BURTON SPLITBOARDING F/W 2025/26 PREVIEW

Retail Buyers Guide: Splitboarding F/W 2025/26 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Burton
Interviewee: Benedikt Pelikan/Director Merchandising

How was last season in the splitboard market?
Splitboarding is established in the niche of the market – with a spike in demand at Covid Times and now resetting to a realistic volume year over year.

With the recent overall price increases, have there been any positive developments in manufacturing, sourcing, or logistics?
Even with the normalisation of inflation over Europe the Consumer is still looking for Brand /great quality/performance and price. Within this frame we as a producer are challenged to bring the best product to the market for a price what the consumer is willing to pay for.

What are the major trends you’re seeing with product pricing in the splitboard market?
Splitboarding is still on the Top end of pricing – and the Splitboard Consumer is less price sensitive for a great product to experience the mountain.

E-commerce Vs. physical retail, how are you balancing both channels?
With the need for setting the Board up with Skins etc there is definitely a good chance for speciality retailers to attract this customer.

How are you supporting retailers to sell this category?
We are participating in Splitboard Testivals and ON SNOW DEMOS.

What unique brand messages are you focusing on for the 2025/2026 splitboard season?
The Step On Split binding is the Key Story for us. Great uphill and downhill performance with the convenience of Step On.

What about new board construction, innovation, or shape trends? Any big advancements in functionality? Skinning, transitions, etc, as well as riding? Any specific effort on ranges for 25/26? If yes, where and why?
For this winter we updated our construction on all splitboards. All splits feature a hole in the tail on each half of the board that will accommodate the tail clip attached to the skins’ tail stretcher. This results in an increased user experience by creating a single, secure placement for the tail stretcher and it gives us more freedom for future shape development by decoupling tail shape and tail clip attachment. Furthermore, we introduced 3 new Splitboard models:
– High Fidelity Split – Big Mountain shape in collaboration with Ben Ferguson and Kimmy Fasani, inspired by the terrain found along the Natural Selection Tour
– Fish 3D Split – First time we are offering a 3D shape in our splitboard line
– Hometown Hero Smalls Split – A splitboard for kids, a first for Burton. Splitboarding for the whole family. From winter 24/25 to winter 25/26 we are carrying over the entire splitboard line.

Are you using any new materials in your splitboard for 25/26? If so, what, and why?
We’re interested in anything new in inserts / edges / cores / sidewalls / glue / resin/ wood types / base material / top sheet / wax / etc..

Have you made any new innovations in buckles, straps, highbacks, baseplates, heel cups, etc.?
Our key innovation in split bindings is the Step On Split binding, expanding the Step On® technology to new use cases with the goal to make it available for all riders! Step On boots can now be used for On-Resort and Touring.

Are you using any new materials in your bindings for 25/26? If so, what, and why?
This winter, we updated the toe hook material of our the Step On Split binding to increase durability while in use. We also updated the Step On Split climbing wire to a new design shape. For winter 25/26 the Hichhiker will receive a ST “smooth tech” update. ST Touring Brackets incorporate the best features of aluminum and thermoplastics. Plastic is overmolded, forming bushings that last four times longer than their previous brass version. This same overmolding will be found on the climbing wires.

Key Products:

High Fidelity Split:
Rowdy lines, steep terrain, and high-speed arcs, the Burton Family Tree High Fidelity Splitboard is inspired by the Natural Selection Tour and tuned for remote big mountain riding. Designed in collaboration with Burton team riders, it prioritizes speed, control, and power. The Split Channel board mount keeps the small stuff simple, so you can focus on setting your sights on the next big line.

Split_High Fidelity Splitboard

Fish 3D Split:
One of a kind, the Burton Fish 3D Splitboard combines 3D convex shaping in the tip and tail with our iconic fish shape—all in a split design for backcountry laps. The result is more surfability, more responsiveness, and a more nimble feel for weaving tight tree lines and getting creative in open terrain. The double swallowtail design adds acceleration and cornering control, while the reduced length makes for quick-turning action. It’s the tool of choice for riding out the deepest powder days and exploring your favorite untracked secret stashes.

Split_Fish 3D Splitboard

Step On Split binding:
Fewer moving parts means less to worry about. The Step On® Splitboard Bindings bring the ease and simplicity of our Step On system to the backcountry. Based on the same easy-to-use Spark Tesla mounting system as our Hitchhiker binding, the Step On model mounts quickly and creates a secure connection between the boot heel and binding in tour mode that makes for an efficient stride on the skin track and reduces boot wear. Less fussing equals faster transitions and more time riding.

Split_Step On Split Binding