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trailridge127
Trad climber
Loveland, CO
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Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 26, 2017 - 08:36am PT
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Anybody else get out and enjoy the mountains on a snowboard. I love riding the big mountains. Combining climbing and snowboarding is oh so fun.
I know the post is kind of OT but sure beats another political thread and I know we all love mountains and there has to be some people here that snowboard down them.
In my opinion, equipment certainly has improved and will continue. There are some very inspiring riders pushing the limits of snowboard mountaineering and local backcountry areas are becoming packed with more and more skiers and riders.
I love snowboarding couloirs, the exposure combined with being in a spectacular position, where a fall would yield a terrible outcome.
So the reason for this post is I backed off a route due to conditions, while I watched two very good skiers crush some steep icy conditions.
I was the first up Dragons tail(RMNP) yesterday, conditions were very firm requiring crampons the whole way. Frozen crust. It was warm and sunny in the morning. I was confident that things would soften nicely. I stopped below the rock step and waited for the snow to soften more. Two Ski Mo guys raced up the couloir and topped out. Within 10 minutes the sun went behind the clouds and wind picked up freezing the crust again. The two skiers power jumped turned down 55 degree icy snow and continued down past me with some serious jump turns.
I tucked my tail, put my crampons on and climbed to the top and rode out the backside.
Tough conditions are always going to exist . How do you guys/gals manage steep icy conditions on a snowboard?
I feel like skiers have an advantage in this terrain. I know my technique needs to improve but sometimes is difficult to replicate those conditions on a not so serious line. I ride a jones solution with spark surge bindings and the new K2 alpine boot (soft boot but the stiffest boot I can find).
On icy terrain my turns are longer riding the edge for the traverse, while I am sure a skier would take more a fall line approach with tight jump turns.
1. Is jump turning fall line possible on steep/icy terrain with a snowboard?
2. Is a hard boot setup better for firm conditions?
3. Fitness is important; Is there any training outside of the mountains that is beneficial in tough conditions? Like box jumps weighted jump turns?
4. Can skiers manage tougher conditions, due to four edges better than snowboarders?
I know this may sound stupid, but I am eager to hear what others have done or do to improve in this area.
Thanks
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trailridge127
Trad climber
Loveland, CO
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 26, 2017 - 08:49am PT
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adikted
Boulder climber
Tahooooeeeee
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Mar 26, 2017 - 09:10am PT
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Love riding my split board...hard to beat long days in the mountains especially when we have so much snow in the Sierra right now....
Technology is improving every day and it gets easier and easier...sure beats the other option!!! Skiing :)
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Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
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Mar 26, 2017 - 09:21am PT
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Buy skis.
I'm a decent snowboarder, a good tele skier, and a great alpine skier. I've gone so far as to be PSIA certified to teach all of them, but in the steeps alpine stands alone in so many ways.
Learn how to ski well, and put it in your quiver. It's all schralping, after all.
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nah000
climber
no/w/here
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Mar 26, 2017 - 10:32am PT
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this isn't first hand, but i know and ride with some splitboarders who can ride just about anything except maybe the old school 60 degree ice that 1980s era "extreme" skiers pushed into [but that almost nobody does for "fun" anymore]. so here for what it's worth is a reporter's two bits re your questions:
1. if you haven't already, go youtube some xavier de le rue vids. most of them will be softer conditions, but some of them are hella steep in pretty stiff conditions. short answer is yes.
2. if you're serious about splitboard mountaineeing, you'll appreciate hard boots as much for the weight and technical advantage with crampons on the way up as for the down. switching over to likely a fairly modified dynaift tlt 5/6 or even pdg boot with tech [likely dynafit as they are most readily available to buy as just] toepieces and one of the throw in your pack light weight plate bindings that makes these systems a reality will definitely decrease your challenges on the way up. that said i've seen some very remarkable descents by split boarders still rocking a soft boot set up.
3. go ride shIt conditions at the lift serviced hill. there is, imo, no training, unless maybe you are already one of the best in the world, as important as more ride time. and lifts make that happen.
4. irrelevantly maybe. ie. maybe skiers can navigate a couple extra degrees in very firm to icy conditions. and at like the high 50 and low 60 degree range where there ain't nobody, snowboarder or otherwise, who isn't at the ragged edge of physical capabilities. but for 99.999999% of riders and conditions the limitations are not the gear but rather the skills. that said i suspect it is definitely an easier learning curve to riding the steep and icy with four edges rather than just two. but on the other other hand, if you're already a fairly good snowboarder it'll probably take you less time to gain the required snowboarding skills, than to start from near to scratch with two planks again.
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trailridge127
Trad climber
Loveland, CO
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 26, 2017 - 12:19pm PT
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Thanks for all inputs!
More split board fun!
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Sierra Ledge Rat
Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
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Mar 27, 2017 - 12:33am PT
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First step in snowboard mountaineering is to learn to ski.
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skitch
Gym climber
Bend Or
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Mar 27, 2017 - 10:07am PT
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I've seen vids of snowboarders doing some pretty aggressive jump turns down icy couloirs. What I've found nice is aboard with no tail if I need to do quick turns...but they suck for everything between really ice and deep powder. I prefer to just go bouldering or staying home if the conditions are shitty...but I can understand the optimism.
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kunlun_shan
Mountain climber
SF, CA
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Mar 27, 2017 - 07:21pm PT
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Stephen Koch had a good discussion of this topic with Steve Romeo (RIP) on Koch's blog back in 2010. Its only on the Internet archive now, but well worth reading. you'll need to copy and paste the entire link, as ST "splits" it:
https://web.archive.org/web/20100824161157/http://stephenkoch.com/2010/06/ski-vs-snowboards-for-mountaineering-descents/
Koch and Romeo agree the biggest advantage of a snowboard on very steep terrain is the rider is more able to hold an ice axe for self arrest when toe in, versus the awkward position a skier is in to do this. Also with a shorter snowboard, "a competent rider (snowboard) can descend narrower terrain than a skier (skis) of equal ability."
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trailridge127
Trad climber
Loveland, CO
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 27, 2017 - 08:56pm PT
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Thanks for all inputs! The link to the discussion with Stephen Koch is great. Really interesting and valuable discussion.
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