• Price: £349 / $400
• Category: All-Mountain
• Ability Level: Beginner, Intermediate
• Size: 143, 146,149, 152, 155, 156W, 158, 159W, 161, 163W
• Flex: 5/10
• Shape: True Twin
• Profile: CamRock
• Base: Extruded
• BUY DIRECT FROM YES

Backed by years of awards, the YES. Basic is a quality built directional twin snowboard that ensures you enjoy the whole mountain from first lifts to last at an attractive entry-level price. YES. started with the Basic, but have since made their name the world over with convention defying snowboard shapes and designs. The Basic, however, is their all-mountain quiver killer, that sticks to its humble origins. There’s some unique tech going on here, but it adopts a ‘less is more’ approach that encourages the rider do the talking.

The Basic features UnderBite technology to increase grip on the edge without the need to create the wavy, breadknife effect seen on some snowboard sidecuts. By pulling in the edge directly under the inserts, pressure is distributed out towards the contact points of the snowboard. The result is increased control from the initiation through to the end of the turn and will give riders the confidence to step up their riding on steeper, more challenging terrain.

“The Basic… is their all-mountain quiver killer, that sticks to its humble origins”

The full poplar core strikes the balance between being lightweight, durable and maintaining a playful flex, meaning you can match the enjoyment of jibbing around the mountain with the trust of sticking heavier landings. While the core and extruded base may be the baseline tech YES. provide, they still pack a punch and deliver on their cost-saving benefits.

Combined with a CamRock profile, the Basic delivers sufficient grip and pop with a mellow positive camber between the inserts. The versatility then comes from pockets of early rocker rise in the nose and tail – which provide both lift in powder and some freestyle forgiveness around the contact points.

It’s a go-to price-point snowboard for first timers and seasonaires alike, but the quality and performance that’s on offer here shouldn’t be sniffed at by stronger, intermediate riders. The Basic will boost confidence and progression no matter your ability; from those looking to refine their turns on the steeps, to those pushing looking to add an extra rotation or two on their spins.