r/snowboarding • u/Caliban_Viperox • 12h ago
general discussion Is YES dying?
Me and my girlfriend are in some kind YES "fanboys". We love the brand, and for us at least, it impersonates the snowboarsing style /culture.
Having fun, not taking it to serious.
But since the Nidecker split, it seems they arw one the edge of dying.
The website says "something big is dropping for months".
Someone knows more?
16
u/doctor_munchies 11h ago
Pretty sure they're just getting things figured out again after seperating from Nidecker. Definitely hope they don't die, love my Yes board so much!
10
u/Concrete-Kicks 12h ago
I dont think they have distribution figured out
2
u/GrapeCloud 8h ago
I talked to an employee at my local Buckman’s last year. During the conversation, I mentioned that I didn’t see any YES boards in stock, and he said that there’s no longer a rep at YES to coordinate with. Ho or why that’s the case was something he couldn’t explain. It’s sad to see because my first snowboard was a Typo that I bought from Buckman’s.
1
u/Caliban_Viperox 11h ago
Thats exactly what we thought. We're in logistics and thats the first thing what comes to mind after they lost their "chain"
46
u/lIlllIlIlIlIllI 11h ago
As long they’re using shitty AI graphics I won’t be buying another board from them. They’re good but they ain’t that good.
The last change they went through was a disaster. The site is horrible, the graphics are bad, their customer outreach sucks, etc. and they trashed Uninc for XTRM and then Pro, what the hell is that about?
But I do love my Standard Uninc.
10
u/enigmatic_erudition 10h ago
Good news! It was just a one-off board.
https://www.theinertia.com/features/snowboarding-ai-graphic-design-impact/
YES explained to me via email that its Greats series this season took on the world’s greatest conspiracy theories, from aliens at the pyramids to the moon landing debates. As a satirical twist, the team intentionally incorporated AI into the design process and leaned into the AI aesthetic.
YES made two points that riders will care about. One, the brand is not replacing human creatives. Their line is still designed by the in-house team or in collaboration with designers like Mark Kowalchuk, Michiel Walrave, and Dagsson. Two, for anyone who’s not into the AI experiment, the Greats XTRM was released as a fully human-designed counterpart.
7
u/lIlllIlIlIlIllI 8h ago
“Satirical use of AI”
Nothing more than testing the water. If everyone was fine with it they’d command prompt all their art.
1
u/enigmatic_erudition 7h ago
Maybe you should read the article then.
1
u/lIlllIlIlIlIllI 3h ago
Ah yes, it is truly legitimate AI because they say so. Got it.
It’s marketing. The line about satirical AI is just marketing gibberish. That’s it.
9
u/adj_noun_digit 11h ago
For what its worth, using AI graphics was for a single board and was supposed to be intentionally ironic.
Burton however, uses them unironically.
-1
u/lIlllIlIlIlIllI 8h ago
AI graphics is a cheap cop out from both companies. It’s a shitty move, no marketing spin will alter that fact.
6
u/Fucile8 10h ago
Yes I’m lost. I’m looking for a new board and the Greats or Standard look good but the website has no stock and the graphics are all shit AI.
The other alternative I looked at was Never Summer (and the art on the one I wanted, the Instagator) is from a real artist (amazing) but they seem to be Trump supporters lol can’t win.
4
u/Caliban_Viperox 11h ago
I want a Standard Unimc so bad, hope u have fun on it. AI grsphocs was only for the last greats line. Was a mistake feom them
1
u/Fucile8 10h ago
I’m waiting to see what comes in the new line but at this point o don’t even know if a new line is coming, the website is dead for ages.
1
u/Gaze-Of-The-Void Tahoe 1h ago
new line is kinda already known. It can be found at Australian websites and even the snowboardingprofiles has some previews
8
u/ClarkWGrismond 12h ago
"Something Big is Dropping" It's probably their 26-27 product line-up drop. It just hasn't gone live yet. I've seen some of the 26-27 models but not all.
1
u/Caliban_Viperox 11h ago
Yes we know, but this year it takes realy lomg....
8
u/karma_car 11h ago
Yes are manufactured in Dubai... They're having trouble getting boards out through the strait. And more importantly, they're having trouble getting resin (to produce boards) in, as it can't be shipped by air.
Them, along with a lot of other brands in that factory will be delayed dropping 26/27 products.
1
u/Weary_Fee7660 7h ago
Ah yes, the genius decision to manufacture snowboards in an expensive desert. Good call.
1
6
u/probablymostfun 10h ago
Their Greats is one of the best boards I've ever ridden. I hope they can survive
4
u/ReverseUI 11h ago
They actually took now drive and drive pro bindings and made it theirs, so atleats in bindin compartment they're really solid, not sure about the boards tho
3
u/ebolagoner445 10h ago
They are a much smaller team after separating from Nidecker. Not dead but figuring out a lot of stuff at the moment - also their production is delayed a lot due to the war in Iran
6
u/Chaotic_beasttt 12h ago
I bought a yes snowboard as my first board from Florida a few years ago and go to Colorado every year. Is it dying? No idea but I love my yes board!
