UPDATE: Check out our review of the YES. Basic Snowboard for 2020/2021 by clicking here.
- Sizes: 143, 146, 149, 152, 155, 156W, 158, 159W, 161, 163W
- Flex: 5
- Profile: Camrock
- Shape: True Twin
- Price: £359
- BUY DIRECT FROM YES
If you’ve been snowboarding anywhere within the last decade, chances are you’ve seen a YES Basic somewhere on the slopes. It’s a snowboard that genuinely embarrasses a lot of more costly boards out there. It performs like so many others claim to, but only at a fraction of the price. While ticking off all the basics, it still leaves a couple tricks up its sleeve for a slight edge in the mountains.
At first glance, the board looks pretty unremarkable. There’s a full poplar core, a biax fibreglass layup, and an extruded base. No bells and whistles here, but then what would you expect for that price point?
“No bells and whistles here, but then what would you expect for that price point?”
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That said, those specs still offer a really lively, poppy board (especially having a section of camber underfoot, flanked by two rocker sections at either end), and for beginners or even more experienced riders, it will provide a confidence-inspiring ride to progress in loads of areas.
The true twin shape also keeps the Basic really versatile and balanced in a variety of conditions. But look along the sides and you’ll see where the magic lies. The Underbite edges pull short sections of sidecut in, towards the bindings, by a couple of millimetres. By reducing the edge’s contact (and therefore pressure) in this area, you gain a lot more in the front, centre and back of the sidecut, depending on where in the turn you are. The whole is far greater than the sum of its parts here. Boards of these kinds of dialled down specs should not perform as well as the Basic does when it’s carving through the arc.
It’s a tried and tested, winning combo. The Yes Basic isn’t going anywhere, so if not this season, they’ll be plenty more opportunities to buy one. No time like the present, though.
