The Burton Yeasayer doesn't pretend to be an aggressive charger or a specialized powder weapon – it's an honest, approachable board designed for women who are building skills, gaining confidence, and discovering what kind of riding they love most. This isn't equipment that limits your potential or talks down to you; it's a supportive platform that makes learning enjoyable while providing genuine performance across the entire mountain. When you're still figuring out your riding style and preferences, the Yeasayer says "yes" to everything you want to try.
Burton's legacy needs no introduction – they've been shaping snowboarding since Jake Burton Carpenter built his first board in 1977. The Yeasayer represents Burton's decades of understanding what developing riders actually need: forgiveness without sloppiness, playfulness without unpredictability, and versatility without compromise. This board emerged from extensive feedback from female riders at all skill levels, resulting in a design that supports progression rather than holding it back.
Key Specifications:
Length Options: 138cm, 144cm, 149cm, 152cm
Width: Standard women's width (varies by length)
Flex Rating: 3/10 (Soft)
Stance: Centered (True Twin)
Shape: True Twin with directional flex
Effective Edge: Standard for length
Core: Fly® 900G Core with Dualzone™ EGD™
Base: Extruded
Sidewalls: Frostbite Edges
Complete Review:
1. Flex and Responsiveness
The Yeasayer's soft flex (3/10) creates an incredibly forgiving, approachable character that makes learning new skills feel achievable rather than terrifying. This isn't a noodle that collapses under pressure – it's a thoughtfully calibrated flex that supports progression while building confidence.
What distinguishes the Yeasayer's flex is its directional character despite the twin shape. Burton engineered a slightly softer flex in the nose than the tail, creating a board that initiates turns easily while maintaining enough backbone for stability. I found this particularly valuable when teaching friends to ride – the soft nose forgives mistakes while the firmer tail provides control when needed.
2. Camber Profile and Edge Hold
The Flying V profile defines the Yeasayer's character – rocker between the bindings with subtle camber sections near the contact points. This forgiving profile virtually eliminates edge catch, making it ideal for riders still developing edge control and turn technique.
Edge hold on firm snow is adequate for the board's intended purpose. The Frostbite Edges provide grip on morning hardpack and firmer conditions, though this board won't match aggressive camber designs on ice. However, for intermediate riders building confidence, the balance between grip and forgiveness feels perfectly calibrated – enough hold to feel secure without the unforgiving bite that punishes small mistakes.
3. Torsional Flex
Torsionally, the Yeasayer leans soft and forgiving, allowing easy board manipulation and quick corrections when things don't go as planned. This characteristic is crucial for developing riders who need equipment that forgives imperfect technique rather than amplifying every error.
The soft torsional flex makes the board incredibly intuitive to steer and adjust mid-turn. Beginning and intermediate riders will appreciate how easily the board responds to weight shifts and body movements, creating a connection that feels natural rather than mechanical. More advanced riders might find this softness limiting for aggressive riding, but that's clearly not the Yeasayer's mission.
4. Float and Powder Performance
The Yeasayer's powder performance exceeds expectations for an all-mountain twin board. The Scoop tip and tail technology – upturned contact points at both ends – helps deflect snow rather than diving into it, creating surprisingly effective float for a centered-stance design.
Testing this board in moderate Utah powder (8-12 inches), I found it floated adequately without excessive back-leg pressure. You won't experience the effortless surfing sensation of dedicated powder boards, but for intermediate riders encountering powder for the first time, the Yeasayer makes deep snow approachable rather than intimidating. The true twin shape means you can practice riding switch in powder, building versatile skills from the beginning.
5. Shape and Volume Distribution
The Yeasayer features a straightforward true twin shape with symmetrical nose and tail profiles. There's nothing radical or experimental here – just proven geometry that works for riders developing fundamental skills across all terrain types.
The volume distribution feels perfectly balanced from center, with the Scoop technology at both ends providing visual and functional symmetry. The standard width accommodates most women's boot sizes (US 6-9) comfortably without creating unwieldy dimensions. The shape encourages centered stance and balanced weight distribution, helping riders develop proper technique that transfers to any board they ride in the future.
6. Speed and Stability
For a soft, forgiving board, the Yeasayer handles moderate speeds surprisingly well. The Flying V profile's cambered sections provide enough stability to prevent the loose, washy feeling that plagues some soft beginner boards. On groomed runs at comfortable intermediate speeds, the board tracks predictably without demanding constant corrections.
