“HERE YA’ GO BRO!”

“Cheers, aye” is my dubious reply. I look down at the contraption my old mate is lending for my first day splitboarding. It’s antique, and should be hanging above the fireplace, maybe even in it. Pre 90’s and cut long ways in two by hand, it’s precariously hooked together with a series of hooks, clamps and just to add flavour to the mix, T-bolts riding raw and exposed throughout the base material. Several metal ‘thingys’ are screwed through the topsheet straight into the core. I scratch my head for a bit, it’s a lot to take in… this is a splitboard!?

Although that first experience ‘splitting’ was on the most haggard looking contraption I’ve ever buckled into, it opened my eyes to a time and energy efficient tool for unlocking fresh snow and new terrain, both at home in New Zealand at Ruapehu and personal favourite, Temple Basin area, and more recently mountains surrounding Revelstoke and further. Splitboards are just that, snowboards designed and built to break down into two, ahem, “skis” to give the user the ability to walk efficiently long distances on snow. Exponential growth in the backcountry market in the last few years has fast tracked development of new and user-friendly equipment for anyone looking to access the goods beyond the hustle of lift accessed terrain. Boards, boots, bindings, poles, skins, backpack, shovel, probe, transceiver…. it goes on, you name it, it’s been made for splitters! There’s a lot out there and for anyone looking to gear up with the tools to explore, it can be quite a handful to decipher. Here are a few key pointers to help you figure out what’s best to get started.

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Scot Heale demonstrating one of the greatest benefits of split boarding- Access to pow! Whakapapa, Photo PE

SPLITBOARDS

Nowadays most snowboard manufacturers have released their own production model splitboards that ride on par with regular snowboards. Improved clip systems and bindings hold the two sides together so well they feel much like a solid board with a little extra torsional flex between the feet. The split section between the feet has more ‘forgiveness’ and delivers aggressive turn initiation. From true twin tip through to full-on directional big mountain chargers and everything in between there’s almost anything you’re after. The majority are slightly geared toward freeride, as… well… there’s untracked freshies out there! For this reason most boards seem to be stepped up a couple centimetres in sizing.

BINDINGS

Once again there are many different options. Splitboard bindings are designed to hold the board together as well as pivot from the toe when in walk mode. A good solid base will help with keeping your boards feeling solid as one. Look for a good range of motion when in walk mode – they often come with a highback quick-release, which gives extra length to your stride. Be wary of toe touchdown with boots, this will stop the binding pivoting all the way forward and makes for a tough walk, not to mention bruised toes. It pays dividends to scrutinize binding size and nerd out on settings to ensure your boot will sit correct over the board, both in tour and ride mode. There are differing clipping/walk mode systems and at end of the day it’s up to you to decide what system you like most. Personally, simplicity is better when it comes to bindings, lots of moving parts is lots parts to break… not the best when on top of a line!

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Scott showing us that split boarding doesn’t just limit you to powder turns- Indy at Whakapapa, Photo PE

SKINS                                                 

Skins are what allow you to glide forward and not slip backwards. There are a lot of different hair combos that basically give more grip and less glide, or vice versa. A good sticky glue is key to stick to the base of your boards, while it takes a little more effort to put on, it beats the hell out of a budget skin glue that is iced up and wont stick to the board anymore. Tail clips are also a good way to keep those skins from flapping loose in the first place. Sometimes skins wont quite cut it on firmer snow, and a crampon-like attachment for under bindings is a valuable addition to your pack.

POLES

Yeah poles… gross. Almost skiing uphill at this point, but another vital piece of equipment. There are a good variety of collapsible poles on the market some of which are small enough to fit in a small pack on your descent. If you can get them to fit inside, do it, there’s not much worse than wondering what part of the anatomy those sharp tips are pointing at in mid air!

HINTS AND TIPS

There are a lot of things that I can’t really explain well enough through this article, a lot of it comes with experience and figuring out what works best for you. Here are a couple pointers worth mulling over.

* Keeping your set up as light as possible, it’s easier getting around and you have more energy for extra laps.

* Compact your gear down into small volumes, the more compact gear in your pack can be the better it is to ride with. Figure out what you do and don’t need for the mission in mind and pack light as you can. Think rum over beer.

* Sunglasses, pocketknife and duct tape, fix anything in style!

* Go with the same crew. Keeping a tight crew of good friends means you know how each other think and react in different situations, when shit goes down you know they got your back.

SAFETY

Before anything else, it’s important to get a good understanding and practice of avalanche safety and self-rescue. It’s too easy to underestimate the power of snow. Sadly every year a lot of people in the backcountry pass on before their time due to uneducated or poor decision making. The risks can be minimized with proper education. There are Avalanche Safety Training courses available – well worth the time to be able to avoid dangerous conditions and terrain, and as last resort to be able to save your own and your friend’s lives. Practice rescue techniques and be sure your entire group can work well under pressure to locate and retrieve buried companions in record time. Check snow and weather before you plan a trip, go online and devour the avalanche bulletins for your area, talk to people and heliski operations who have been out in the area recently. Anything to build up a larger picture of what’s going on in the mountains is worth researching. Also check several different short and long-range forecasts to see how conditions might change while you’re out there. Plan your trip well, even if it’s just a day mission, and make sure someone knows where your group is going.

Now you have your set up sussed and a solid crew you can trust to keep each other alive in the mountains, it’s time to go ride some lines! This is where it’s up to you, pretty much wherever there’s enough snow, you can ride. Access is key in Nzee, most farmers will appreciate you asking permission to 4×4 up their hills prior to arriving. There’s a plethora of huts spread throughout the Alps, both South and North Island ranges that are within hiking distance. Heli drops are a relatively cheap option too. Anyway I’ll leave that to you, check out Google Earth with fly by view! There’s a lot of wicked terrain in New Zealand yet to see a snowboard line down it!