Board: Yes. Basic
Size: 155
Camber Option: Camrocker. Camber under foot and rocker in the tips.
Bindings: K2 Indy
Stance: 22.5 Wide 18 Negative 15 Goofy
Boots: K2 T1 DB Size 10
My Weight: 170lbs
Resort: Breckenridge
Conditions: Early morning groomers that were a mix of firm and icy to soft and chundery, bluebird skies, minimal wind, and slightly warmer spring temps.
Flex: This board has a smooth even consistent middle of the road flex. More play in the tips, a hinged flex point where the camber meets the rocker zone, stable and slightly stiffer under foot, and then more play in the middle. The torsional flex matches up to the lateral flex.
Stability: You can feel a lot of the vibrations in the snow due to the the rocker in the tips not being fully engaged when the board is weighted. These vibrations resonate back towards the binding where the board has a more stable area due to the camber. Over all this board is a middle of the road all mountain freestyle flex that is more on the side of lively than damp.
Ollies: Much like the Typo from Yes. this board has a hinged flex point. It adds to the snap out of the camber zone. If you want to pop you can pop. It’s all about how much you put into the board to get out of it.
Pop On Jumps: Jumping was a breeze on this board and while it will excel at small to medium jumps if you’re a more confident rider don’t hesitate hitting a larger jump. It does what it needs to do and won’t let you down. The snap off the lip is much like an ollie, you get what you put into it.
Butterability: The rocker zones in the tip are playful and have a snap out of them due to the camber zone where they meet. If you put your weight over the board it stays locked with minimal effort, this makes it fun for all sorts of butter variations.
Jibbing: Slow or fast speeds don’t matter with this board. It wants to jib, it locks into presses, and it still has the snap to pop back out.
Carving: Underbite 101 adds to the ability to get this board on edge. The profiling makes sense you have less in the tips and more in the middle, but underfoot you don’t have a bump out, you have a bump in so as to make the rider not feel a loss of contact when on edge. Railing turns is easy and the board locks in through a deep carve with ease. Short quick turns are where this board excels.
Rider in Mind: The rider that wants a board they can play around with but still do it all.
Personal Thoughts: The Basic is one of the longest running decks in the Yes. lineup. It’s been a staple board that has undergone a few changes over the last five years. Over all this board is a versatile deck that for the person that can only have a quiver of one I wouldn’t hesitate to look at.
Check out the past review of the Yes Basic.
Comparable Boards: Ride Machete, Rome Agent, DC Ply
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This snowboard was loaned to us for review by Yes Snowboards marketing department.
*Disclaimer this board did not change for 2018 so we carried the 2017 review over.
31 Comments
Newbie looking for an all mountain board to progress on…no park…Yes Basic or K2 Raygun…? I ride out west…thanks!
Which ever one you can get a deal on.
5’11 185
East coast rider (NY, VT)
Looking for an all mountain board to cruise and carve. Also want to progress on it and have the door open to learn butters, presses, jumps etc. I’d say I just got out of the beginner stage (newly intermediate rider). Right now I’m stuck between Yes Basic, Yes Typo, Capita Mercury and Capita OS Living. Which do you recommend?
You might blow past the Basic if you’re looking to progress, great board but if you really start pushing it you’ll come into some limitations. I would push you more towards the Mercury and the Typo out of those.
Thats why i was hesitant to pull the trigger on it. Would mercury be too advanced? I really loved it when i first looked at it, but I read some comments saying that it might be a little advanced. Someone suggested Indoor Survival or OS living as some more intermediate-friendly capita options.
Indoor Survival would be more your cup of tea. Gotta walk before you can run.
Would you say the same about the Outerspace living? They seem pretty similar and the OS living has a sick graphic haha. Obviously functionality is #1 but if they’re both more intermediate friendly options when compared to the mercury, im slightly leaning towards OS living.
Just get it.
Hello Sir.
Ive been snowboarding for a total of 12 days now, and I got enough of rental stuff seeing as the boots hurts my feet – so grabbing boards, boots and bindings on sale now. I found boots and bindings, I just need a board now.
I weigh 190lbs and have size 10,5 boots – I can go down reds easy enough if I dont point my boards downwards and gain too much speed.
Im really hooked and I want to progress alot – i’ll be riding in resort the next few years and I want a board I wont outgrow in the foreseeable future, as I feel im really improving quite fast currently.
Will I outgrow the basic too fast? I see you recommended the typo to a guy above, is this also the board I should get so I won’t run into limitations? A bit worried about waxing on these sintered bases, is it really needed for beginners to wax them every 2-3 days?
Get the basic. I don’t wax ANY of my snowboards. I just make sure they have a decent structure in the base which you really only have to do maybe every 40 plus days of riding.
Thanks good sir. I like riding groomers and attempting to go a bit offpiste most at the moment, should I grab the 158?
Also excuse me for keep buggin you: When do you know you need a new board to improve further? Does the board wash out on you when you really are able to push it?