Where you'll notice limitations is at higher velocities or on firmer, choppier terrain. The soft flex creates some chatter when pushing speeds beyond intermediate levels, and the extruded base doesn't maintain the same glide as sintered options. However, these limitations align perfectly with the board's target rider – someone building confidence at moderate speeds rather than bombing runs at maximum velocity.
7. Turn Initiation and Carving
Turn initiation on the Yeasayer feels effortless and intuitive – exactly what developing riders need. The Flying V rocker between bindings creates a loose, pivoty feel that makes direction changes happen with minimal input or technical precision. Mistakes don't result in dramatic consequences, making experimentation feel safe.
Carving performance is adequate for learning proper technique without delivering the locked-in precision of stiffer boards. You can practice carved turns and develop edge awareness, but the soft flex and rocker profile won't provide the aggressive grip that advanced carvers demand. The board encourages flowing, medium-radius turns rather than aggressive, high-angle carves – perfect for building foundational skills.
8. On-Track Behavior Across Terrain Types
Groomed Runs: Excellent performance on groomers at beginner to intermediate speeds. The forgiving flex and catch-free rocker make learning turn technique enjoyable. Soft snow conditions bring out the best in this board's characteristics.
Park Performance: Surprisingly capable in the park for its soft flex. The true twin shape and forgiving character make it approachable for learning basic tricks, small jumps, and boxes. The soft flex facilitates buttering and ground tricks.
Powder: Better than expected for a twin board. The Scoop technology provides adequate float for moderate powder days, making deep snow feel achievable rather than overwhelming for riders encountering it for the first time.
Trees and Tight Spaces: The shorter lengths and quick pivot points make navigating trees intuitive. The forgiving flex allows quick adjustments when avoiding obstacles, building confidence in tighter terrain.
9. Overall Experience and Rider Impressions
Riding the Yeasayer feels supportive and encouraging – it's a board that builds confidence rather than testing it. For women progressing from beginner to intermediate levels, or intermediate riders exploring new terrain types, the Yeasayer removes obstacles and fear from the learning process.
I've recommended this board to numerous friends learning to snowboard, and the feedback has been consistently positive. The forgiving character allows them to focus on enjoying the mountain rather than fighting equipment or fearing the consequences of small mistakes. As skills develop, riders naturally progress to more challenging terrain and techniques without the board holding them back.
The Yeasayer isn't designed for aggressive experts or specialized conditions. Advanced riders seeking maximum performance will quickly outgrow its capabilities. However, for its intended audience – women building skills and discovering their riding preferences – it delivers exactly what's needed: supportive, versatile performance that says "yes" to progression.
FAQ Section
Q: Is Flying V or Flat Top better for women's snowboarding?
A: Flying V (rocker between bindings with camber near contact points) is generally better for beginner to intermediate riders who prioritize forgiveness and easy turn initiation. It virtually eliminates edge catch, creates a playful feel, and builds confidence quickly. This profile excels for all-mountain riding and riders still developing fundamental skills who want equipment that encourages progression rather than punishing mistakes.
Flat Top (flat between bindings with rocker at tips) offers more stability, edge hold, and power while remaining relatively forgiving. It's ideal for intermediate to advanced riders who want some forgiveness without sacrificing performance at speed or on firmer snow. Neither is objectively better – Flying V suits beginners and playful riders, while Flat Top serves progressing intermediates who need more aggressive capability without jumping to full camber.
Conclusion
The Burton Yeasayer succeeds by understanding its purpose and executing it perfectly. Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, it focuses specifically on what progressing riders need: forgiveness, versatility, and confidence-building characteristics that make improvement feel natural and enjoyable.
For women in their first few seasons of riding, or intermediate riders wanting a board that makes everything feel achievable, the Yeasayer delivers honest, supportive performance across all terrain types. Its approachable character and true twin versatility allow riders to explore the entire mountain while developing skills that will serve them throughout their snowboarding journey.
Whether you're linking your first carved turns on groomers, venturing into powder for the first time, attempting your initial park features, or simply building the confidence to tackle more challenging terrain, the Yeasayer provides the supportive platform you need. This board doesn't limit your potential – it nurtures it, proving that the best equipment for progressing riders isn't the most aggressive or technical, but rather the most encouraging and versatile, allowing you to discover what kind of rider you want to become.