Splitboarding 2024/25 Retail Buyer’s Guide
During Covid, it seemed nearly everyone bought a splitboard and went into the wild. Since then, however, a mix of external and internal factors have shook the splitboard industry. Yet throughout all of these changes, manufacturers have never stopped innovating, building, grinding, testing, and releasing new gear. And while we don’t know how this winter will shape up in Europe and beyond, we can take a moment to open our eyes and enjoy the fresh goods brands are working on for next season.Get ready for an info-loaded tour of the splitboard manufacturing landscape. Ladies and gents, welcome to next winter’s Splitboard Hardware 24/25 Retail Buyer’s Guide, brought to you by Matthieu Perez.
WHAT’S UP SPLITBOARD WORLD?
Let’s start with an in-the-face statement from Kemper Owner Jib Hunt: “With the addition of no snow in the northeast of the United States and in Europe, the snowboard industry as a whole took a big hit for the 23/24 season. I believe who makes it through the aftermath of this year will be set up for future growth and stability. If a snowboard brand tells you they are doing great, they are probably not telling the truth”. The cards are set, but the table is empty. Who wants to play?
Rossignol’s Snowboard Category Manager Arnaud Repa confirms that “23/24 pre-orders saw splitboard sales decline with the return of a more mechanized snowboarding. But the underlying tendency to ride away from the groomed courses is still there. Especially since the weather conditions are so variable that the slightest snowfall will cause an influx of splitboard riders for the day, no matter the time of year”. So hopefully, with some snow, good days are ahead.
Key equipment also emphasizes that the splitboard market has had some challenges lately. But despite the situation, the hardboot brand has seen strong growth in sales in the last three seasons since making its debut. “Without a unique product that improves the overall splitboard experience, it would most likely have looked a lot different for us”, says Product Manager Christophe ‘Tal’ Etallaz.
Amplid sees an evolution in how brands and riders are approaching the category. Legend of the art and trendsetter Peter Bauer says, “It seems the splitboard consumer is more willing to ride experimental shapes – until a couple season’s back they were quite conservative and only wanted a traditional big mountain shape. Now swallowtails, sparrow tails, and experimental ‘uphill board concepts’ are getting more and more popular”.
Speaking of evolution, we can be grateful for what pioneers like Tommy Delago and Nitro brought to the market decades ago. He reminds us that, “The year 2024 marks 30 years of Nitro Splitboarding since the introduction of the Tour 169cm Splitboard back in 1994. Today, Nitro offers a refined line of splitboarding gear. Starting with a board program of various shapes that are dialed-in for all types of touring and terrain, including custom fitted skins”.
Let’s stick around the pioneers and celebrations for a moment. This winter marks the 20th anniversary of Dupraz snowboards and the D1 shape, which has been–and continues to be–a true game changer in the snowboard industry. Serge Dupraz has been shaping snowboards for 40 years so the man knows what’s up: “From our side, we see the interest for our shapes growing year after year. Nowadays, people are really looking for the best quality and cost performance in a product that will offer them the best experience on the slopes – this is exactly what Dupraz brings to the table with the D1, a unique snowboard which excels in all conditions”. A legend carving toward another milestone.
A kindred spirit to Dupraz, Korua will stay focused on its core customers and spreading snowsurfing among the masses despite “Wintersports facing ecological & political challenges in DACH markets”, says Co-founder Jerry Niedermeier.
Silbaerg has a similar assessment, noting that the splitboard market has become very competitive and especially in German-speaking countries. Founder Jörg Kaufmann states, “Inflation and the decline in purchasing power are putting pressure on demand. Silbaerg is therefore focusing more and more on the niche in the high-price segment and is focusing on B2C via its own webshop”.
Moonchild, as a small brand, remains committed to its niche within the market, specializing in freeride and powder boards. Co-founder Jure Sodja notes, “While the snowboard industry evolves, we continue to work diligently to develop high-quality products that cater to the needs of our dedicated customer base”.
