Board: Yes The Y.
Size: 154
Camber Option: Camrock 2-4-2. Mellow camber with a mellower rocker in the tips.
Bindings: K2 Indy
Stance: 21.5 Wide 15 Negative 12 Goofy
Boots: K2 Thraxis Size 10
My Weight: 195lbs
Resort: Aspen Snowmass
Conditions: Overcast skies, chunder snow, ice, heavy wet fresh snow, light fresh snow, frozen groomers, blasts of blue skies, and pretty much crap conditions.
Flex: As this is the little brother to the Optimistic it’s a softer flex through and through. It’s still just past middle of the road and ever so slightly directional meaning softer nose and stiffer tail. What you notice though is there is WAY more torsional flex to it.
Stability: This board retains the stability of the Optimistic. You’ll notice it right away when going fast on a groomer, charging through chunder, or pushing it into an ice covered mogul valley of death. There’s a little chatter in the nose and only the nose but it never resonates aggressively back through to the front foot. In rutted out terrain it only got bucked twice and that took more effort than I care to admit to happen.
Ollies/Pop: There is snap in this board. Is it poppy? Eh it’s OK you do have to load it up and be a bit prepared with where and how you pop to get it to activate. You’ll feel the rebound in this board when you do load it up.
Butterability: That nose with the setback is immense and there is a sweet spot in it, but the rebound of the deck fights you. So be prepared to muscle this board a bit.
Carving: Here’s where this thing shines. The Optimistic is a sleeper carver board and this board is actually easier to engage than its big brother. It rolls from edge to edge and you can drive it into turns with ease. When you load up the camber and drive into the center of the board it slingshots out of turns. While this board isn’t as aggressive as the Optimistic it is still a ripper when on edge.
Rider in Mind: All mountain freeride charger.
Personal Thoughts: Essentially this is a softer flexing more playful Optimistic with slightly downgraded materials and a tweaked camber profile. It rides like an Optimistic but without as much drive behind it so you don’t have to really push into it. I thoroughly enjoyed this board even if the conditions were pure shit.
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45 Comments
What would you say about the freestyle capabilities of this vs the Optimistic? I typically ride stiffer/ cambered boards and want a short/fat pow day floater option, but if I’m gonna be riding a 154 I’m gonna want to be popping and tree-weaving and helicoptering. Curious if the slight camber/flex variations might affect that and what switch landings are gonna be like. Also considered the T-Rice Orca as well.
This has more torsional flex which makes it better for getting wily in the freestyle. But if you’re looking at something to volume shift and get freestyle with I’d say you want the Hybrid instead.
Hey,
Are you planning on a 2020 yes PYL review or is it still the same as last year’s?
Hasn’t changed from what I was told, or changed enough to matter.
Sizing question. According to the website, the size chart is a little shifted in the way of larger boards for lower weights. What do you think, 151 or 154 for 175lbs?
I’d get the 51 personally.
I just wanted to show some love for one of the most fun snowboards I have ever ridden (since I started in the late 80’s) = The Yes Optimistic!
I bought the first production model second hand (I’m not rich in any way) when it first came out, and have since ridden it absolutely everywhere…. groomers, pow, moguls, trees, half pipe, jumps, park, rails, in my dreams… in freezing cold on boiler plate ice to warm slushy spring conditions and even in rain… and it handles everything without hickups. Sincerely a super-fun all mountain quiver-of-one-type-board, with great construction and a great design. I rate it five stars out of five 🙂
I am old and heavy, so I ride the 157… meaning if you are of regular or petite size you should either scale down in length or choose The Y model.
Besides for freestyle competitions, or if you love riding fakie all the time, I really think EVERYONE would have a blast on this snowboard… so a big thank you to Alex Warburton for designing it!!!
// TT
Avran Between the Y 154 and the Orca which is your call?
Board is for Resort Pow days and all the conditions that brings from 1st chair to late afternoon rutted out crap.
ALso I am 5’9 180 LBS so is 154 the right size or 157.
Thanks
Well the Orca I would go a little smaller with. But they’re both going to be solid choices it just comes down to which camber profile you really want.
Would you take the Y into the trees?
Every damn day!
