Board: Jones Ultra Mountain Twin
Size: 157
Camber Option: Camrocker. Camber underfoot rocker in the tip and tail.
Bindings: Rome Black Label
Stance: 21.5 Wide 15 Negative 12 Goofy
Resort: Copper Mountain
Conditions: Sunny bluebird skies with pockets of clouds, moderate winds at times, cold temps, firm fast snow, wind blown powder pockets, heavy pow, ice, chunder, and fresh corduroy.
Flex: As this is the Ultra version of the Mountain Twin it is on the stiffer side. It’s definitely a higher end all mountain flex which means there’s a stiffer mid section through that camber portion and every so slightly softer tips due to the rocker. The torsional flex is there and while not overly abundant you do notice it and it does help with the steering of this board.
Stability: This board is lively yet damp where it counts. You do get some chatter in the tips but it’s nothing mind blowing and won’t overpower you when you charge. Sure you feel a little bit underfoot but the mid section of this board does a great job of absorbing vibrations and allowing you to not get knocked around in rutted out terrain.
Ollies: The snaps there and you do have to be mildly aggressive with loading up the camber profile to get it to engage. When you do this and flex into the rocker section it gives a spring board effect which gives you its pop. This is a deck you have to be slightly calculated on how you pop off things but not fully on your A game.
Pop On Jumps: This is where this board truly shines it’s designed for hitting jumps and boosting into the air. So come in hot and pop off the lip because you’re about to send it to the danger zone. Small, medium, large features it doesn’t matter this is where this board is at home as it’s built for going bigger and faster.
Butterability: Surprisingly this board wasn’t hard to butter for its flex. That 3D shaping in the tips helps keep things buttery and the edges from hooking up. While you do have to get your weight out over the nose or tail you aren’t man handling it the whole time you can be a little more laid back. Sure there’s spring out of the camber zone and that is to be expected so be aware of the mild amount of fight the board has in the mid section.
Jibbing: A little speed goes a long way with this board. It’s not the most jib centric board I’ve ridden in this category but it does get the job done. Much like buttering you have to get your weight out over the tips to get it to lock in and when it locks in for a press you know it. The snap from the camber is there to get you to pop out of any feature. Now when you go sideways it does take a bit more effort as this is the stiffest section of the board and while it cradles the feature it does not hug or clap out on the feature instead it balances on it.
Carving: This board has a very quick edge to edge transmission and you notice that right away. The 3D shaping helps keep that outer contact point elevated so the edge to edge roll is fluid and nimble. When you get it on edge it engages outside the front foot and then steers more underfoot. When you rail this board on edge it does lock in and stay locked in but doesn’t fully lay over like other boards. So as can be predicted there are some limitations on this board but for most people they won’t notice it. Short quick set up turns, mellow to aggressive carves, and even the occasional Euro-carve are its friend here.
Rider in Mind: High end all mountain freestyle rider that wants a beefier board.
Personal Thoughts: It’s been a hot minute since I rode the Ultra Mountain Twin and this did not disappoint. While Jones has made the Mountain Twin and this softer over the last few seasons, the flex on this is still more aggressive but it doesn’t want to kill you. I prefer this one over the regular MT any day of the week as you can push into this as need be and have a bit more power. It’s also more stable which is nice in rutted out terrain or for hauling ass on a firm fast groomer in the morning.
Comparable Boards: Capita Super DOA, Ride Benchwarmer, Nitro Beast
Binding Recommendations: Rome Katana, Now Select, Ride C-8
20 Comments
Hi, thank You for great review. I’m concidering purchase of Joones Mountain Twin. But I’M affraid that Ultra version willl be a bit to stiff for me. Would You advice if 157 size of standard JMT will be proper for me if I’m 6 feet, 195 lbs, boot size 11? Greetings from Poland.
Andrzej
Sure.
Thank You. Just ordered. My new JMT is on the way.
As I wrote I oredred JMT 157 but it seems to be a bit narrow with L bindings and 11US boots. I can exchange for other size but I need your advice what will be better, JMT 156W or regular 160 , 159W? Thank you for your help.
Kind of depends on your weight so…
Hey, debating 157 or 160. East coast rider so could care less about float. Just debating if there’s enough effective edge on the 157 to keep my ass locked in without getting squirrely. Let me know what you think. 210lbs size 10.5 boots. Thanks.
If you’re just looking to rail turns go bigger, if you want it more for general use and getting in tight trees get the 57.
What up Angry – looking to get a new daily driver / all mountain medium flex board, mostly for east coast. 6’3 190 lbs, 34 , been riding 20 years. Surf freeride style.
Predominantly riding the 160 Korua dart lately. looking to compliment this, where the dart lacks, so tight trees, side hits, smaller jumps/boxes, little bit of switch riding ability, and steeper bowls and bigger mountain ability if the opportunity arises when traveling. Powder is a plus but not the main focus (also have an older Burton 159 Branch manager that I love when its deep)
I know that’s a broad range, but I want to hear what you would recommend. Narrowed it down to some below
Korua Otto 161
Burton Skeleton key 158/162
Burton show stopper 158/162
Burton flight attendant 159W
Jones Mountain twin or Ultra MTN Twin 159W/162W
Jones mind expander twin 158
GNU Hyper 159W
Thanks
Otto.
Hello, I rode the Jones aviator 2, loved the quick transition between turns in tight places like wood runs. Does this board respond well in tight spaces for turns? I.e quick narrow carving.
Yeah but it’s not as quick as the Aviator 2.0.
Hey Angry, could you advise how stiff ultra mnt twin compared to captica mega mercury? I tried regular JMT and Mega Merc and found that MT I like more, but it was too soft and mega merc was just right for me in terms of stiffness .
Thank you!
The UMT isn’t anymore stiff than the Mega Merc, it’s just not as reactive so it’s a bit more damp. If you rode the MM and liked it, that’s what you should buy.
Thank you so much!
Hello!
If you would be up for given me your opinion I would be grateful. I am an aggressive all mountian rider of 20+ years and I have ridden longer boards for most of that time, 160 and up. I am 5′ 10″ 150lbs. Lately, I have been working hard to improve my buttering and freestyle game (something that I have not spend much time doing). I am looking at getting the UMT in a 157 in the hopes it would be able to satisfy both needs. I also wasn’t sure if I should be looking at a 154 in the UMT OR something else all together. Thank you!
Do you want it just for buttering or what?
Buttering, jumps, side hits, some jibbing, but also aggressively ride the rest of the mountain. Also, my main mountain is Steve’s pass in WA.
I have an XV and a sashimi but looking to get a more freestyle deck to start getting more into jumps and buttering around when not hunting powder or on steeps. Still would like it be able to ride whole mountain though. Do you think this is soft enough from xv to get the playfulness I’m looking for?
I think it’s probably too stiff for what you want out of it.
Hi Angry, Love your content, you’ve helped me out a ton in finding the right deck. I wanted your opinion on what I should buy for an new all-mountain board this year. I’m between-
Capita Mercury
Capita Meg Merc
Jones Mountain Twin
Jones Ultra Mountain Twin
I currently have a newer Lib Orca as my daily driver and consider myself an intermediate rider. I love the Orca for powder and charging, but am looking for a board that’s better for trees, side hits, but still carves well. I like the Mega/Ultra version boards because I think they’d carve better and would be more stable at speed. But, tight turns and maneuverability are still important to me. Also, I’m by no means an expert rider, so don’t want a board that’s too much for me. Not sure how the Ultra/Mega versions would compare to the Orca?
Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!