"The best runs are the ones you've earned!" - and the best way to earn them is to do your own climb away from the hustle and bustle of the ski areas. It doesn't matter whether you've never been on a splitboard before or are just refrashing the basics again - here you will find the most helpful tips for your next splitboard tour.
Before the tour
Regardless of whether you want to plunge straight into the backcountry for your tour or first slowly get to grips with splitboarding on the slopes, proper planning is essential in both cases.
If you decide to go on a tour, be sure to find out more about the weather and snow conditions as well as the lift regulations of the individual ski areas beforehand.
You can find out more about safety when touring here.
Assembling your splitboard can be a bit tricky at the beginning and can take a lot of time, especially in difficult mountain conditions, so it's best to practice it several times at home to avoid difficulties before you set off.
During the tour
When ascending, it is particularly important not to overexert yourself so that you still have enough energy for the descent, and this works best with the right ascent technique .
Maintain an upright posture and focus on regular breathing. You should find a rhythm that suits you and stick to it - the general rule is: it's better to start a little slower and then increase the speed later.
A splitboard pro tip : At the beginning you should choose a flatter climb, even though the route may be longer, you will definitely have more fun.
Once you've successfully reassembled your board at the top, it's time to head down . The feeling of riding with the splitboard will probably be a little different than with your “normal” board, but you shouldn’t be intimidated by it. Start a little slower and increase the speed as you feel more confident.
After the tour
If splitboarding has convinced you now, you probably can't wait to start your next tour. So that you can use your equipment for a long time, it is important to look after it. Your skins in particular won't forgive you if you don't dry them carefully at room temperature after each tour.
Credits: Chris Eder