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2025 Greats Uninc vs 2026 Greats vs 2026 Greats XTRM

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7.8K views 43 replies 15 participants last post by  kgul.pl  
#1 ·
Hey guys, I think I have decided I want to grab a greats to compliment the rest of my boards. Something for riding switch, carving switch, trying some butters and hitting park features and of course side hits. My other boards are almost all freeride focused, which I love, but sometimes feel overkill on slower days. Mostly staying on piste for this board, planning to ride it with my more intermediate friends. Also am pretty new to jibbing, but its a lot of fun and coming to me more quickly than I thought.

Next year it seems they are splitting the greats again, and I am trying to decide which model would have the most optimal flex for me. I talked with some guys who demoed the 2026, and the consensus that the new XTRM is stiffer than the previous Uninc, which is still stiffer than the regular greats that will be releasing next year. I want a step down in stiffness from my PYL Uninc/Standard Uninc and my BSOD. I like the stiffness of my mercury, could go a bit softer but I do tend to ride very aggressively when given the opportunity no matter what I have strapped to my feet. This makes me want to go with the XTRM.

If anyone has any thoughts it would be much appreciated.
 
#2 ·
Don't think you'll get many folks who have been on the 2026, but anything from this year and before is pretty ideal for riding with intermediates. I have the 2022 Greats in a 151 and have ridden the 154, both can ride fast if needed but are playful enough to jib and butter around. That being said, maybe the XTRM one will be versatile as well similarly to how the Standard Uninc was stiffer but still versatile. Bottom line, it's dealer's choice as I think all of them will be fun to ride, just will depend on your personal flex preference. Separate note, sort of bummed they're going away from Uninc. Hopefully the pig logo stays.
 
#3 ·
I like the idea of getting a higher end board with the XTRM, just want some good contrast in flex to my other boards.

Dude same with the pig logo. I love it, my favorite boards have it. I even got the hat! I thought the Uninc in the name was a bit confusing and clunky sounding at first, but it grew on me. Hopefully the same will happen with the XTRM.
 
#4 ·
Just grab an Assassin
If you just have a constant itch for higher tech stuff but want a more fun flex profile get the Mega Death. I do not think it needs to be ridden fast to steer it around but it’ll go fast too. I realize it’s not a park board, but it is poppy.
lol so if you decide that’s not the route you want to go, get the Assassin 🤣
 
#14 ·
Im sure the assasin is a sweet board, but I am really hyped on yes right now. I want my next board to be another yes board for reasons beyond logic.

The other board I am considering is a typo, since its cheap and this board will most likely be my early season beater. Also thinking about maybe just grabbing a doa and calling it a day, but I really want to ride more YES.
 
#20 ·
Havent made a choice yet. How do you like your 2025?

I am still debating all the greats with the typo, but I have been enjoying my capita mercury so much for what I wanted this new board to do that I am considering not even getting anything. Im sure Ill impulse buy something towards the end of the season but the mercury makes beautiful tight carves and seems plenty playful for everything I have tried to throw on it so far. Dont have much experience with park boards but the merc has been great for jibbing too this season.
 
#26 ·
Just got the 159 greats uninc 2025 a couple days ago, been riding it at steamboat with my forces.
A lot of mixed feelings so far. I do like the flex of it, and it carves like a dream both regular and switch for sure. Pop is easy to access and not huge but it’s enough to get the job done for sure. Feels like you’re riding a completely different board depending what edge you are on, which has taken some getting used to. Also this is my first true twin.

I do feel like the board is too small. It feels drastically smaller than my 160W Mercury, mostly because the camber section seems really short which makes it steer from way farther in than I am used to. My standard uninc 162 feels like a long board, the 160W merc feels more like a skateboard, but this feels like a penny board. It generates a ton of energy out of a carve, and then feels unstable at speeds that i am used to feeling perfectly stable at on my other boards. When i catch air i feel like my front binding is on the nose of my board.
I am excited to keep trying it, it’s the first board I’ve ever been on that is groomer focused and I’m hoping i can translate some of that on edge energy into some spins mixed in with switch carving.
 
#27 ·
Just got the 159 greats uninc 2025 a couple days ago, been riding it at steamboat with my forces.
A lot of mixed feelings so far. I do like the flex of it, and it carves like a dream both regular and switch for sure. Pop is easy to access and not huge but it’s enough to get the job done for sure. Feels like you’re riding a completely different board depending what edge you are on, which has taken some getting used to. Also this is my first true twin.

