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YES 420 Powderhull 2016-2017

UPDATE: Check out our review of the 2018/2019 YES 420 PowderHull here

The Details:

YES debuted their ‘Powderhull’ technology last year with the 20/20, a freestyle-specific version of the already-established 420/ It used concave sections of base, a bit like a wakeboard, to compensate for the lack of directional elements and ensure it’d always stay afloat. This year things have flipped, and the young upstart is now inspiring the old master.

The new-look YES 420 Powderhull is equipped with more floating power than a Goodyear blimp. The directional, tapered shape is still there, so keeping your front end up is easy, and the newly-designed base adds to the effect by channeling air under the nose. If you go arse over tit on this while riding pow, it definitely won’t be the board’s fault…

It’s edge-to-edge performance isn’t all that different to a regular YES 420, so you can rail the turns on piste and set up for side-hit spins with ease. Given how maneuverable it is, any natural features you come across will be there for the taking, and the extra waist width means that even big-footed riders will find this a joy to carve.

It’s a not inconsiderable step up in price from the classic version, but the YES 420 Powderhull ensures you get a unique snowboarding experience for your money.

Tester’s Verdict

Ed Blomfield – Whitelines

“I am a paid-up convert to the regular 420, so the arrival of an even more extreme shape with its 3D ‘hull’ had me first in line for a test drive.

Like the standard version, the Powderhull marries an outrageously short and fat shape with an aggressive sidecut that defies preconceived notions of how boards like this should ride. In all honesty, the bowl-like nose does not improve existing performance on the piste – it’s still fun to throw about on your way from the lift to the ropes, but if I was likely to be spending much of the day on hardpack or slush then I would stick to the regular 420.

Get this thing in the powder though and… wow! It’s like piloting your own personal catamaran; knee-deep snow is dispersed either side of the ‘prow’ with minimal fuss and – thanks to that huge surface area – you can’t help but float. Meanwhile, the stubby tail is as simple to steer as a rudder. All aboard!”

“It’s like piloting your own personal catamaran; knee-deep snow is dispersed either side of the ‘prow’ with minimal fuss”

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