But it’s more to be seen as an addition to a quiver rather than a quiver of one (all mtn, minus urban, minus big park), right? I’m ditching my whole quiver and can snag a good deal on a 154, but not sure if I’m looking the right direction.
If you’re looking for a board you can charge on when you need to, be lazy when you want to, get into the trees, float in pow, carve hard if you want, this is it. I think you’re on the right track.
What bindings would you recommend for this board? I currently have a set of 2017 Salomon Holograms
Now Pilots.
Is there not significant overlap between the Now Pilots and Salomon Holograms?
No.
Intermediate rider trying to progress. 5’6″ 145lbs, size 8 salomon jp boots, now pilots. Looking for an all mountain/freeride board that favors carving, trees, powder, and natural features. Park and jibbing are lowest priorities. Mostly west coast/utah resorts. Considering Jones Frontier/Explorer or something from Yes (the Y, standard, PYL). Which, if any of those, should I throw money at? Thanks!
This board right here.
Sweet. I fall in the weight range of both 151 and 154. What would be better for my preferred riding areas?
You guys are the best!
I’d probably go 51.
Hey Angry, I currently ride Formulas, how would they work for this? I’m thinking about picking up some Lien AT’s or should I just save the cash. 5’10” 210 size 11 boots would the 154 be about right?
I ride a small hill in Canada but hit the mountains a bit every winter. Is this thing gonna be overkill for speed laps and working on my carves on a small hill? I do side hits and small jumps but beyond that mostly Cruze. Should I be looking at the hybrid. I’m advanced intermediate if you ignore the fact that my switch sucks but I’m old and don’t care.
Great site!
Regards!
You’re good with this and the Formulas will work fine.
Does this compare to a Sims Blade or the Tom Sims Pro?
Neither.
Better all rounder for resort riding, this or Yes Standard? Not interested in park, just charging around the mountain, having fun in trees and the lucky pow day.
The Y is better for what you’re describing.
Thanks for the reply, however just went down the rabbit hole of reading your reviews! Would the Y recommendation still stand if throwing the k2 party platter and warpig to the mix?
*edit* I have a bit of a softspot for k2 as I love my raygun which I purchased following your recommendations a few years ago I must say.
For what you’re describing yes, stick with the Y.
If you had to go between this as an east coast do it all or the superpig which way would you lean. Probably 60/40 ripping groomer vs (mellow) park laps?
Superpig would be more versatile for what you’re describing or even a Warpig or a Marhar Lumberjack.
Thanks for the response. As far as size goes what would you advise? My main deck now is a 155 Jibsaw. I’m 6, around 180 once geared up and a 9 boot. I know they say you can size down quite a bit on the superpig/warpig so I can’t figure if I should go 151 or 154? We don’t get a ton of pow days but don’t want to be caught going too short. Thanks for your time on this, it’s really appreciated.
I’d go 51 I’m about 15 to 20lbs more than you and ride the 51.
Thanks for all your hard work I was wondering 151 or 154 on the y? 180 lbs size 11 boots icecoast riding. Thanks stay safe
51 if you want it more playful, 54 if you want added stability.
Which would be more playful 151 y or 151 warpig. Looking for something for just fuckn around and cruising? Want to support some snowboard shops while things are slow. Thanks again.
Warpig.
Hey Angry,
Would this be a good board for a big mountain resort like Kirkwood CA? Saw a great deal on a used one. Looking for something to ride on the technical black diamonds and in the gullies thats also great in backside powder. looking to complement my yes nsb. What’s your take on this board for riding through moguls or is this a board for groomers and not the rough stuff? Only non skier in my group.
Why the fuck you riding moguls, you a skier? It’s a softer Optimistic you’d probably want that board instead.
Fair point. Ignoring Moguls. Would you say its still better to learn towards the optimistic instead of the Y for big mountain riding and open technical terrain?
Yes.
You’re a legend! Thanks man!
Hey angry,
I’m trying to decide weather to get the y, or the hybrid. I’m mainly looking to bomb groomers, pow, hit some natural features and some trees. Not interested at all in jibbing or park riding, maybe some jumps though. What would you recommend?
Hybrid since you want to bomb. It’ll be a bit more stable.