Karakoram

In the previous Splittie of the Week, I already wrote a lot about the advantages of ski straps when splitboarding. So why another report about an expensive extra that has virtually the same function as a skistrap? I asked myself the same question and ridiculed flex locks as fancy ski straps for a long time. This winter, however, my curiosity got the better of me when I came across a very affordable offer and finally wanted to try them out myself.

Splitboard manufacturers such as Voile, Jones and Furberg have developed different systems, but they are all based on the same principle: Clips on the tip and tail hold the board halves together, while hooks in the centre provide additional stability. There are clear differences between the systems, especially when it comes to the hooks and clips. Only Furberg uses an innovative tongue-and-groove system on the inside edges. Despite technical differences, all manufacturers use the Voile standard for the drill holes. In recent years, hooks, clips and bindings have been continuously optimised - three of the best systems are presented and compared below.

Ski straps, perhaps better known among snowboarders as voile straps, are now with me and my board every day. Not only on tours, but also in the ski resort, they have already saved me one or two days of riding. If a strap tears on the binding or you have an icy traverse ahead of you on a tour, it's a lot less unpleasant with ski straps.

Compared to a snowboard, the visual differences are barely noticeable and the basic requirement of connecting rider and board are the same. However, there are big differences between the manufacturers when it comes to the "how". The following is an overview of the various manufacturers and models, expressly without a purchase recommendation, as everyone has different requirements for the equipment they use.

"Nordstau! North jams regularly provide the Nordkette, Innsbruck's local mountain, with massive amounts of fresh snowfall. [...] We designed this board for just such days!" writes the manufacturer Stompede about the split version of the Nordstau snowboard released last year. We tested what it feels like to draw the first lines in the fresh powder, but also how the board behaves in other snow conditions, on around 20 days.

I've been searching for "La Liste: Everything or Nothing". After several live screenings, the opus magnum is now available for purchase in many ways. We highly recommend it! And because you always come across a lot of unexpected things when you're looking for something and then discover things you thought were long lost, there are all sorts of other things to accompany the main work!

Why is the walk mode not for walking, what are the advantages and disadvantages of the different binding systems and how do you find your way around the range of special softboot bindings for splitboards? To find out more about the differences between the systems, we asked someone who has been dealing with splitboards more than anyone else for around 20 years: Simon Graf from Splitboards Europe.

One of the most famous splitboards is being revised after all these years, as the very stiff flex has been increasingly criticised in recent years, especially on the longer boards.

The Covid season was a successful one for splitboard manufacturers, that much can be said for this winter. Due to the lifts being closed in many places, the run on splitboards was large and sustained. As a result, Amplid, for example, sold its splits like hot cakes and another production series has been added. Our partner store splitboards.eu also reports a similar run

"ISPO in Munich is of secondary importance for the snowboard industry. The pulse of the industry beats at the retailer trade fair (Shops 1st try) in Alpbachtal."

True to the motto "carbon instead of fitness", the S-One Carbon Splitboard saves energy both uphill and downhill. This may not make you better, but it means you can go longer!

Powderguns - split and in one piece - in all shapes and colors are the hot shit, but the biggest gun still does pogo, and has for 32 years! The experimentation department of the designers/manufacturers obviously had a merciless 'powder shortage' this year.