YES Optimistic Snowboard

YES’s HARD CHARGING PISTE BOARD WITH THE SOUL OF A POWDER BOARD

When Yes first introduced the Optimistic, it was a massive departure from their usual style of board. However, it didn’t take too long for people to realise that this unique shaped snowboard was something a little bit special. Its ability to blur the lines between hard-charging piste machine and high-performance powder stick delivered a level of performance that can only be described as intoxicating. Aimed unashamedly at experienced riders, the Optimistic delivers race board levels of control, response and stability on the piste. So, no matter how fast or how hard you ride, you know instinctively that this board just isn’t going to let you down. However, the Optimistic isn’t just about its piste performance. Thanks to its innovative shape and unique nose profile, get this board in the deep stuff, and it’ll blow your mind. So if you’re one of those people that ride at 10/10ths all the time, one of those people that likes to live by their speed app, then this is the snowboard for you.

Rider Style

Experienced and Expert riders who want a hard-charging piste orientated board that’s equally happy in the pow.

Shape Overview

Heading up the Optimistic’s unique shape is the advanced blunt nose. This state of the art profile has been designed to enhance float at the front, but to also reduce swing weight. So, not only is it effortless in the pow but thanks to that reduced weight at the tips, it also feels utterly predictable and responsive through the turn. Next up is the tight radius sidecut, this is matched with a slightly wider riding platform to ensure that no matter how aggressive you carve, toe and heel drag isn’t going to be an issue. Finally, to enhance the boards on edge response even further YES add their acclaimed UnderBite edge profile. This creates divots inward at the binding area reducing and disrupting the surface area of the edge that has contact with the snow while the board is turning. This increases the edge pressure by distributing your weight/energy into the areas where you need it - from the binding out and through the centre of the board where the carving arc is taking place.

Profile

As the Optimistic is all about high performance YES utilise their responsive Modern Camber profile. This modern take on a traditional camber profile adds flat zones at the contact points to give the board a more predictable and stable feel but then adds a full-length camber directly beyond these zones. This creates a powerful and stable ride at even the highest speeds.

Construction

As you would expect for such a responsive board, YES don’t hold anything back when it comes to construction and heading this up is the Carbon Powerdrive 2.0 wood core. This state of the art core combines poplar with paulownia, creating a durable and lightweight core. But, it’s the addition of the unique Carbon Powerdrive rails that really sets this Optimistic apart. These are formed by milling two channels into the core 30mm in from the edges running parallel to the sidecut. Into these are inserted pre-bent bamboo stringers wrapped in carbon fibre. These rods power up the sidecut to deliver mind-bending levels of edge hold and power. To ensure that the Optimistic can take advantage of all that power, the structural layers are formed from powerful carbon reinforced tri-ax glass. These dynamic laminates increase the board's torsional response, ensuring that no matter how hard or aggressive you want to get, the Optimistic can easily take it all in its stride.

Base

As you would expect, when it comes to the base material, there’s no holding back. As part of the quest to make the Optimistic one of the best performing boards on the market, YES utilise a super-fast true sintered base. Keep this thing waxed and there won’t be many boards out there that will be able to keep up.

KEY FEATURES

• UnderBite Edges
• Directional
• CamRock 2-4-2
• Stiffness 9/10
• Twin Flex
• Powerdrive 2.0 Core
• Tri-Ax Glass with Carbon Stringers
• True Sintered Base