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The Australian splitboarding community is small, tight-knit and growing. Twelve Board Store has been part of it from near the beginning — and we think that context matters when you are choosing who to buy your gear from and who to trust for advice about getting into the backcountry.
Let's Split — Born from Twelve Board Store
In 2017, we ran what we called the Spring Split — an informal splitboard day at Mt Stirling after the Australian ski season had ended and the lifts had stopped spinning. The idea was simple: gather riders who wanted to access terrain that the season had officially closed off, skin up and ride down in the spring snow that persisted in the high country after the resorts had shut.
That event was the seed of Let's Split — a grassroots splitboarding community that grew from that first Spring Split gathering into a national community of riders who organise tours, share knowledge and support each other into the backcountry. Let's Split is not a commercial operation — it is a community initiative built on the same values that drive splitboarding generally: the reward of earning your turns and the culture that grows around people who share that pursuit.
We are proud that TBS was the starting point for that community. It reflects something that has always been true about how we operate — we are not just a retail store. We are riders who happen to sell gear, and we have always been more interested in helping people actually use what they buy than in moving product off a shelf.
What We Offer Splitboarders Today
The gear: we stock Jones splitboards — the most credible splitboard brand available — as authorised Australian dealers. The Jones Solution Split for all-mountain touring, the Hovercraft Split for powder-oriented terrain, the Flagship Split for weight-conscious riders who tour regularly. We also carry splitboard bindings, climbing skins, avalanche safety gear and touring accessories.
The knowledge: our staff have backcountry experience. When you ask us about splitboarding — terrain, gear, the progression from resort rider to backcountry rider — you are talking to people who have been out there. Not reading from a spec sheet, not guessing from a buying guide. Actually done it.
The connections: we can connect you with AST course providers, guided tour operators and the broader Australian splitboarding community. If you are a resort rider who wants to understand what is involved in getting into the backcountry, start by coming in for a conversation. There is no pressure to buy anything. We would rather you get started right than sell you gear you are not ready for.
The Re-Up program: we are the Jones Re-Up drop-off centre in Melbourne. When your splitboard is genuinely dead — not just tired, actually done — bring it in and we will send it to Jones for recycling into new boards. It is the most sustainable end-of-life pathway available for any snowboard, split or solid.
The Backcountry Is For Everyone Who Is Prepared For It
The gatekeeping culture that sometimes exists in backcountry snowboarding — the idea that it is only for elite riders or that beginners have no business being out there — is not something we subscribe to. The backcountry is for everyone who approaches it with the right preparation, the right gear and the right mindset.
That means AST training before you go. A beacon, probe and shovel for every person in the group. A conservative approach to terrain while you are building experience. A genuine willingness to turn around when conditions or decisions suggest it.
If that is you — or if you want it to be — come in. We have been helping riders get into the Australian backcountry for years and we are not stopping.
Splitboarding in Australia — Full Guide · AST Training Guide · Best Terrain in Australia · Shop Splitboards · Jones Re-Up Program
