Founders of YES Snowboards Address Return To Independent Ownership

Don’t say that YES is back; it never left.

That’s the message behind the latest post from the official YES Instagram account.

The brand posted statements from Romain De Marchi, JP Solberg, David Carrier Porcheron, and David Pitschi regarding the status of the board brand after its departure from the Nidecker Group umbrella.

“We’re building boards the way we ride and the way we believe: by snowboarders for snowboarders. Independence gives us a clear voice again,” the post said. “To support the retailers who keep local snowboarding alive, to stand close to the community, and to share the stoke without shortcuts or bullsh*t.”

The news of its departure from Nidecker was broken in October in a story published by Board Sport Source. The rider-founded brand will transition to the majority ownership of co-founders Marchi and Solberg as a standalone company. Fellow co-founder DCP will stay on as an ambassador of the brand.

This is the second big change for the brand in four years. The first came in 2024, when it absorbed the brands NOW Bindings and Lobster, which were founded by Eiki and Halldór Helgason.

Here’s each statement from each co-founder.

“YES exists because snowboarding deserves truth. No shortcuts, no bullsh*t. We build boards the way we ride, with passion. Independence isn’t a strategy, it’s a necessity. YES is snowboarding made by people who live it.” – Romain De Marchi

“YES is about belonging. Snowboarding connects us, different styles, backgrounds, terrains. Going independent lets us speak clearly again. We build boards for everyone who loves snowboarding as much as we do.” - Jan Petter Solberg

“YES going independent again feels like breathing again. When snowboarders create for snowboarders, it shows. I’m deeply grateful to the mountains, to the people, to snowboarding for what it brought me. YES is: shared stoke, pure and honest.” – David Carrier Porcheron.

“Snowboarding brings me joy, purpose, and a way to connect. In YES I see excellence, inclusivity, and that feeling that lifts everyone. Independence lets us build boards that amplify the joys of snowboarding, and share it with as many people as possible.” – David Pitschi

It’s unclear who will ride for YES going forward. The team previously consisted of Helgason and Fridtjof Tischendorf (aka Fridge), Utah-based ripper Pat Fava, and Canadian Olympic hopeful Liam Brearley, as well as Dustin Craven, Colton Carroll, and Hrund Hanna Thor. Some of those riders—like Fava and Helgason—have already found new board sponsors.