Splitboarding is the fastest growing discipline in Australian snowboarding and one of the most underserved in terms of good information. Most Australian snowboard retailers do not stock splitboards, do not know the backcountry terrain, and cannot give you useful advice about getting started. We can.
If you have ever looked at the terrain beyond the resort boundary at Falls Creek or Hotham and wondered what is out there — this is where you start.
What Is a Splitboard?
A splitboard is a snowboard that splits down the middle into two independent ski-like planks for the uphill journey, then clips back together into a snowboard for the descent. Combined with climbing skins — strips of directional fabric that grip snow on the way up and glide on the way down — and touring-compatible bindings, a splitboard allows you to access terrain that lift-served riding cannot reach.
The uphill movement is similar to cross-country skiing or alpine touring on skis. You skin up the slope, the splitboard bindings rotate forward for efficient uphill movement, and when you reach the top you transition — skins off, board clipped together, bindings rotated back to snowboard mode — and ride down.
The transition takes three to five minutes with practice. The terrain you access makes it worth every second.
Why Splitboard in Australia?
Australian backcountry snowboarding is genuinely good and genuinely underutilised. The terrain beyond resort boundaries at Falls Creek, Mt Hotham and the Kosciuszko region offers wide open alpine bowls, tree runs, genuine powder stashes and descents that no lift will ever serve. On a powder day after a significant snowfall, the backcountry zones adjacent to Victorian resorts can be as good as anything accessible to the average rider anywhere in the world.
The Australian backcountry is also relatively forgiving compared to alpine backcountry in North America or Europe. The terrain is lower altitude, the avalanche risk profile is different to the steep consequential terrain of the Alps or the Rockies, and the access from resort boundaries is often straightforward. This does not mean it is without risk — but it is not the intimidating extreme endeavour that most people associate with the word backcountry.
The other advantage: almost nobody is out there. On a weekend when the resort is crowded and the groomers are tracked out by 10am, skinning thirty minutes from the Falls Creek boundary puts you in terrain that most resort riders will never see. That access is the point.
Where to Splitboard in Australia
Falls Creek and Mt Hotham backcountry: the terrain connecting and surrounding these two resorts is some of the best accessible backcountry in Victoria. The Bogong High Plains beyond Falls Creek offer genuine alpine touring terrain. The descent options from the Hotham boundary into Diamantina and beyond reward the uphill investment significantly.
Kosciuszko National Park: the highest terrain in Australia surrounds Thredbo and Perisher and offers the most genuine high-alpine backcountry experience available in the country. Charlotte Pass and the Main Range walking track area in winter is accessible splitboard terrain with descents from genuinely exposed alpine ridge lines. This is the most serious backcountry terrain in Australia and requires corresponding experience and preparation.
Mt Buller and surrounds: more limited backcountry compared to Falls Creek and Hotham but accessible zones exist for those willing to earn them. Best suited to early season when snowpack is building and resort boundaries are your starting point.
What Gear You Need
Splitboard: your board splits into two planks. Available in most standard snowboard shapes — all-mountain, freeride and powder-specific splitboard shapes all exist. Jones makes some of the best splitboards available and we are Jones-authorised dealers. The Solution Split and Hovercraft Split are the two models most relevant for Australian conditions — all-mountain versatility for variable Australian backcountry.
Splitboard bindings: touring-specific bindings that clip to the board in snowboard mode and rotate forward for uphill travel. Spark R&D is the most widely ridden splitboard binding brand. Karakoram makes premium alternatives. These are not your regular snowboard bindings — dedicated splitboard bindings are required.
Climbing skins: directional fabric strips that attach to the base of each splitboard plank. They grip going uphill and glide going down when you are transitioning. Black Diamond, Pomoca and Kohla make quality climbing skins. Skin width should match your board width at the waist.
Poles: adjustable length touring poles. Used for balance and propulsion on the uphill. Most backcountry skiers and splitboarders use poles — they make a significant difference to uphill efficiency and comfort.
Avalanche safety gear — non-negotiable: beacon, probe and shovel. This is the gear that keeps you and your partners alive if someone is caught in an avalanche. Every person in a backcountry group needs their own beacon, knows how to use it in both transmit and search mode, and carries a probe and shovel. This is not optional equipment. It is the minimum threshold for going beyond the resort boundary.
Backpack: a dedicated touring pack with a back panel designed to carry a splitboard in tour mode and a shovel and probe tucked into a dedicated avalanche gear pocket. 20 to 35 litres for day tours. Osprey, Black Diamond and Deuter make quality options.
Appropriate clothing: touring generates significantly more body heat than lift-served riding. A base layer and shell without insulation is the typical uphill kit — you will overheat in a standard snow jacket on a steep skin track. The descent kit goes back on at the top. Managing layers on a splitboard tour is an art that develops quickly with experience.
AST Qualifications — Why You Should Get Them
AST stands for Avalanche Safety Training. In Australia, AST courses are run by qualified guides and cover the knowledge and practical skills to assess avalanche terrain, read snowpack conditions, make go and no-go decisions, and respond effectively if someone in your group is caught.
AST 1 is the entry-level course — typically two days, combining classroom avalanche science with field practice using your beacon, probe and shovel. It covers terrain recognition, companion rescue and decision-making frameworks. Every person who ventures into Australian backcountry terrain should complete AST 1 before doing so independently.
AST 2 is the advanced course — typically four to five days, deeper snowpack assessment, multi-day touring planning, more complex decision-making in serious terrain. Relevant for riders who are regularly touring beyond resort boundaries and accessing steeper or more consequential terrain.
How to find AST courses in Australia: Snowsafe Australia runs AST courses through the Australian season. Falls Creek and Thredbo-based guide operations also run courses. Search for AST 1 snowboarding Australia and check availability early — courses fill quickly in June and July.
Beyond AST: guided backcountry tours with a certified mountain guide are the best way to develop backcountry skills in real terrain under proper supervision. IFMGA-certified mountain guides operate in the Kosciuszko region and in Victoria during the season. A guided day in the backcountry teaches more than a classroom session alone.
Splitboarding With a Group
Never go into the backcountry alone. The minimum group size for backcountry touring is three — if one person is caught in an avalanche, one partner can dig while the other goes for help. Two people is too few for a safe companion rescue scenario.
Every member of the group needs: their own beacon in transmit mode from the moment they leave the resort boundary, their own probe and shovel, and the practical skill to switch their beacon to search mode and execute a search quickly. Carrying the gear and knowing how to use it are two different things. AST 1 covers this comprehensively.
Group communication on the skin track and at transition zones is part of backcountry culture — checking in, agreeing on terrain choices, one person moving at a time through avalanche terrain. These habits develop naturally with experience and guidance.
Getting Started — The Practical Path
Step 1: Complete AST 1. Non-negotiable first step before independent backcountry travel.
Step 2: Do a guided splitboard tour. Learn the transitions, the skin track etiquette, the terrain reading and the group management in the field with a qualified guide before you go independently.
Step 3: Get the right gear. Come in and talk to us about splitboard setup — board selection, binding compatibility, skin sizing, pack selection. We stock Jones splitboards and can help you build a setup that suits Australian touring terrain.
Step 4: Start conservative. Begin with terrain immediately adjacent to resort boundaries. Short tours with minimal elevation gain and well-defined descent lines. Build experience before pushing into more serious terrain.
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