Kohla

As the days get longer and the tours become more enjoyable, the most demanding time of the year begins for ski skins - spring is demanding for both equipement and care. Where fluorine-based impregnations were used in the past, there is now a clear shift towards more environmentally friendly alternatives. These now offer comparable performance, but require more conscious and more frequent care.

The legendary PowderGuide snow depth prediction game will be at the Freeride Testival stops four times this winter - and each time you can win great prizes. PowderGuide will be present at all stops to hand out the prizes directly. Now at the last stop on the Stubai Glacier from March 21st to 22nd, 2026, you can take home unique prizes from Faction, Head, Kohla and Scott Sports worth almost 2,000 euros!

Light on the ascent, surfy in powder: the Amplid Surf Shuttle promises maximum fun in deep snow with minimal weight on your feet. But how does the splitboard perform under real conditions in the Swiss Alps - from icy crossings to fresh new snow? Our test shows where the board shines and where its limits lie.

The "Alpinist PRO" is currently the top skin from Kohla and, thanks to its 100% mohair construction and the Kohla "Smartglue", is said to combine the best climbing properties with particularly good handling. We have tested how the skin performs in practice on ski tours.

Meanwhile, some splitboards already come with nose holes or cut-outs, as well as tail cut-outs or holes as standard. However, most splitboard skins—including mine—still use a front bracket and a butterfly clip at the tail. Since Kohla is located close to Innsbruck, I assumed a quick visit would be enough to have my skins adjusted accordingly. Unfortunately, it turned out not to be quite that simple.

It's clear that we all use poles when splitboarding and that it's unfamiliar at first when switching from snowboarding. We learned how to use them on the descent from Tobi last season. However, there are also the foldable poles not mentioned in his article, which are used more for hiking. But how do the folding poles compare to the telescopic poles when splitboarding?

"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.

Since the 2016/2017 season, "Mr Splitboards" Simon Graf has been developing his own shapes. He can draw on his wealth of experience from over 20 years as a tour guide and knows the specific needs of splitboarders inside out. Simon Graf has developed various shapes for the respective areas of use and requirements on the mountain:

"The Freeride Split was developed to tackle any kind of snow and terrain you might find in the backcountry," says the manufacturer Furberg about its Freeride Split, now in its third generation. We took a look at the current version of the splitboard to see whether it also performs well in the test.

Stompede Snowboards has been on the market for a year and offers freeride boards based on the direct-to-consumer principle. To start with, there is a split and solid version of the shape, each in fiberglass or carbon construction. PowderGuide was there right from the start and tested the carbon split version last season.

Week after week, we are always on the lookout for a new powder mecca. Easy access, extensive terrain and few off-pistoholics - these are our criteria. Last week, all three points were exceeded. Where? In the Wildschönau, the quiet high valley in the middle of the Kitzbühel Alps.

Even if freeriders often pay little attention to ski touring skins, you should always keep the chapter on care in mind. Ski touring skins constantly rub against the snow and lose their waterproofing through friction and contact with the snow. Natural hair is more affected by this than synthetic products. If the climbing or gliding properties deteriorate, you should consult the manufacturer's care instructions. A block of impregnating wax to renew the protective layer is available in any outdoor store for just a few dollars. Especially with skins that have already absorbed moisture and are used in cold snow, there is a risk that lumps of snow will collect on them – the skins tend to "stollen".