Borealis moved to its new factory for its 23-24 collection, and the whole line has seen a very positive development. Owner Benjamin Hall explains, “We shifted from a premium to an ultra-premium brand, focusing only on quality, durability (4-year guarantee), and performance. For 2024-25, our three splitboard models are carryovers from 2023-24. We tend to keep our models unchanged for 2 seasons unless we change something in the construction for better performance”.
Talking about quality, Never Summer is producing top tier products that last a long time. “With the pressure life can bring, getting up on the mountain to slide around offers a wonderful distraction from the outside world,” says Tony Sasgen, international sales manager. “When buying a new gear customers want to have the comfort that their money is being well spent on products that last. Therein lies the opportunity and we fit that description of products that are built to last”.
Part of the shakers and movers category of brands, Kemper is making a big and exciting move for 24/25.“We are offshoring all snowboard and splitboard manufacturing from China to our own manufacturing facility in Heber City, Utah, USA,” explains Hunt. “This will give us a better chance to control our destiny and to become agile with the highs and lows of production. We will be taking on production for a select number of snowboard brands as well”.
Small label Gara Splitboards ends this chapter with a relevant analysis. Gara Owner Ota Tyl questions the current landscape of the industry: “For me it is very surprising that the bigger brands didn’t learn anything from last season, and again already start the competition to overflow[the market from the beginning of September, when outside is 30°C, glaciers remain closed for at least two more months, and even loyal customers are still on the bike, hiking, and climbing. My opinion is that brands should push back their production and delivery calendars by at least two months. Customers are thinking about what they will do tomorrow, not what they will do in the next 4 months. They shop for what they need now, not what they will need”. Anyone ready for a change?
WHAT’S NEW WITH DECKS?
Lib Tech’s Orca takes the soft snow directional performance of Travis’s Natural Selection winning pillow blaster and makes it tour ready. Pete Saari elaborates, “For all our splits, we add significantly more Paulownia to drop weight and with the Orca we modified the tail curve and contours and shape slightly to make it ascent and clip friendly. Travis loves it and it’s become a favorite with our crew”. Lib’s new stick is the Escalator, a short, light, micro-camber model. Lib’s scientists went as light as possible on the paulownia core and reduced the size down to 153, targeting medium and large boarders. Saari adds, “We used a very low 3mm camber to help with skin hook up on ascents and, along with the large floaty nose, maximize fun and float on the down”. Full program.
Amplid updated its award-winning Milligram, one of the lightest splitboards on the market, with a completely new shape concept. A new experimental shape came to light in the line, the Metamorph. It is a very short 155 board, but with lots of effective edge. This board is designed to master two tasks: being superlight and fast on the way up, and very nimble but stable in critical situations on the way down. Full program part two.
Since hardboot setups are becoming more and more popular, Amplid changed how it reinforces boards in the binding area. According to ex-hardboot wizard Peter Bauer, this prevents breakage and pressure dents and was needed “Because hardboot bindings transfer quite a lot of power onto the board”.
For Arbor, while the Landmark and Veda offer an everyday splitboard feel, the Satori is the volume shift model. The Satori has a wider waist width, which eliminates toe and heel drag and allows the rider to downsize a few centimetres to reduce swing weight and have more manoeuvrability in tight trees and transitions. The wider waist and larger uprise Fenders also give added float in powder while the larger Grip Tech adds more edge control in variable snow conditions. All Arbor x Kohla SplitGrip skins are pre-cut to custom-fit to each model for out-of-the-box functionality. Full program part three.
Nitro has an impressive line of seven splitboards which range from the super lightweight Vertical for the up-hill oriented, high-alpine athlete to the Slash powder shape with its 3D surftech base shaped for those more focused on the ride down. In between, models like the new Nomad and Volta, now featuring cam-out camber and longer noses, set the benchmark for the most affordable board to get into splitboarding. The Team Split is the favorite among the backcountry freestyle riders, built solid and strong to go big. The new Squash is the perfect hybrid, a pow board with a long nose and swallow tail, yet the perfect sidecut to lay down turns when the resort is your destination for the day. Then you have the Dopperganger, combining a high-end construction and well-rounded performance without breaking your bank. With the money they save, customers can then buy a Miniganger (available in size 134 and now also 141cm) and bring the kids on the next hike, making it a family experience. One for all.
