Board: Yes Optimistic
Size: 154
Camber Option: Camber. Good old fashioned camber.
Bindings: Rome Black Label
Stance: 21.5 Wide 15 Negative 12 Goofy
Boots: K2 Thraxis Size 10
My Weight: 200lbs
Resort: Arapahoe Basin
Conditions: Sunny bluebird skies, warmer spring temps, moderate wind at time, frozen chunder and death cookies, soft creamy to firm groomers, and a little bit of ice in the shade.
Flex: This board is a full freeride flex that is stiffer. You get a little more flex in the nose then it stiffens up half way back from the upkick to the front insert pack and progressively gets stiffer to the tail. There’s a little torsional flex but it’s never overwhelming.
Stability: The width, camber, and flex pattern of this board just make it a smooth stable ride. You get a tiny and I mean tiny amount of chatter in the nose that never resonates back underfoot. In really rutted out terrain you can feel the variable snow conditions but it doesn’t knock you around or throw you off balance. It just plows through most conditions with ease.
Ollies/Pop: You have to load the camber up to get it to engage, that’s pretty obvious since it is good old school traditional camber. Once it’s loaded up it has pop but it’s never overwhelming it’s just right for what this board is and that’s fine.
Butterability: The nose has the most area to press into with the setback and shape so get your weight way out over it and really press into it. Once you’ve done that and pushed as hard as you can you’ll notice that you can kind of butter with it. As far as the tail is concerned go as fast as possible and lean back as hard as you can to get it up on it. High speed wheelies are your friend.
Carving: This is what this board is known for in my opinion. Sure the Underbite gives you grip right at the inserts and helps you steer it from there, but it drives from the nose for engagement. It’s a very fluid and quick transition from toe to heel but don’t misconstrue it with being nimble it’s not. This is a board that takes some work to drive it. When you have it on edge and are loading the camber to give you the power out of the tail you can steer it more underfoot as I’ve mentioned this changes the dynamic of how you carve with it. This is a board that when you get on edge you can just lean into it and feel that leverage do all the work for you. Short tight quick carves to deep hard aggressive laid over ones don’t matter as this board just wants to rip a turn.
Rider in Mind: Resort ripping carving freerider that wants to downsize.
Personal Thoughts: This board is always fun to get on and rip some carves with. It has a smooth fluid consistency to how it engages and drives a turn that is unparalleled. If you’re looking for something for going fast, turning hard, and downsizing this is always a solid option.
Comparable Boards: Kemper Aggressor, K2 Excavator, Amplid UNW8
Recommended Bindings: Now Drives, Burton Cartel X, Ride A-10
14 Comments
Thank you for all the great snowboard reviews. Quick question:
Can you recommend a board like this (small sidecut radius, stiff) but that has a true twin shape? It’d be nice if it had the same powder flotation as the Yes Optimistic, but I can live without that if necessary. I want to do those short radius, high-G carves like on this board, but I want to do them switch.
Is there anything? Or is my best choice just to buy this board and set the bindings to goofy whenever I want to ride switch?
Thanks in advance
Amplid Pentaquark.
Thanks, I’ll have a look at it!
Angry , is there any materials / performance, weight difference in the new model apart from the graphics to the wood deck model form 2020 ?
ive got tat deck and LOVE it but it cud use being a smidgen lighter IMO.
I think the 2020 was built in a different factory.
I’m a hi-intermediate/advance rider (whatever that means) in east coast of Canada. I’ve been riding a 2018 154 skeleton key and looking to get the Yes Optimistic as a resort carver on hard snow/ice. I’ve never ridden anything stiffer and was originally looking at the Yes Y but found the 154 Optimistic 30% on sale. I’m usually 165 lbs with 9.5 boots. Do you think the 154 would be too much for me? Thanks!
It’ll work, but wouldn’t be my first choice.
Thanks! I appreciate the quick reply and advice. While the sale is good I’d rather get something that’s a good fit for me. Do you think I should get the 151 or should I just be looking at a completely different board?
I don’t do any park and mostly carve down groomers or search for powder through trees. I also enjoy riding mogul runs with my skier friends but this board was more for the carving and powder aspects.
I think The Y would be better for you.
Hey Avran,
For a resort carver what would you choose? Optimistic, Y or Excavator?
Optimistic.
Hi Avran,
Does this board ride a lot differently than the Superpig? They seem like similar type of boards. But I can only get the Yes board where I live.
On the Yes website, it’s a 9/10 stiffness, but their promo vid has it at 7/10. A bit worried if super stiff.
I’ve only ridden a buddy’s Superpig to get a volumeshift feel, and the tight sidecuts are fun.
Thanks!
Similar category of board completely different ride. Flex numbers don’t mean shit.
Paul,
If you are coming from a stiff traditional camber ride, you will think the board is “playful” and less catchy.
If you are coming from a med flex all mountain, you will think this thing is stiff and not playful.
The key is the review’s recommendation for chargers. if you are aggressive and can properly bend the board on turns, you will like it. For rider that get hyped for cold day groomer runs and always the first to the bottom among your friends. For sizing, go smaller when in doubt.