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Education that will set you free -

Ever see one of these signs before? They're only scary if you don't know what's out there. To those in the 'know', this gate is your portal to adventure, comradarie, progression, and self exploration.

This website is dedicated to educating the snowboard masses on what it takes to 'bring it' to the backcountry. Once you get your first taste of true backcountry, you'll leave those overpriced lift tickets and lines behind for good.

By leaving behind the safety of groomed, patrolled and avalanched controlled ski resort areas, you enter an inherently more hazardous world. Backcountry snowboarding should therefore only be attempted at first under the leadership of an experienced, preferably local guide, of which there are many offering their services in most ski resorts.

One of the greatest dangers that face snowboarders who venture into the backcountry are avalanches. Therefore backcountry snowboarders should be equipped with avalanche transceivers, a shovel and an avalanche probe, and be well trained in their use.

Most ski resorts run avalanche training programmes and anyone interested in heading into the backcountry is advised to enrol in a course.


Backcountry Snowboarding-

"Backcountry snowboarding is snowboarding in a sparsely inhabited rural region over ungroomed and unmarked slopes or pistes in the backcountry, frequently amongst trees ("glade boarding"), usually in pursuit of fresh fallen snow, known as powder.[1][2] Often, the land and the snow pack are not monitored, patrolled, or maintained. Fixed mechanical means of ascent such as ski lifts are typically not present, but helicopters ("heliskiing") are sometimes used to reach the mountain's peak."

-Wikipedia

Hiking into the back country is dangerous and exhausting but the rewards are priceless! These shots are primarily from the Cascades in Washington and the Selkirk's in British Columbia. Know your boundaries when hiking out side of the boundary.


Splitboards

Snowboarders who like to make their turns in the backcountry used to have to strap on snowshoes or short skis for the approach and climb with their board on their back, then put the approach gear on their back for the ride down. Snowshoers were likely to get left behind by their ski buddies on the way up, while snowboarders with skis and boots on their backs were ungainly and slow on the descent. In the last couple years, however, technology and demand have coincided to bring to market an affordable, reliable alternative that is both faster and lighter than either snowshoes or skis.

Split snowboards (splitboards) look and feel like regular snowboards, but split apart lengthwise into two skis for plowing through backcountry terrain cross-country style. When you split the board apart, you remove the bindings and reposition them on the splitboard skis as cross-country toe-hinge bindings, then strap or click in as normal with your regular snowboard boots. This plus a pair of three-section collapsible ski poles is all you need for the approach, and you can stow the poles easily in your pack for the ride down.

While the splitboard itself is a bit heavier than a regular snowboard setup, using the same gear for both ascending and descending saves an incredible amount of weight. And since you're skiing the approach, you can cover terrain much faster than anyone on snowshoes or short skis.

Burton and Voile are the main contenders in the splitboard arena. The conventional wisdom is that Burton's splitboards are heavier, but ride better on the way down, while Voile's simple and light conversion system makes up for its only-OK ride quality. As a third option, Voile offers a split kit to convert your regular snowboard into a splitboard at home. I own a Burton SPLT 66 model and love it. The board feels strong and solid, transition time from board to skis and back is quick-although it does take some practice-and best of all, the ride is stiff and the edges hold firm, just like a regular snowboard.

Both companies make extra-wide climbing skins and crampons for the ascent, and many backcountry gear manufacturers make collapsible ski poles short enough to fit in a daypack. Standard backcountry rules apply to all splitboarding excursions, which means be avalanche-aware, always carry an avalanche transceiver, probe, and shovel, and know how to use the tools you bring.

-- Chris Coldewey

Burton S-Series Splitboards
$600
Burton

Voile Split Decision Splitboards
$665
Voile

Or, take an old snowboard and do-it-yourself.
Voile Split Kit
$130

 

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