YES BASIC SNOWBOARD 2013/14 REVIEW

Yes is the board brand that rose phoenix-like from the ashes of Burton’s UnInc team. When Romain de Marchi, JP Solberg and DCP, three of the best-respected riders in the business unexpectedly found themselves laid off by the Big B at the same time, they banded together and started their own company. Nearly half a decade later, it looks to be the best decision the three of them ever made. Built in the Nidecker factory in Switzerland (the same place where Jones and Slash boards are made) every line of Yes snowboards so far has earned plaudits from the industry and the allegiance of ordinary shredders around the world.

The Basic was one of the first boards the three musketeers launched, and is still one of their most popular. A freestyle-focussed all-mountain ride, it has a relatively soft, forgiving flex. The profile features camber between the bindings and rocker towards the tip and tail, helping give it a bit of a looser feel and allowing it to float better in powder. Yes have made a very interesting tweak to the shape of this stick this year too. The stance is centred and the sidecut is identical at the tip and tail, like on a twin. But they’ve shaped the tail ever so slightly differently, removing a bit of volume so that (as they put it) “it floats like a directional in pow.” The base on this board is extruded so it’s not the fastest, but then it’s not the most expensive either.

Our test team reckoned it would suit beginner and intermediate riders as well as more advanced freestylers, and were super-impressed by the value for money on offer here. “The only thing Basic about this board is the price” ran one typical comment.

YES BASIC SNOWBOARD 2013/14 – VIDEO REVIEW – BY TSA

BUY THIS BOARD AT: snowboard-asylum.com, thesnowboardshop.co.uk, cabfive.co.uk, sputniksnowboardshop.co.uk, ss20.com, thesnowboardshop.co.uk, snowlab.co.uk

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