Due to its lightness and width, the snowboard has always been an excellent and fun tool for skiing in the backcountry, but it has not excelled in the highlands. Going further than the lift offers, the boarder had to either carry snowshoes with him or be ready to sink into the project with his shoes up to his waist.
It should be clear that moving around with snowshoes, or especially with shoes, is never as easy as skiing with that grinning fellow on skis.
Splitboards, or simply splits, which have become more common and lighter in recent years, brought a change to this. A board that was split lengthwise in the middle suddenly functioned as skis on the uphills, and the pieces could be joined together again to form a board for the downhill. For many, the split opens up a whole new world instead of the worn-out lift lines around the nearby hill.
But is the split just a poor compromise? Does the rider on splits have to give up good descent characteristics just so they don't have to carry snowshoes with them? And is it even good to ski with pieces of a board?
The split brings the backcountry closer to the boarder. Photo: Patagonia
How does split work?
As the name suggests, a split is a snowboard that splits lengthwise in the middle - or, depending on your way of thinking, two skis that can be combined into a snowboard. When folding, the split stays firmly together with buckles and ties a few centimeters wide placed in four different places, which are locked to the counter pieces in both halves.
When skiing, the bindings are removed, the buckles are opened, the halves come apart and you have skis at your disposal. Basically, it's pretty simple.
In theory, you can build a split from any snowboard. There are also cheaper splits on the market, which are practically snowboards used through a circle, but in order to function well, both sides of the split must be designed and built in such a way that the stiffness of the board is maintained when assembled.
The challenge of split is that when the board turns against the slope, the force on it tends to bend the flat-bottomed board in the middle, especially at the tail, where the bindings do not provide lateral support. The result: the board is not sturdy and the edge does not bite into the slope properly. In well-designed splits, both halves of the board are reinforced in the longitudinal direction, so that the halves of the board remain straight the entire way, and propeller-like bending cannot occur.
Of course, the problem is less when going down in soft snow, but rarely every time there is only an untouched powder field in front of you. The board must also work in icy, bumpy and low-snow areas.
The benefits of Split can be seen above
The purpose of split boards is to make it possible to climb mountains by skiing, and that's where they work well. If the starting point is sweating with snowshoes, the change is really big.
In practice, the board is split for climbing by opening the buckles and removing the bindings (which also hold the board together and stiffen it laterally). After that, the ties are reattached lengthwise to the counter pieces, where the heel part can rise freely.
Photo: Burton Snowboards
The halves of the splits have steel edges on both sides of both "skis", and when skiing, the halves of the board are placed opposite each other so that the longer edges remain on the outer edges. Then there are skins, i.e. hairs on the bottom and uphill. Not many minutes are wasted in the whole thing.
Okay, so it turns out there's a reason many cultures abandoned snowshoes after skis were invented. Skiing is lighter than putting on your shoes, because instead of treading on your thighs, you slide your skis - or half of the board - in the wind.
So the same applies to splits. Compared to regular snowboards, splits are heavier, but in terms of weight, they are in the same category as light touring ski packages, so at least because of the weight, skiers with skis shouldn't be left behind on the uphills.
Compared to snowshoes, the set is lighter because there is no board to carry on the back and no snowshoes on the downhill.
However, snowboarding differs from skiing in a few ways. First, the width of the board halves presents its own challenges and strengths. Wide planks carry narrower skis better in soft wind, and the wider skin surface gives better grip when climbing. On the other hand, the split makes a wider track when skiing, which means that the halves of the Split do not necessarily fit into the groove opened by the skis.
For splits, icy places and moving sideways in steep places is a bit more challenging than for skis. Board shoes and bindings do not offer the same lateral support as skis, so it is more difficult to hold the edge firmly on the ice. Also, especially the inner edges of the splits are quite short and have an aggressive sidecut, so getting a grip in tight spots can cause a little heart palpitations.
Photo: Patagonia ©Rip Zinger
But does split work on invoices?
Surely the biggest question when buying or even considering a split is whether it is good to calculate. After all, that's why we climb mountains, so that we can descend from there.
First of all, it is good to remember that, like other boards, there are splits for many tastes. However, many of the split boards are a bit stiffer than regular boards, because when skiing the board needs support and on big mountains a stiff board brings stability.
Jones Hovercraft split snowboard
Most manufacturers follow the proven route with splitboards. We choose a popular and well-proven free fall board from which the split is made. Examples of this include Jones Solution, Jones Explorer Jones Hovercraft, Burton Flight Attendant, Korua Pencil, Korua Tranny Finder and Gentemstick splits.
Korua Shapes Pencil split
Even now, however, there are plenty of different boards on the market, depending on your wishes. There is a long and wide fishtail for powder, a looser board for more surfing and a stiffer rocker board for freediving. At this point, the buyer should think about what terrain and what kind of calculation the split will mainly be used for.
