If you want to get down, you have to get up first. What sounds so simple is actually a hurdle or two in practice. Here we show you what aids are available - especially for single-board athletes. And always take a deep breath!
Snowshoes
The classic solution to avoid sinking in deep snow is snowshoes - especially for single-board skiers. Even in prehistoric times, people used to tie braided fir branches under their feet to move faster. After centuries, if not millennia of development, we now have an almost unmanageable selection of snowshoes. But which ones are suitable for a snowboard tour? All snowshoes have one disadvantage: as soon as the slope gradient rises above 30°, their suitability diminishes - especially if the snow is hard. The system is too soft and slope crossings are often adventurous, as the soft connections provide little grip. Nevertheless, many tours can be managed well with snowshoes. There are models made of plastic with climbing aids and snow claws or models that consist of an aluminum frame with a kind of leather stretched into it. These also have usable snow claws.
Splitboards
A tour with a snowboard usually means that you have to carry snowshoes or folding skis with you. As these ascent aids are not disposable, you have to take them back down into the valley with you. Strap the walking tools to your backpack and off you go downhill! Nevertheless, they are an additional weight. Probably the most elegant solution for a snowboarder is to climb the mountains with a SPLITBOARD. These divisible snowboards originated in Bavaria in the late 80s and early 90s. They did not catch on due to a lack of technology. Later, this idea was taken up by the Americans and lo and behold, modern splitboards appeared. These are 2 or even 3-piece boards that are dismantled for the ascent, the bindings are remounted, skins are glued to the treads and off you go. Splitboards reach their limits in hard snow and alpine terrain, especially on steep traverses. Sometimes the ski touring tracks are too narrow, making it quite tedious, but more and more tourers have wide freeride slats on their feet, meaning the tracks are getting wider. Once at the top, all you have to do is put everything together (without tools) and rock 'n roll!
Short and folding skis
Up on skis - down on a snowboard. Sounds perfect, doesn't it? When freeriders reach the limits of the slope gradient with snowshoes or the splitboard is not stiff enough for them when riding, there is one last solution: skis! - Or rather: short skis. There are several types of these ascent devices: Their length is up to one and a half meters. While some can be put together, others can be folded up or not taken apart at all. However, all short skis have one thing in common: they are not designed for skiing, but for climbing. The "skis" are made for snowboarders. A buckle binding is attached in the middle, the size of which fits almost any soft boot. Some models have integrated crampons. Instead of a gliding surface, the skis have fixed climbing skins. You can buy the parts or make them yourself. However, the disadvantage of building your own could be the significantly higher weight of home-grown products.
