe and it feels more like a pipe/jump board now days.  We all had a really good time riding the pipe with this board.  The added camber gives a little more drive wall to wall and the extra edge hold keeps you comfortable in most hard/icy pipe walls.

Jumps: The newer Yes Jackpot is more springy and poppy making it a lot more fun finding stuff around the mountain or in the park to pop off. The extra camber makes the ride a little more technical but most will appreciate the extra spring.  There is a really nice improvement here and it’s fun in the air where ever you go.  It’s extra camber makes the landings feel like a camber board so you can land a little heavy on the tail and pull it off but at the same time it’s more forgiving than a camber board if you are closer to an edge.  This is borderline excellent or could easily be called excellent when it comes to jumps.  I’m hoping to ride this board a lot more this winter and will expand on this if

2012 Yes Jackpot Review

The 2012 YES Jackpot is more of a butter/press friendly beginner- expert friendly ride.  The camber ended at the middle of the binding inserts and felt more like a rocker board with a very small camber between the feet.  You could feel it turning and it provided stability between the feet but it had a very forgiving catch free ride. It’s shining point was how easy it was to butter and press.  It took a lot less effort than most boards and took a little getting use to. 

So this video is based on the 2013 DEMO model but the 2013 PRODUCTION MODEL increased the camber a lot so this review is actually much more accurate for the 2012 model.  Usually production and demo models are the same but this year YES gave us a production model surprise with this and a few other models. We rode both and both have the same graphics.  So all retailers should have the production model but  if someone is selling a demo model on ebay or something it won’t be the same.

2012 and below YES Jackpot Review

Size: 154 and 156

Riders: James, Peter, Kyle Jimbo, and a few others not on the site
Days: 20+
Conditions: A few days with about a foot of thick sierra powder  to hard borderline icy snow and a lot of stuff in between.
Bindings: Burton Diode, Now IPO, Burton Malavita, Flux DS30, Burton Cartel Limited, Union Contact Pro
Boots: Burton SLX, Burton Ion, Burton Imperial, Nike Kaiju
Stance-  22.5 inches wide 15 front -15 back.   23 inches wide 12 front -12 back and a few other stances.

On Snow Feel– The Jackpot is a pretty good all conditions ride and can   It’s a little too soft to be an excellent mountain board but if you like to make mellow turns for a bit and then jib around on natural terrain this could be perfect.  The hard pack day we had showed that it’s pretty loose but not squirrely.  It was also easy one footing off the chair.   The jib park is it’s best feature but it’s still fun in the pipe and hitting kickers.

Powder: The YES Jackpot is a really fun board for a twin with a centered stance. The hybrid camber is only a millimeter or 2 and the rocker is pretty pronounced so it rides in powder as good or better then a flat rocker board.  It planes well and doesn’t want to sink.  You will still have to put a lot of work on your back leg especially if you want to take a freestyle centered stance approach to the powder.

Turn Initiation and Carving– The Jackpot can turn very very easy and like the The Basic would be good for just about any level rider.  It’s pretty loose between the feet for a hybrid camber snowboard and almost feels as catch free as a hybrid rocker board without the squirrely feel you get flat basing on hard pack or one footing.  The little mini camber between the feet does a good job here stabilizing the ride.  If you make short or wide turns the Jackpot will be predictable and easy.  The Ultimate Traction also gives this a little more grip and therefore stability in the turn so this is a good choice for anyone who wants an easy ride off the chair, an easy turning board and something stable when you have to flat base. When carving the mini camber  makes you feel like you are carving on a really small camber board board that is between your feet.  It’s not an epic feeling but it performs better than many hybrid boards we have tried.  There is more of a good feeling for short to wide radius turns there and then it kind of fades into average when you carve.

Speed: The Jackpot is a soft board but it has a fast base. It can handle moderate speeds and is good for a board that can jib like this.  It’s a very balanced ride and accelerates quickly when it comes to picking up speed quickly in the park.

Uneven Terrain: The extra rocker and soft flex makes this and excellent board to negotiate or bounce over crappy/bumpy end of the day resort snow that you might encounter at the end of a Saturday.

Weight-This is right in the middle and doesn’t bother your foot on the chair. Both years feel about the same.

Edge Hold: We liked how this held in just about any condition you want to ride.  It held well in the pipe, on hard pack and we think it will do pretty well when it comes to east coast ice but there might be better boards out there.  We have to say this wasn’t as grippy as an aggressive magnetraction board but better than the Basic.

Flex: This is a pretty soft board it was smooth when it comes to buttering around the mountain or hitting the jib park.  It’s not a noodle but it’s pretty soft in the tip and tail.

Switch: Its a true twin so it’s perfect switch. The only board that rides better is the Asymmetrical Yes Greats.

Rails/Jibbing: The camber between the feet on this board is not very high.  It’s almost like it’s flat so combine that with the soft flex you have a really good rail and jib board.   It almost feels like a flat/rocker board when sliding across a rail or box.  We had a lot of fun in the park with this.  The Ultimate Traction does not change the ride when it comes to the jib park.

Pipe: Usually a pipe board and a jib park board don’t do well together but the Jackpot was pretty fun in the pipe.  The edges weren’t tainted from too much jib park play so it still held an edge well in the pipe.

Jumps: This is a moderately springy board when it came to generating your own air.  It felt just like the basic.