I do feel like the board is too small. It feels drastically smaller than my 160W Mercury, mostly because the camber section seems really short which makes it steer from way farther in than I am used to. My standard uninc 162 feels like a long board, the 160W merc feels more like a skateboard, but this feels like a penny board. It generates a ton of energy out of a carve, and then feels unstable at speeds that i am used to feeling perfectly stable at on my other boards. When i catch air i feel like my front binding is on the nose of my board.
I am excited to keep trying it, it’s the first board I’ve ever been on that is groomer focused and I’m hoping i can translate some of that on edge energy into some spins mixed in with switch carving.
I think it will definitely take a little to get used to from what you’ve been riding. I had to as well just each day kept getting better and better
 
#30 ·
I had a 2020 Yes Greats Uninc and loved it to death until my youngest decided it was wasted on me and took it to Portugal. Gave me his brand new board which my oldest decided to take to France when he came to Australia to visit. Hence why I bought to Kijima boards which are like nothing else.
The 2025 Yes Greats Uninc I imagine is pretty similar to 2020? Am I hearing the 2026 model will be stiffer?
Also the difference for the top model seems to be "This pro model is constructed with full carbon fiber, delivering explosive pop and response while utilizing the lightest woodcore for an ultra-light, yet powerful ride." Costs AUD$1200 here in Australia
 
#31 ·
Put another day on her at steamboat. Not feeling catchy anymore, and getting used to operating a smaller camber section.

i think it’s just so completely different from all the boards I have been riding for the vast majority of last 3 years. (Hometown hero, super pig, bsod, flagship, standard uninc, pyl Uninc, etc). It feels very strange to have so little pop off jumps, and landing with what feels like 0 nose is still sketchy.
 
#32 ·
I rode my mates 2020 Greats a few weeks ago. Felt so loose, light and slippery compared to what I was riding but it also felt like a lot of fun. Easy to ride switch and hard to catch an edge is how it felt to me and after only a few runs, I loved it. Held a rail also. Don't do jumping anymore though so have no opinion on that side of things. The carbon one is appealing but I want to see reviews on it firrst.
 
#34 ·
I think I’m going to sell this board to my buddy. True twins are his thing and he absolutely shreds on it. I think next time i go for a true twin it’s going to be 162cm+, not used to having so little nose and it doesn’t make sense to not ride it centered. Glad i tried it out though, the asymmetrical heel side carve was wonderful to experience.
 
#38 · (Edited)
I have owned several greats (2013-156, 2017-156, 2018-154, 2020-154, 2021-151, 2023.-154) It is a carving board as well, so the torsional flex is stiffer and if sized for all-mountain and carving and paired with stiffer bindings then it is not the easiest to press and it has a long effective edge i.e. the greats 151 has the same effective edge as the Standard Uninc 156. I would go with the regular YES Standard for what you are describing. I have also owned the yes std uninc, the yes pyl uninc, and the yes hybrid. As of today, my quiver is Stranda Descender (charger+ freeride), yes standard (regular for all mountain and park), and the hybrid (pow+ trees). You don't need to be a perfect duck and symmetrical to ride a good switch. The standard puts a smile and does not feel as directional as the uninc version.

Now it is well known and accepted that under the Nidecker Umbrella, Jones is the freeride-oriented brand and YES is the freestyle-oriented brand, for those of you who thought YES absorbed Lobster, well, no, it was the opposite. That's why I don't buy YES boards anymore, they focus too much on freestyle and street and they don't innovate as they used to do while they have ditched the freeride and pow section.

I think that most updates we will get in the near future will focus on doing YES boards more freestyle as you sadly mention that next years regular greats will be softer than today's.

These boards have more pop and you could expect a beefier nose and tail with sa limmer waist for their core profiling.
 
#40 ·
I'm not too fond of this new brand identity from YES.
I would maybe even call myself a bit of a fan boy having bought a few iterations of the YES Standard over the years. I am a little disappointed by some of the designs. But I must say, I tried the Fridge Airmaster XTRM as I was curious about the 3D shaping and I had so much fun that I ended up buying it. Here's hoping the rest of the range is just as good!
 
#42 ·
I personally just picked up the 2025 Greats Uninc. I like the graphic on the 26 better, but Yes confirmed for me that "The 2026 Greats will be the same as the current seasons. The 2026 Greats XTRM is fully carbon with a light wood core so it will be stiffer and lighter than the standard Greats."

All that was fine by me and don't think I need the XTRM. I've got the current PYL Uninc and absolutely love it. Bought the Greats to compliment and be more of my daily driver. Like most of you, I'm partial to the Uninc and pig branding, and at $420 right now, it was a no-brainer for me, especially if the Uninc era is ending.

Separate question though - anyone know if Roman no longer has a pro model? I don't see a Basic XTRM (fka Uninc) for 26.
 
#43 · (Edited)
You can't, unfortunately, trust YES support, I got the wrong information several times such as that the base bevel is 0 degrees, and that the Standard Uninc was the same when they removed the carbon. It seems that support and manufacturing sites are not aligned at all.

The Greats 2026 will have a new core, new camber profile, and reinforcement. So I doubt it will ride as this year´s. Probably better to wait for reviews. Some people who already rode next year´s say next year´s is softer.

Romain, DCP, and JPS are gone as pros . They are only owners as the web indicates. IMO we need to accept that YES is gone, it was Lobsters who acquired YES and NOW, but they somehow kept a different name. That's why the focus on street and freestyle, the Uninc crew is gone, the pig is gone, and the freeride and pow boards are almost gone. This year´s video only had a minimal freeride part and a few seconds of Uninc.

IMO, YES IS INC now. The brand became too big with increased prices while not improving the product, exactly what they criticized at Burton. Probably it was a needed move to survive in the industry and Nidecker still offers freeride products through Jones Snowboards but I am done supporting YES's new direction and image, I never liked Lobster image and marketing, all respect to the Helgassons bros, and good luck. but IMO they don't target us UnInc hard dies over 40 years old!