UPDATE: Check out our review of the 2018/2019 YES Basic Decade here

UPDATE: Check out our review of the 2017/2018 YES Basic here

TESTERS CHOICE – 10 Best Snowboards Under £350 2015/16

The Details:

With its full poplar core, extruded base and simple graphics, the YES Basic does come across as a little… well, basic. However, while it has every right to go down well with beginners – especially at that price – it’s got plenty to offer the more experienced rider too.

The profile features a predominant camber bend but with rocker at the contact points. This gives you plenty of control when turning, and no shortage of spring in your ollies, but the twitchiness of full camber is reduced by the rocker sections. They also make pressing the board – either on a feature or just on the piste – easy, and will help keep your nose out of the powder too.

Extra carving performance comes from the ‘Underbite’ sidecuts; the width of the board is slightly thinner at the bindings, with the resulting indentations beaking up the regular line of the sidecut. While some brands do the opposite and extend the edge out under the feet, YES believe that reducing the surface area of the edge increases the pressure where it’s needed, creating a stronger hold when you really need it.

The extruded base is fast enough for all but the most hellishly determined speed freaks, and is easy to fix when you ding it. Overall, the Basic is a board that tackles everything from hard-pack and park to your overdraft.