Above: Luke Lund aka "Goop" makes going medium look good on the Jetstream. Photo: Dominic Zimmerman
“It’s a pretty soft snowboard, but I think you’ll like it.”
I’ll admit I was skeptical. I’m more of a fall-line snowboarder. I like steeper terrain and going fast. At least that’s what my ego says. But the reality is that conditions dictate terrain, and it’s not every day that steep, fast lines are on the menu.
So, when Salomon’s Michael Nauman was running me through their 2026 freeride oriented Horizon series, I figured the stiffest one in the line, the Fastlane, was the board for me. I already loved the middle of the pack Highpath, give me the one with the same idea but more juice, right?
Mike was saying I should try the softer one. “It holds an edge,” he promised.
A mid-wide waist, tapered directional profile, and a deep radial sidecut work together on the Jetstream to get low like Goop. Photo: Michael Nauman
So, I found myself aboard the Jetstream 157 from the better part of the spring season. Coming in at a proclaimed “medium” flex, it was the softest board I’d ridden in years. (Not to say its soft, I just usually like stiffer boards—see ego comment above).
And Mike was right—it did hold an edge. The flex may be a bit softer than what I’m used to but it’s also a bit different, with a stiffer tail and softer nose, or “progressive flex.” In concert with a clean radial sidecut, taper, a bit of rocker in the nose and tail, camber underfoot, and strategically placed contact points, it made for a board that is forgiving, fun and playful, transitioning quickly edge to edge, but not prone to washout.
I could feel each bump and contour, giving a greater sense of connection to the terrain without feeling like I was going to flex the board beyond its limits when I leaned into the tail. It asked for finesse more than brute force but gave back in a more tuned-in approach to the mountain.
Some extra width in the nose works for float, while a balsa/poplar core keeps the swing weight down. Photo: Dominic Zimmerman
I won’t go as far as to say the Jetstream would be my first choice for bigger lines where one might encounter variable snow (e.g. Alaska, Cascadian high country). When things get fast, hectic, and very steep, I think I’d still rather be on a board with a bit more support. But for daily driving through spring powder in the Mt Baker backcountry, mellow park laps, a few banked slaloms and side hit sessions, the board felt right at home.
Simply put, atop the Jetstream, going medium was more fun. And let’s be honest, most days I’m going medium.
With guys like Nils Mindnich and Wolle Nyvelt designing boards, I should have known to trust Salomon’s design process. Sorry, Mike, for any skepticism—you were right. The Jetstream rips.
Everyone has a different definition of going medium. Goop's got pop. Photo: Dominic Zimmerman
ABOUT THE TESTER
Age: 44
Height: 5’7
Weight: 150
Boot size: 8
Years riding: 32
Home mountain: Mt. Baker Ski Area, WA
Riding style: fall line/freeride