Rossignol is adding a size 145 to the Escaper Split series to reach a younger and lighter-built audience. The brand is also reducing the prices of its high-end models by 3-7%. For the 24/25 line, Weston redesigned the Range and Rise, its men’s and women’s all-mountain category splitboards.
Korua sticks with snowsurf shapes in lengths suitable for male and female riders. Burton brings 3 new splitboard models. The High Fidelity Split is a big mountain shape in collaboration with Ben Ferguson and Kimmy Fasani. It’s inspired by the terrain found along the Natural Selection Tour. The Fish 3D Split, marks the first time the brand is offering a 3D shape in its splitboard line. And finally the Hometown Hero Smalls Split is the first kids’ splitboard from Burton. One for all part two.
Stranda is launching the Biru Split. It’s a volume-shifted shape for sidecountry and shorter, low aspect touring. It features a fat and floaty camber-dominant shape for fun and easy powder riding. It’s based on its award-winning volume-shifted Biru.
Gara will introduce a new series of splitboards for next year with the new Enduro II and Safari II. This evolution is focused on creating a user-friendly experience, especially when transitioning from riding to hiking mode. The board’s design saves weight without affecting performance or ride-feel.
Moonchild has developed a hybrid snowboard named Atlas. This board can be used as a splitboard for climbing or as a powsurf or powboard for riding. You can switch between modes in less than a minute, even with your gloves on. The primary innovation is the traction control plate, which seamlessly integrates with regular splitboard bindings’ pucks, of course, the board’s shape is also critical.
Fjell is working on some new shapes and more lengths in existing models. It is also further developing its Insert Traction Pad System for binding less riding with solids and splitboards alike.
Silbaerg carries over its Splitomat which has good driving characteristics in powder, on hard passages and even on slopes thanks to its patented A.L.D. Technology.
Nidecker carries over its award winning Escape Split, a versatile and performance-driven all-mountain splitboard. And Gnu carries over the Banked Country and Barrett splits. Both are effortless climbers and smooth riders, featuring a floaty nose, C3 camber-dominant contour, mild taper, and a lightweight paulownia and aspen core.
Telos is carrying over its full range. European Sales Manager Kolja G. Keetman confirms, “We have a solid stock for Europe and if we’re sold out we can usually react fast and ship some boards from our production”.
For next season, Dupraz will carry over the premium carbon D-tour splitboard. The brand will also be introducing a new split model with classic construction at a more affordable price point. The D-tour will receive a new top sheet with protection against pole and crampon strikes while skinning. It will also feature small improvements to the wood core and other materials and the brand will continue to manufacture its boards in Europe using high-quality European raw materials and adhering to European ethical standards.
For the 24/25 Snowboard line, Never Summer is keeping the Split series the same, only updating its graphics. Tony Sasgen explains, “A lot of work, time, and tooling went into the current split line in the last few seasons so making additional changes is not necessary from our perspective. For us, this market is small overall and your splitboard is not typically the model you buy new every season or two”.
Jones’ strategy is to support dealers across Europe. The brand carried several models over to help retailers with their own sales and inventory strategies. “With the change in the splitboard market and the difficult winter in Europe we are dedicated to supporting and working together with all our partners”, says Ruairi Collins, European marketing manager.
WHAT’S NEW WITH BINDERS?
This winter, Burton is launching the unisex Step On® Split binding, which uses tech based on the Spark R&D Tesla system. It features Voile puck compatibility and can be paired with Photon Step On® or Felix Step On® softboot models.
Nitro will unveil the new Vertical ST, which was developed in partnership with Spark R&D in the US. It features the new Smooth Travel tech on touring brackets and heel risers, Übergrip toe straps featuring recycled Vibram rubber for best fit with any boot shape, and cable-reinforced ratchet straps and connectors to maximize reliability in the backcountry. “With the addition of an EVA baseplate dampening layer and real handmade ankle straps, the Vertical rides just like a regular snowboard binding”, assures Tommy Delago.
Plum will carry over most of the product range for 24/25 to avoid selling products with significant discounts and try to clean inventory as much as possible. It will then be back in the game on 25/26 with innovations.
