Want splitboard advice

Does anyone here own, or have experience constructing, a splitboard? I have the perfect old board and a desire to find out what all of this 'skinning' is about. Any advice on making one, or buying one? Has anyone used the Voile do-it-yourself kit?<br><br>Thanks<br>Justin

I've been on a split-board for about five years now. I've ridden both the Burton and Voile. I've also snow shoed and used ascent skis and this is what I have to say on the subject; The Burton is the most solid ride you can get in a split setup. Unfortunately it is heavy as all get out and the least reliable system out of all modes of ascent I have tried. If you go with the Burton purchase 2 extra interface plates,keep em in your pack and any problems you run into won't ruin your tour. I still use mine as a rock board it's great on corn ,crud & crust as long as the weather is good changing modes is no problem(providing you havent bent the interface). I use mine for late summer and early fall. The Voile system is bomb proof and simple. The crampon system for the Voile is alot more secure and gives you more options for use (fixed or free heeled) and depending on if your climbing or traversing this is a nice option.The Voile also climbs and traverses much better than the Burton, and is much lighter. My 173 Voile is almost 2 pounds lighter than my Burton 166. I purchased the burton after riding a first generation Voile Split Decision. The space down the middle was a nightmare .Voile hase since made a few design adjustments and the problem has (in my opinion)been fixed. In deep snow you can't tell your on a split no matter whose deck your on. On ice the Voile is a little less stable than the Burton. For airs the Burton dominates the landings. In short Voile: more reliable, lighter and climbs (tours) better. Burton less reliable and heavy but the ride is sweet. No matter which setup you go for do your self a favorand get the crampons right off the bat. I use em on 70% of the tours I do. Also trim your skins down the side by about a cm this will help with traversing. since I got my first split I hardly ever go into the BC on a solid board. Only time I do is if a resort is tracked out. I keep VERTS in my pack for just this reason. good luck I hope this helped

Thanks sag.<br><br>Where is the closest place to Bellingham where I can check out a Voile split? I want to take a look at the construction to see how hard it would be to use the do-it-yourself kit on this old board I have, and decide whether to make my own, or start saving up.<br><br>You mentioned summer and fall conditions--does it still make sense to skin at that point? Last September I just took my jib board up on my back and cramponed/walked up (Baker, Glacier Peak). I guess we had a pretty dry season last year though.

Where is the closest place to Bellingham where I can check out a Voile split? I want to take a look at the construction to see how hard it would be to use the do-it-yourself kit on this old board I have, and decide whether to make my own, or start saving up.<br><br>I don't know the Belingham area very well but I do know that REI has carried Burton in the past and and just this year started to carry Voile. In seattle you can get an up close look at the Burton at the Snowboard Connection under the viaduct on Alaskan wy. You can see the Voile at Second Ascent in Ballard.<br><br><br><br><br>You mentioned summer and fall conditions--does it still make sense to skin at that point?<br><br>I don't see any reason to carry extra weight on my back just because the weather is warmer. This is when I realy don't wan't to work harder. If you do have a trail approach and there is an exposed section the A-FRAME carry option of a split is awsome to cut wind resistance. If your gonna be spending all day climbing for your one or two runs enjoy the whole day. NO the splits do not ride as well as a solid but they ride good enough. I've ridden solids that don't ride as well as my splits for the kind of ridding I do. All of this advice is completely based on the style ofr riding you do. If your a jibber and you only want to hike a few hundred feet ,build a kicker and thats your day, don't waste your money on a split. If your out for long tours and big vertical there is nothing more apropriate than a nice big splitboard that you can spend all day on and enjoy both the ascent and decent.

I also just wanted to point out that a home made split will not ride as well as a factory made one for two reasons. 1) the inside edge on most factory made models are fully wraped metal edges and 2) they make the sides seperately to improve rigidity. I suggest renting if you can to check it out. But if dollars is your biggest concern make your own. I think marmot mountain works in bellevue has a rental Voile.

Thanks for the info.<br><br>About the summer thing, I just assumed that skins don't work on frozen corn snow (i.e. in the morning) (?) I had no problem climbing Mt. Baker or Glacier Peak in Sept. with my little jibber on my back, it weighs next to nothing, and I'm sure much less than a split set-up. I'm more of a climber anyway though and just brought the board to make things interesting. Maybe a split will change that.<br><br>At what point exactly does it become impractical to use skins? What kind of conditions do you need to able to use them? Are they damaged by ice or frozen snow?