If you have a keen interest in splitboarding and are looking for something to help you out, this article is the perfect guide for you.  I have worked with the ISIA and ISDT Qualified Snowboard Instructor, Owain George of TDC Snowboarding, and hence, can give you some much-needed tips to start your journey.

 Safety First

 Activities like these include high risks when attempted in winters and can even cause death.

Thus, it makes it important for a splitboarder to take all safety measures possible

  • Hire a guide to teach you all the tricks and techniques of skateboarding.
  • Take up an avalanche safety course.
  • Practice the drills taught in the course regularly.
  • Don’t go splitboarding with a person unaware of avalanche safety.
  • Cancel your plan if you are not 100% confident about it.

What is it?

In splitboarding, you travel in all directions of the snow terrain- from flat to uphill terrains with the help of skis and downhill with the help of a snowboard. Splitboarding gives you the chance to travel through the backcountry terrain which is otherwise accessible only with helicopters or snowmobiles.

What does a splitboard look like?

A splitboard is a snowboard that splits into half and forms skis for the uphill tracks. For the downhill tracks, the skis can be connected back together to form a board for the rider. This is possible with the help of special bindings that help convert the snowboard to ski gear and vice versa.

How does it work?

Splitboarding is possible only with the help of skins, which are sticky sheets of nylon or mohair that are attached to the bottom of your skis.

How to do splitboarding?

A splitboarder needs a few extra skills apart from being an advanced snowboarder.

Splitboard for touring

Converting the splitboard can become a task while touring and so, here are some pointers on how to quickly convert it:

  • Disconnect the bindings.
  • Undo the tail and nose split hooks and part the board.
  • Put the skis down to see that the outer edges are parallel to each other.
  • Attach the ski bindings and fix the slider pin to the touring brackets.

Putting skins on splitboard

  • Place your skis into the snow with the bottoms preferably facing the sun.
  • Identify the correct skin for the correct ski.
  • Peel off a part of the ski and hook it on the ski’s front end.
  • When the positioning is correct, pull the rest of it.
  • Flatten the skins and make sure that the ski’s edges are not covered by the skins.

Splitboard Skinning

The uphill travel on your splitboard is called splitboard skinning. It is similar to cross-country skiing. You need to glide across the snow without lifting much of the ski off the snow.

Moving uphill on a splitboard

One can traverse uphill either by switchbacks/ zig-zags with the help of kick turns or by lifting the heel higher on your binding.

 Things to pack for splitboarding

 You will require a 25-35 litre hiking day pack which should include the following things:

 Safety gear- shovel, phone, charger, rescue service contacts, first aid kit, etc.

Clothing- sunglasses, hat, gloves, etc.

Navigation tools- map, compass/GPS.

Essentials- snacks, sunscreen, water, headlamp.

Other gears- poles, skins, crampons, repair kits, etc.

Prepping yourself

Weather- Getting a heads up about the weather can be a big saviour if they are any warnings for blizzards, etc. so before you head out, make sure you are keeping a tab of the weather conditions and prep yourself accordingly.

Avalanches- it is best to get yourself hooked on an avalanche forecast app to be up to date with the situation of the area where you are planning to splitboard.

Fitness- Being in shape before your journey is very much important. You must train yourself in cardio fitness and endurance, some strength, balance, and mobility training, so that you are fully prepared for the obstacles.

Planning your route- this helps in honing your navigation skills and knowing about rescue services or stations that are nearby the area.

Splitboarding is a magical experience that one should at least try once with proper knowledge and safety.