For Spark R&D, this will be year three of ST Tech with updated color options and new colored puck options. The brand did a limited run of colored pucks in 23/24 and it was quite popular. Touring in hardboots continues to grow in popularity and the product team will be working to further address this next season.
At Karakoram, the biggest innovation is the new pad and baseplate construction of its Connect line. The new pads aim to maintain edge to edge feel while allowing for more nose/tail roll and a greater range of motion. It also stands to provide a better feel of the board’s flex.
Rossignol continues to collaborate with Plum, the French splitboard binding company, for Xavier De Le Rue’s signature model XV split. Plum also brought in a more affordable splitboard binding model last season through collective work between SP Bindings and Voilé under the name Escaper Splitboard Multientry. The brand will also continue to do this for 24/25.
WHAT’S NEW WITH BOOTIES?
For 24/25, Deeluxe is introducing an all new backcountry/splitboard-specific boot called the Spark Fusion. The boot features a significantly smaller footprint and a design optimized for skinning, hiking, and riding. It features the proven Rock Guard that provides protection from rocks and ice and a snow shield that protects the lower part of the boot from snow, ice, and moisture to keep feet dry.
Nitro still has the Incline, loaded with technical features like a Vibram outsole with Ice-trac sole technology, and a ride & relax option. It’s strong and responsive enough to handle all semi-rigid crampons. For 24/25, the Incline also offers a zippered gusset to keep out the elements as well as a redesigned liner construction and footbed shape.
Key Equipment’s sideways and heelside flex on the Disruptive have been updated to create a more comfortable feel while riding. This has been achieved by switching the cuff material to polypropylene, which is also substantially lighter than the previously used material. “The boots have proven to be exceptional on groomers as well. They combine the plushness and damping properties of softboots with the added advantages of precise control and direct power transfer that you’d expect from an alpine carving boot,” adds product wizard Christophe Etallaz.
WHAT’S IN PERSPECTIVE?
Karakoram touts its “Built For The Ride” campaign. From Karakoram’s start, the brand has been driven by the goal of making bindings that give snowboarders the best ride down. This campaign will highlight how its products are engineered to give snowboarders the feel of responsive, damp, comfortable turns wherever they want to take their gear.
The biggest development for Jones’s manufacturing is the Fair Trade certification that its factory received at the end of summer. This means that its factory meets the strict standards that Fair Trade requires. According to European Marketing Manager Ruairi Collins, “We aim to reduce the prices of our products where possible without sacrificing their performance or the treatment of those who produce them”.
In the same field, Weston is now one of less than five snowboard manufacturers that is B Corp Certified. Environmental stewardship is at the forefront of what the brand does and sustainability is one of its key value pillars.
Spark R&D will continue to spread the stoke for splitboarding. Splitboarding is fun and can be enjoyed in a lot of different ways. “However you choose to do that is cool, what we try to do is encourage people to get out and go splitboarding,” claims Marketing Manager Dan Ventura.
Key Equipment is shifting its focus to emphasize that the brand’s boots are versatile and not limited to splitboard mountaineering only. Etallaz proposes, “Splitboarding has so much more to offer than just gnarly lines. After all, most of us venture into the mountains for the sheer joy of spending quality time with friends, hopefully riding some powder, and making the most of the terrain based on the day’s conditions”.
For Never Summer, early demand tends to be strong. The brand has always built to order based on what its distributors and US retailers order so there are not many leftovers. Tony Sasgen concludes, “We will see how the season stacks up with snow and by the spring season we hope to see our partners in a good place in terms of inventory. Only time will tell. Fingers crossed for a solid winter”.
David Lambert at West is excited by the up-and-coming generation: “I see a lot of enthusiastic people on snow, which is a good sign for the coming years. I think that snowboard brands should look much more forward and less behind. We are giving more control of the brand to the youngest generation, because for some things, they know better”. Is it not a natural generation turnover? Let’s make sure we give them the right tools, knowledge, and a playground in good condition! In the meantime, get together with your friends, get out there, skin up, and ride down!
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