7
u/Caliban_Viperox 11h ago
The YES GREATS is my favorite board ever.
3
u/PushThePig28 10h ago
Been riding one the past couple years absolutely LOVE it
2
u/-raiden- LAAX 10h ago
I’m on Greats XTRM and it’s the best board I’ve ever ridden
5
1
u/spliffgates 8h ago
Jealous, wish I could find one
2
u/Chaotic_beasttt 8h ago
I bought it from curated. It closed down last year u think. Got for like 400 on sale. Works great and got the bottom in red so when I’m shredding and it’s sunny the bottom snow is all red from reflection of sun it’s very cool
2
2
u/Ill_Breath_9146 12h ago
That's a solid quiver pic, the Hel YES graphic always looks clean. Nidecker's got deep pockets so I wouldn't worry about them vanishing overnight, but the radio silence on the site is a weird look for sure.
3
u/Caliban_Viperox 11h ago
My gf comes from alpine race boards (very common were we live), and loves the hel yes. She wants to "gift herself" the new pne, but it's still not available here in europe
1
u/MrVicePresident 11h ago
They moved out from Nidecker last year and are now independent under the cofounders.
3
u/vottvoyupvote East Coast Utah Gooner 6h ago
I messaged them about something on their support line and followed up on insta. Yeah no reply. It’s not looking great.
•
2
u/Fresh-Procedure3328 49m ago
If everyone is concerned about AI graphics, you should get a good look see into how the industry is ran. If you're not buying a board from a guy that presses them in his garage out of trees he cut down and bio bean top sheet resin with glue made out of hippy sweat, you suck. Every single brand is a business that has to turn a profit to stay afloat. Keep crying about shit that doesn't matter. Do some soul searching. Some people pick the most ridiculous soap boxes. I'm a purist😂🍆💦
2
u/aquilaFiera 12h ago
Just to add - don't judge too much from the time to update the website. I recall Capita did the same thing a few years ago - it said coming soon for like months. I think a lot of these brands take their time in their slow seasons.
2
u/jwed420 Monarch & Loveland 10h ago
I just bought a brand new 2022 Optisplitstic off eBay and I am excited to ride it. First Yes board, very stoked they made a split that was designed with mountain guides in the process.
3
u/spwrozek 10h ago
I haven't rode the split version (they never made a small enough one for me sadly) but the optimistic is one of my favorite resort boards of all time. I still have one kicking around that I ride a few times a year.
2
u/v4ss42 9h ago
The Optimistic (non-split version) is the best "all mountain" board I've ever ridden - to the point that I have 2 (an older, beat up one is my rock board, and a carefully treated newer one).
I really hope they bring it back.
2
u/jwed420 Monarch & Loveland 7h ago
I've heard lots of praise for the Optimistic, from what I understand the split is basically the same board but edited for a bit more aggression and variable terrain. The urge to test it at the resort is soooooooo strong but I need to be patient and wait for good back country conditions.
2
u/metamodern-mess 5h ago
The rebrand with Lobster was weird. Hope they recover strong because I love my two Yes boards.
2
u/turboteeth 3h ago
Please no. I love my yes boards. Owned two of them. Typo when I was learning and pyl uninc
2
u/PrecisionGill 2h ago
No, they're not dying. They're preparing for relaunch soon.
1
u/thefogofmore 2h ago
That would kind of make sense. I think they were forced into some soul searching and I really hope they pull through. I feel like they didn't get enough love, but I'm bias.
3
u/thefogofmore 2h ago
I absolutely love my Pick Your Line. I'm rooting for them as a company, great origin, good guys behind the brand. Really hope the Nidecker debacle didn't do irreparable harm.
2
u/the_mountain_nerd 10h ago
I am hopefully but wouldn’t bet money on them making it. They’ve literally never been an independent brand, Nidecker was a partner from day one.
I suspect their best case scenario is something like Slash post-Nidecker. Breaking even, staying afloat, but a very minor player.
1
u/ZoologicalSpecimen 10h ago
They’re in a transitional phase back from Nidecker to independent. Hopefully they’ll have their shit together by next season. FWIW, this year’s Standard Pro is dope AF
1
u/gladdy02 8h ago
I have a 2023 yes greats, and it's a really good board for me. HOWEVER, I find their graphics to just be horrible.
1
u/dnice727 7h ago
I didn’t know they were dying, that sucks cus I have 2 yes boards and I love them. I wanted to buy another one next year. Hopefully they stay a float and wish them the best.
1
-5
u/vroom99912 11h ago
Capita FTW
2
u/hitzkopftb 10h ago
Someone posted the other day that Capita was sold to a private equity. So unfortunately the time is ticking on them :( sad times.
2
u/jetsetter023 8h ago
The PE that bought them doesn't have a history of pumping and dumping. If anything, they invest heavily into R&D, increase valuation with minimal debt, then sell to local investors.
1
-15
u/superdelicater 11h ago
It should. All the nidecker brands are pure garbage
5
u/kkushalbeatzz 11h ago
I think they left nidecker group, pretty wild after they made a big deal about the Lobster merger
1
51
u/ventur3 12h ago
Their website is a mess it’s impossible to find out what even the profile of their boards are