Splitboard

A splitboard is a divisible in length snowboard. The parts are connected by a simple but robust mechanism and the binding recordings stable together. After disassembly is obtained, in principle, a pair of simple touring.

The bonds can be remounted on the skis and now work as an easy ski touring binding without much effort or tools. Provides you the "Ski " still climbing skins ( ski skin ), you can go with the split board ski touring and ascend snow-covered hills like a ski tourers. At the destination, "Ski " be converted back to a snowboard, with which one can go downhill.

Development and history of splitboards

There are two -, three - and four-part split boards, the most common being two-piece. In design and shape splitboards similar to freeride boards. First splitboards were already developed in the late 1980s or early 1990s in Bavaria, however, came only briefly in the serial production because the materials and the technology was not yet mature. Mid-1990s, the idea was taken up again in the United States and the first successful production standard achieved. The most famous split board manufacturer in the world Voilé from Salt Lake City (USA). Since the turn of the millennium Split boards are becoming popular in Europe and put their shadowy existence more and more from. Laid the foundation for achieving the company voile -europe, which held in 2000, the distribution in Europe for Voile -USA. In 2006, the distribution has been adjusted and renamed the company in splitboards Europe, which established in the other years, the two -part split boards with Voilé system in Europe as a market leader. The reasons for this are the annual testing events of splitboards Europe, taking the general skepticism regarding the handling and use two-piece split boards with Voilé system. Meanwhile splitboards have conquered the whole world: Even in Russia, Australia and New Zealand are split boarder on the go, as the entries show in the split board forums on the Internet.

Large share of the functioning of a split boards, the system receiving the bonds, and also connects the Skihälften to a snowboard. The well-proven (Ver ) bond system of the American manufacturer Voilé use almost all split board manufacturers on their models. A ( inter) binding system must be robust, easy to use, durable and free from the problem of icing - qualities that are vital sometimes when touring in the backcountry. It is an advantage if it offers independence from the used bonding system of Riders: any available on the market snowboard binding should be able to be mounted. Whether a freestyle binding for soft boots or a plate binding for ski shoes or hard boots.

Three-piece split boards have the advantage that the Aufstiegsski is not as wide and therefore somewhat better fits into the track of ski touring. This often called three-part argument for splitboards into perspective but more and more, because the moderate freeride touring skis also are becoming more widely. The only standard three-piece Split Board is the "T3" from Germany. In 2010, the company has set as the last Powderequipment industry's well-known manufacturer industrial production of three -part split boards.

The only four -piece snowboard that was ever produced in series, was the " Jester Trip". Only a few copies still exist today. In this, the central part was cut in half again with a folding mechanism. These parts could be transported in or on the backpack so much the better.

Furthermore, there are many DIY projects to split boards, which may well also work. In principle, this was a standard snowboard is sawn through in the middle, the cut edges are sealed and an offered commercially kit to ( inter) relationships is mounted. His craftsmanship and precision work is a prerequisite, so it does not split the board in the first tour of its individual parts.

Even small private snowboard and splitboard forging there are in the scene. While at the beginning of the splitboard times much tinkering in the game, so they are now beyond this stage and offer customized solutions. A sometimes interesting development for specialists.

Important Split Board Meetings

Today, Split Boarder meet all over the world to so-called "split -resistant ". In the U.S. and Canadian Rockies, these meetings will be held with up to 40 or 50 people. In Europe, there is the " Climb the Mountain ", which is traditionally held on the Hochjoch in Montafon for years.