- Sizes: 151, 154, 157
- Flex: 9
- Profile: Camber
- Shape: Directional
- Price: £525 / €599
UPDATE: Check out our review of the 2019/2020 YES Optimistic here
Downsized snowboards with wider waists are all the rage these days, as what they offer up in the powder simply can’t be matched by conventional shapes. The trade-off is that their piste performance takes an inevitable hit, so they’re not ideal for those who love to get their elbow down. However, before such riders retreat to the longer boards, they would do well to check out the excellent YES Optimistic.
The YES Optimistic snowboard doesn’t take the shape thing as far as, say, the YES 420 PowderHull, but it’s still designed to be ridden shorter than what you’d normally take to the groomers. The 157cm version has roughly the same effective edge as the 162cm versions of the Standard or the Ghost. The waist widths are a near match too.
“The shape of the nose and tail make this perform well in powder, whilst not compromising its performance on firmer trails”
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Naturally the savings in length are found in the nose and tail. The nose is a little wider, to make up for its stubbiness, and it has a short pin tail. Both make this perform well in powder, whilst not compromising its performance on firmer trails.
The YES Optimistic is one of only two boards in the range to feature true, honest-to-goodness camber in its profile. Perhaps it’s not surprising given how well received the ‘CamRock’ found on the likes of the YES Basic Decade and YES Hel Yes has been received, but sometimes only the classic bend will do.
