YES Greats XTRM Info:
Size: 159 (wide)
MSRP: $749.95
Bindings: YES Airmaster (Large)
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV size 11
Stance: approximately 22.5″
Rider Height: 5’11″
Rider Weight: 185
Key Features:
Shape: ASYM Twin
Profile: Cam/Rock
Width: 26.2(waist)
Sidecut: asymmetrical MidBite
Flex: 9/10 (forever flex)
Review:
The first day I rode the YES Snowboards Greats XTRM, Grand Targhee was doing that thing where every run feels different — chalk up high, soft pockets in the trees, random ice patches waiting to check your confidence. Perfect conditions for figuring out what a board actually does. The Greats XTRM didn’t need a warm-up lap. Within a couple turns, it made it clear it wasn’t going to fight me or make me adapt to it. It just clicked, and I felt right at home.
The first thing that stood out was the asym sidecut. On the toeside, I could lean way harder than I meant to and it held without folding. On the heelside, it felt locked in but still quick — no sluggish, delayed response like some twins. It wasn’t dramatic; it just felt natural, like the board already understood how I ride.
Tech That Shows Up in Riding
The asymmetrical MidBite is the part of the tech I didn’t expect to notice as much as I did. On paper, it’s just a sidecut disruption that narrows the waist and pulls the contact points out. On snow, it gives the board two things at once: quicker edge-to-edge transitions and way more bite when you’re carving or dealing with firm snow. The best way I can describe it is this — the board feels narrower when you’re rolling it over, but wider when you’re locked into a turn. That combo makes it feel both fast and planted, which is rare.
The CamRock profile is exactly what it should be on a board like this. The camber gives it drive and precision, but the rocker zones keep it from feeling stiff or punishing when you’re slashing around or hitting weird terrain features. It’s a good balance — you get power without losing agility. Rocker between the feet usually makes a board feel squirrely to me, but the Greats held firm and never felt unstable.
The stiffer flex and mid-wide platform work together better than I expected. The width gives you stability and a larger landing zone, but the board still transitions edge-to-edge faster than it should for something this wide. That’s the part that surprised me: it rides like a charger but reacts like a freestyle board.
And the sintered base is legitimately fast. Even late-day slush didn’t slow it down. I kept coming out of tree lines hotter than I planned because the base just kept gliding.
Back to the Ride
In the trees, the board felt like it thrived on quick decisions — slash here, speed check there, roll over a weird bump, redirect. Everything I did translated instantly. It didn’t feel twitchy, just responsive.
The moment that really sold me was overshooting a side hit I’ve messed up a dozen times. I landed a little backseat, fully expecting to have to ride it out and hope for the best. Instead, the board let me roll back into center without a fight. That blend of stability and forgiveness is rare, and you only appreciate it when you screw up and the board doesn’t punish you.
By the afternoon, the snow had turned into a mix of slush, ice, soft bumps, and sticky patches. The Greats XTRM didn’t care. It stayed lively and predictable. I found myself pushing harder because the board kept saying “go ahead.”
By the end of the day, I realized I hadn’t thought about the board once. It just disappeared into the ride — which is the highest compliment I can give anything in my quiver.
Overall Impression
The YES Greats XTRM is a board that lets you ride the way you want. It’s powerful without being punishing, responsive without being twitchy, and technical without feeling like you’re babysitting it. It’s one of the few twins that can carve like a directional board but still feels at home hunting side hits and threading trees.
Pros
- Asym sidecut that actually matters
- Asym MidBite gives quicker transitions + stronger bite
- CamRock profile gives power without punishing you
- Strong edge hold in mixed conditions
- Stable at speed but still lively
- More playful than a board this stiff should be
Cons
- Not the best in deep pow compared to a directional board
- Stiff flex means it’s not beginner-friendly
- Centered stance works best — doesn’t love big setback days