But to those calculation features. Splits are designed especially for backcountry, and in soft snow it's hard to notice the difference from a regular snowboard. There is of course a difference on a harder surface, but the boards are developing quickly and approach slopeboards in terms of landing characteristics. The answer to the question, is it good to calculate with split, is therefore yes.
Jones Snowboards Solution split snowboard
In lift skiing, the biggest difference is certainly the weight. Clips, inner covers and ties add weight to the package, which also affects the bill. A heavier board may not be as playful and nimble, but nothing prevents you from cruising on a split, even on the slopes, or hitting forest patches.
What does Camu's board expert Joonas Reijonen say about calculating with a split? Where does it bend?
“Splitillä liikkuminen on alkuihmettelyn jälkeen helppoa ja mukavaa. Laudan, siteiden sekä skinien kanssa teuromiseen tottuu nopeasti ja liikkumiseen tulee varmuutta jokaisen käyttökerran myötä.”
Photo: Burton Snowboards
When testing the set for the first time, you should do the descents on familiar routes, or for example in the area of the skiing center. Just make sure from the center first about their attitude to moving with a split, Reijonen advises.
“Splitti taipuu laskiessa siihen mihin solidikin lauta. Laudan profiili, sheippi, koko sekä ominaisuudet määräävät missä lauta on parhaimmillaan ja missä laudan asettamat rajoitukset kannattaa pitää mielessä. Lyhyt lauta on näppärä esimerkiksi metsässä, mutta jos lasket isoa ja aavaa linjaa se ei välttämättä ole paras valinta.”
Choosing a split is a similar process to a normal snowboard. What terrain will the board mainly go on? What kind of calculator are you? what size are you What size snowboard boot do you have? When there is an answer to these questions, choosing a board is not difficult.
What equipment is required besides a split board?
Bandages
In principle, you can use normal snowboard bindings on split boards, if a suitable adapter rail is installed on the board. However, the rail lifts the bindings off the board more than usual, so it is more recommended to use free fall bindings specially designed for splits, which are attached to binding discs. The attachment varies slightly depending on the manufacturer: for example, in the Union Expedition bandages, the bandage is attached to the round disc that comes with it by turning it and locking it with a pin. The most common way is the so-called Voilén Puck set, where the bandage is usually attached by locking it with a lever found on the base plate.
Split bindings are often lighter and more durable for heavy use and have better skiing properties. Typically, the bandage is also slightly stiffer than the slope bandage and there is less padding. In addition, the bindings have many features that make skiing easier, for example highback adjustment to a zero degree angle or even a slightly negative angle.
Burton Hitchhiker, Voile Speedrail and Union Expedition split bindings
Boots
Split bindings are suitable for normal soft and stiff snowboard boots. When choosing shoes, it is perhaps more important to buy boots that fit your budget. However, the backcountry has a few features that are useful: First of all, good soles help a lot when you have to take the board off your feet, for example, on rocks. Many shoes today have Vibram soles, which perform well in hard use. When skiing, it is also useful if the shoe has enough negative flexibility, i.e. that the shoe also bends backwards. A boa or quick lacing is a popular choice in split shoes, as it allows quick loosening of the shoe when climbing up and quick tightening when descending.
32 Jones MTB is a snowboard shoe specialized for split use
Skins
The skins, i.e. riser hairs, are absolute when climbing: they slide forward but give traction backwards. The skins stay on the soles with the help of the adhesive surface and the nose and tail loops. The "hair side" of the skins is either nylon, mohair or a mixture of them. In general, the compound offers the best combination of slip, grip and lightness. Skins should be intended for splitboards, in which case the tip is at the right angle.
Kohla Splitboard skins, Black Diamond Compactor poles and Black Diamond Glidelite skins.
Other supplies
For skiing, the split package also requires poles. The most functional option is telescopic poles, which can be adjusted to the right length for ascents and packed short for descents. In the rods, you can choose between aluminum and carbon fiber, depending on how much you are willing to pay for lightness. It is also an advantage that the poles can fit inside the backpack if needed, like Black Diamond's Compactor poles, for example.
Crampons can also be attached to the split bindings, when the grip on the skins is no longer sufficient.
Last but certainly not least: When moving in the backcountry, you must always remember safety. The equipment of a person moving in Split should therefore always include at least an avalanche transmitter, a probe and a shovel. You can find snow safety accessories here.
Boards for every departure and for all hills! Here you can get to know Camu's split machine, which you can use to calculate the finished package price for yourself.
You can also contact us To Camu, we are happy to help with related questions, choosing the right Split, and purchasing equipment.