Board: Yes Optimistic
Buy it here:
Evo: https://bit.ly/3EgIxOO
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3M6SnEB
Size: 154
Camber Option: Camrock 2-4-2. A mellower rocker and more pronounced 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, average temps, moderate to high winds at the upper part of the mountain, firm fast corduroy, some chop and chunder with a little bit of ice for good measure.
Flex: Compared to last years it has gotten a little bit softer, this is most noticeable torsionally. It’s still a stiffer board but it’s not as rigid as it was. This gives it a little more play in the nose and between the feet but still retains the power out of the tail.
Stability: This board is super stable. The combination of the width, flex, and camber profile work in conjunction to dissipate any kinetic energy in the nose that might resonate back under foot. When you get into choppy terrain it just crushes through everything in its path with ease. The nice thing about this board is that it’s also retaining its liveliness.
Ollies/Pop: With the decrease in stiffness came a slight increase in the pop of this board. It’s easier to engage and you notice that but when you roll back on the rocker in the tail it snaps more aggressively. This throws you up in the air a lot quicker and with more force meaning when you’re hauling ass you can launch.
Butterability: Not exactly a board for buttering on here people. Can you do it? Yes, but I don’t recommend it. Go make turns instead!
Carving: Here’s where this board excels. I will say that the change in the flex makes it more manageable to do micro turns and just sit on the edge ankle steering as you go toe to heel. This board engages right at the front insert pack to steer the carve but drives from inside the front foot and outside the back foot to power it through a turn. You will notice how smooth this board transitions from edge to edge and how effortless it is on edge. It’s when you really drive it hard that you start to realize that it doesn’t want to lay over as aggressively as it used to. It just hits this wall when you rail a carve and stops going any further. It’s not a bad thing because this board cruises, but it’s a little weird.
Rider in Mind: Resort ripping carving focused freeride guy.
Personal Thoughts: I’ve ridden this board a bunch and this is the softest version of the Optimistic I’ve been on. Which makes sense as they merged The Y into it. This changes the torsional flex and the dynamic of how it turns. It loses some of it’s raw power and ability to lay over as hard but it is far more approachable.
Comparable Boards:
Korua Otto Plus:
Telos DST: https://bit.ly/3SP2v6Y
Amplid Souly Grail: https://bit.ly/3RP1viF
Binding Recommendations:
Now Drive: https://amzn.to/3rqBb3w
Rome Cleaver: https://bit.ly/3M4SyjO
Ride A-9: https://bit.ly/3ST3SSd
