ISPO News 2014 | Part 4: Splitboards/Interfaces/Boots

In recent years, the range of splitboards and special binding systems has become ever larger and has seen a number of innovations year after year. Almost every well-known manufacturer now has at least one splitboard in its range. This year, too, there were some innovations to marvel at at ISPO.

The following is an overview of the innovations and model changes:

Binding systems:

A lot has happened with binding systems in recent years: year after year, more competitors vie for the favor of the growing number of splitboarders. The Voile system with its plastic pucks and the sliding carriage system still sets the tone, which is also reflected in the fact that almost all boards are supplied with the Voile hole pattern and the other binding systems are based on the Voile hole pattern.

An overview of the innovations from the individual brands:

Spark R&D

After Spark introduced a real further development of their system last year with the Tesla system, which has been very well received by the market so far, there are only minor changes to last year's Afterburner and Magneto models. One new feature is a simple mechanism for locking the heel to make it easier to skate on flat sections. Otherwise, the Tesla system is already close to the optimum in terms of loose parts (namely none), power transmission and weight.

A real innovation from Spark is in another segment. For the first time, Spark is launching the Dyno DH, a binding for hard boots, which should please the more ambitious snowboard tourers with Dynafit hard boots and Dynafit toe pieces, there is now an alternative to self-made bindings, or to the still very little used and expensive - but apparently outstandingly good - Phantom system.

In addition, Spark now sells the binding adapter plates from One, with which you can use your splitboard binding on the normal board. Nice.

Plum
The Plum binding system, which was presented for the first time at ISPO, is brand new on the market. Plum, a well-known name in the ski scene, has developed its own system, which at first glance looks similar to Karakoram. The system is characterized by a low structure and a fairly simple mechanism, the crampon mount looks very well solved. The Feyan also has a heel-lock option, which puts it on a par with Karakoram and Spark in terms of functionality.

Plum avoids Karakoram's problem with the "metal on metal" issue, but is also not self-cleaning. How good the system really is will have to be seen in practice. The price at which the binding system will be offered next winter will certainly also be decisive for its distribution. After all, this is the second European company besides Splitsticks to offer special splitboard solutions!

Video by Plum from splitboardmag.com http://vimeo.com/85345036

Splitboards

In the splitboard sector, there are now more and more manufacturers who are focusing on sensible shape elements such as tapers in the nose area of the snowboard to prevent blending in difficult snow conditions. Rocker concepts are available in a wide variety of forms, ranging from full rocker and hybrid variants to classic camber boards. One trend is emerging here: the splitboard world is becoming more differentiated, with various manufacturers now offering extra women's boards - which generally means that they have a smaller and narrower board with "fashionable" graphics in their portfolio.

Some news should be briefly presented here:

Völkl is launching the Untrac, the successor to its rather successful Cashew splitboard. One new feature is the shape, a directional freeride shape of a more classic type, with a slight camber underfoot and a rocker in the front area. The well-functioning pin system of the skins, which are now vacuum skins from Kohla, has been retained.

Völkl also has a cooperation with SP in the binding area. The SP binding is a simple soft boot binding with an integrated slider and its own crampon system. Proven principle, but no comparison to the pinless Spark system or the new Karakoram or Plum Interface.

Salomon brings back a genre of splitboards with the Premiere, which seemed extinct and is completely incomprehensible to US-Americans. The 4-piece (divisible middle section) revives the idea of the 3-piece, which is the original idea of the splitboard (T3 by Stefan Schiele). The advantages of the design are the narrow skis, which leads to less weight on the legs, better power transmission and, last but not least, less surface on which snow can collect. In my opinion, however, a three-piece only makes sense with a corresponding hard boot setup, as the wide soft boot bindings otherwise partially negate the advantages of the three-piece.

Arbor is launching a revised version of its successful Abacus with more taper in the nose area and a magnetraction-like edge (called Grip Tech here). In terms of shape, the Pow-Wow Split from Arbor is much more exciting here, which takes the innovations from the ski sector seriously in terms of taper.

At Venture there is another interesting model in the
Shapeshack area, but this is unlikely to be a real option for local conditions. Negative sidecut over the entire length of the board is only recommended for Canadian super pow days. They also seem to have optimized the wood selection. According to Klemens Branner, head of Venture, the new Venture boards - previously absolutely bombproof and super dampened, but also correspondingly heavy - should be around half a kilo lighter! A step in the right direction. Otherwise, the Odin, Johan Olofsson's signature board, has been revised and now also has a larger radius. Another trend that is spilling over from freeride skis to snowboards.

In terms of boots, there are only ISPO-related news from Deeluxe. The three touring models with the top model Spark Summit, the successor model to the Spark XV tested by PowderGuide.com and the more affordable model of the Spark Independent BC, for all those who want a normal lacing shoe with a Vibram sole.

The reduced volume and improved lacing system of the Spark XV are striking. One side of the quick lacing system is now only responsible for the heel area, the other side for the shin and toe area. This means that only the heel area can be fixed on the ascent, giving the boot a walking function, so to speak, while everything is fixed on the descent.

Miscellaneous

Nitro has its own Splithooks in its range. Very reduced, no frills, could be good.

PS: Some established manufacturers with interesting shapes, such as Powderequipment, Amplid or Prior were just as little represented as Furberg Snowboards, Fitwell with its competitor boot to Deeluxe or the new binding systems "Ranger Bindings" and "Phantom Bindings".

Conclusion: Something is moving in the splitboard sector.