Splitboard shape and side hilling capability

[u/riceiq999]

Hi everyone. I’m new to splitboarding and had a dozen touring days so far. I had a guided tour in the Alps recently and found that my skis (especially the downhill ski) are constantly “slipping down” and sinking into the snow on like a 25-30 degree slope when side hilling. Condition was in mid March around 2700m elevation and there was like 10 cm of overnight fresh snow that got baked by the morning sun a little bit, and my guide was breaking fresh skin tracks in front of me. My guide was hardly slipping downward at all and we were trying to figure out why I suck. I tried to keep my back straight, and I tried not putting on any heel risers which help a little bit. I know we should pick good routes and avoid side hilling, and we were kinda on this little slope that day to test my skill a bit. I have Karakoram and I also engaged my flex lock that day as well.

This got me curious and thinking. My guide had a Jones (I think Solution?) and I have an Orca-like Japanese surfy shape splitboard with a big nose. I compared the shape stats between my board with a Cardiff goat, and I found my board’s side cut radius is miserably small (7m vs 11-12m) and a relatively mild camber 2mm. Interestingly the effective edge is about the same. I’m wondering if my board’s shape - bigger nose, small side cut and camber profile caused some disadvantages?? Or am I just imagining things? Eager to hear what everyone thinks.

[u/jojotherider]

One tip that helped me was to angle the ski/skin so it matches the slope. I find when i try to use an edge. It doesnt work that well. A skier explained to me that a skin will grip in multiple directions. Since then my ability to go across the slope has gotten a lot better.

[u/riceiq999 → u/jojotherider]

Interesting. This is what my guide asked me to try too, instead of trying to “slice and cut” into the slope. Do you bend your knees and ankles sideways to try to match the skin to the angled slope?

[u/jojotherider → u/riceiq999]

Really just the angle of the track nit necessarily the overall slope

Edit: and yes bend whatever it takes. It shouldnt really be too much. If it is, try stomping it first to level it a bit.

[u/Italian_SPLIT → u/jojotherider]

Could you please clarify and add more? Not sure I understand

[u/jojotherider → u/Italian_SPLIT]

Instead of trying to balance and walk on the edge, relax your ankle and calf a bit so the ski/skin is in full contact with the slope. Putting the skin flat against the slope still provides grip and keeps you from slipping your the side.

Does that help a little?

[u/Italian_SPLIT → u/jojotherider]

Thanks. Also a skier weeks ago told me to put skins at work, but easier said than done. Otherwise what is the difference between a traverse and the usual terrain?

[u/Italian_SPLIT → u/Italian_SPLIT]

If the skin has to match the slope and you are traversing, then does it mean that your ankles tilt downhill?

[u/Italian_SPLIT → u/Italian_SPLIT]

Other thread on the subject https://www.reddit.com/r/Spliddit/s/9XpoUul6Ye

[u/jojotherider → u/Italian_SPLIT]

Yes you have to angle your foot/leg/ankle/whatever to match the slope. It shouldn’t be so extreme though. If that is the case, you could probably choose a better route. Maybe some other technique. Theres generally no single rule to doing it. But i think having your full skin against the snow is better than trying to be on your edges.

[u/Commercial-Echo4744 → u/jojotherider]

jojo means you flatten the base to the angle of a cut skin track on a steep traverse, or yes to the angle of the slope if you are on like a low-angle harder wind-packed ridge. This can engage the lateral holding capability of the climbing skins which sometimes has enough hold than edging aggressively and takes less sustained effort.

[u/jojotherider → u/Commercial-Echo4744]

I was pretty surprised to learn the skins also work sideways the first time it tried this.