So I picked up snowboarding this season and fell in love. I'm flirting with the idea of a splitboard in pursuit of powder, and not in pursuit of impracticality, as many say about splitboards!

So I'm calling the majority of this group, skiers, to tell me their view of splitboards, and also any active splitboarders to tell me if the skiers are missing something! :)

Thanks!

PS. I'm getting myself a pass for Cypress to learn skiing too as I want to have both skills. So if anyone has some old skis to sell or boots (size 13 unfortunately), let me know. Or a splitboard hah.

I'm not a snowboarder but have been backcountry skiing a long time.  Snowboards are great for some conditions but not very good in rolling terrain where you may need to switch from downhill mode to climbing mode quite often.  Snowboards are also not very good for steeper icy slopes.  We try to avoid those but sometimes you can't.

Thank Jay,

But switching to climbing mode takes time even on skis, no? I understand that splitboard bindings can be a pain. Same for steep ice..

Jay is right the splitboard is a bit harder to use in rolling terrain however a purpose built board will perform pretty well, however is you want to keep it cheap you can DIY a split board with a circular saw (no metal outside edges in ski mode) so long a the board has a wood core (Voile do a kit of all the hardware)

My experience is snowboard to alpine ski to telemark (I am a glutton for punishment) and my thoughts are.

1. Snowboarding is the easiest to progress to a strong intermediate level (resort black runs and easier backcountry)

2. AT bindings and skiing the best for getting around and touring around.

3. A pair of 100mm waist skis float pretty well and skiing powder is only fractionally less fun that snow board (less that 0.05% by my estimate)

4. The tele turn combines the surfy feeling of snowboarding with the practicality of skiing, however it requires a greater degree of skill  and commitment to learn and to maintain a half decent standard.  I used to be half decent but a couple of quiets seasons have eroded by skill base.

If you long term goal is to ski more backcountry than resort in the coast mountains and you were starting from scratch I would stick with AT gear and learn how to ski (get some lessons)

Look at this deal on craigslist.

http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/van/spo/5467219014.html

Thanks James for your very precise and insightful reply. I particularly like your fun estimate's accuracy and the fact that snowboarding is still more fun ;)

So the last time I skied was 13 years ago until today; I picked up a pair of powder skis from Craigslist and hit the blacks on Cypress - no falling - great news. I see most, if not all, ski vs splitboard arguments are about practicality in the flats/rolling terrain, which makes me think: get AT gear to do "regular" backcountry and as a second step and if I can afford it (depends how crazy I go about the backcountry) have a splitboard that is best suited for specific locations in BC/WA.

Thanks for the Craigslist link; I actually saw it after buying those skis I have now so I will either try getting AT bindings for them, or save some more money to get AT gear later this year.

Konstantinos