And how do you make sure they have decent structure? Is that something you can do yourself? I go riding in a resort in sweden mostly and I dont think they have good snowboard tech guys there.
Well that’s a broad question. Generally the board seems dead to ride, camber profile has flattened out a bit, edges are destroyed, you don’t get good pop with it, or you feel you need something more aggressive. A lot of it has to do with personal preference.
Unless you have a 250,000 dollar machine, you’re not structuring it yourself. Basically look for the sign that says Montana or WinterSteiger in the window and just tell them you want a cross hatch structure, that should cover you for all bases.
Again thank you very much for taking the time to write. I went to my shop yesterday, and they have 30% off on YES: typo 2018 model and 30% off Arbor Coda Rocker – the shop guy told me to buy the arbor board as a beginner.
Is that solid advice? And could I potentially get away with the typo while it might still be abit too much board for me now? I dont mind a steep learning curve, I can take the hits 🙂
Get the Coda.
I’m between this and jibsaw hd. The jibsaw seems like a better board but I’m over 200lbs and can only find it in 157, which is what I ride now but i don’t know if I’m missing out by not going to something in the 160 range
I really wouldn’t compare the Jibsaw HD to the Basic they’re two different boards on two different playing fields.
Hi and merry Christmas!
Im 5’11, 145lbs and 11 US boots. What size would you recommend?
Also, maybe there is better options for me? Im progressive beginner, want quicker progress and a board that will last several seasons. My aim for this season – confident all-mountain average speed riding with little tricks(ollies, switches) – no top speeds, no jibbing
Thank you!
You’re going to need a wide with that size 11 boot. I’d say don’t get anything above a 155 but ideally keep it around a 153. Look at the K2 Raygun as well.
Unfortunately, almost all wide boards are 156+. I looked through evo once more and my options are:
– yes basic 155 – 251ww
– yes basic 156w – 259ww
– k2 raygun 156 – 249ww (i guess too narrow)
– k2 raygun 157w – 262ww(i guess too heavy)
– kapita OSL 155w – 260ww(it was my fav, until I read your review “It’s been a long time since I’ve caught an edge and scorpioned on a board, this board did that too me. This board is highly aggressive and at times was a bit of a chore to ride.” It can be to hard to progress)
– salomon craft 2019 154 – 251ww
– salomon craft 2019 156 – 257ww(ideal ww, but can be too heavy)
– salomon sight 155w – 256ww(can be too soft based on reviews)
Also crafts are with discount as 2019 models
Maybe I can buy burton boots(ruler or imperial) with shrinkage technology(size 11 boot has 10 footprint they said) and make it work with 251+ ww
What do you think? Thanks again
I think you’re over thinking everything.
Kudos on the wealth of info you provide. I’m looking for a first board. Complete beginner(one lesson and one day on a board) 5’10” 180lb, 9.5 boot. Something that I can get down the trail and at least stay within sight of my 9 yr old son!! I would most likely never push even the Basic to its limits, so deep carves, aggressive turns, etc are not in my plans. Just something easy and fun to learn on. The Basic seems to come up often, and I’ve looked at the Arbor Foundation, and Formula as well ( but open to any board suggestions). Just not sure on which style profile would be best for my level and north carolina east coast groomers. Thanks!
I’d go with that Arbor Foundation for you the griptech will give you edge hold on that ice, but the reverse camber will be good in the slush you get.
Appreciate the quick response! Thanks for your time!
Looking at getting my first board! Been to the mountain a handful of times, done lessons and keen to get into it. I want something I can progress on and not grow out of too quickly. Wondering if the Yes Basic would suit? Or can get a K2 Broadcast 2019 for 30% off… Do you recommend the twin or the directional? Cheers
Don’t get the Broadcast that’ll be too much board for you to start on. Get the Basic.
I’m a beginner, but athletic and advancing quickly (but i’m also 40 yrs old). I’m deciding between purchasing either a Burton Process Off-Axis (155 cm, 2018) or the Yes Basic (152 cm, 2018) on Kijiji and need some quick advice.
I’m 5’8 165 lbs, and will mostly be grooming, and a bit in the park, have fun on the mountain – on the east coast in some icy conditions.
I was leaning towards the Off-Axis, until the Yes Basic entered the picture, and now I’m torn. I’m a little nervous that the Yes 152 might be too short, but maybe not – I really don’t know. What would be your advice on these two choices?
Thanks so much for your time (and hopefully quick response).
Jordan.
You’re a beginner get the Basic.
Hi, I am thinking about Yes Basic for a person 180 cm tall, weight 76 kg, shoe size US10, intermediate level. Riding mainly on prepared slopes, some buttering about 20%. I am considering options 155 and 158. Which length would be better?
Get the 55.
Thanks for the answer. I’m not going to ride in the park. Mainly driving on groomed slopes. In that case you would still recommend 155?
Sure.