- Price: £615 / $700
- Category: All-Mountain, Freeride/Powder
- Ability Level: Intermediate, Advanced
- Size: 156
- Flex: 7/10
- Shape: True Twin
- Profile: Camber + Powder Hull
- Base: Sintered
- BUY DIRECT FROM YES
We often read about the state-of-the-art tech that’s gone into a snowboard’s design, but very rarely do we get to see it. At least, not quite as obvious and in your face as with the Yes 20/20. On first impressions, it looks like the 20/20 has been engineered to within an inch of its life. The translucent nose and tail need to be seen to be fully understood, and it needs to be ridden for you to be fully blown away.
The board’s profile is what YES. call Powderhull 2.0 + Camber. Delving into the thought process behind this shows you the passion that goes into making YES. boards. It doesn’t take too much to know that the vast majority of powder snow is actually air (try making a snowball in Japan) – in fact up to 90%. As a result, the two concave sections at the nose and tail take advantage of this to create a pow-primed construction unseen elsewhere in the snowboard world, let alone in a true twin.
“The two concave sections at the nose and tail… create a pow=primed construction unseen elsewhere in the snowboard world, let alone in a true twin”
The concave nose creates a pressure pocket of air between the board and terra firma as you ride over the surface, while the tail releases the air and is pulled towards the ground as it does so, creating downforce much like an F1 car. Pop it into switch and it the roles of the nose and tail swap over so the board deliver the same levels of float, whichever way you’re pointed.
The Powder Hull 2.0 isn’t possible without YE.S other pièce de résistance – the Weightless Core. Taking wood away from where it’s not needed and replacing it with resin, a more malleable substance which can be moulded into shape, allows the 20/20 to do its thing.
“This may not be on a rider’s radars a one-stop-shop, but there’s really no reason why it couldn’t be”
The final trick up the sleeve of the 20/20 is its aggressive MidBite. pulling the sidecut in between the feet creates a sharp, reactive edge change without comprising on float or stability where you still have the increased width underfoot. MidBite has proven itself as the winning sidecut design for the true twins in the YES. fleet and its advantages in the park and piste have been championed by many for multiple seasons. The benefits in the powder are apparent here, though. Pillows, drops and pops feel super floaty with that extra volume at the ends.
This may not be on a rider’s radars a one-stop-shop, but there’s really no reason why it couldn’t be. With an outline that’s primed for all-mountain freestyle and a profile that’s equipped for deep, powder fueled adventures, there aren’t many limits to this 20/20. After all, if RDM and Derek Livingston see fit to strap it to their feet, it’s unlikely the rest of us are going to feel short-changed from what’s on offer here.
