Splitboards

Australia's backcountry is genuinely underrated. The Bogong High Plains in Victoria and the Main Range in New South Wales offer alpine terrain that rivals small-scale European zones — wide bowls, ridge lines, couloirs and tree runs that sit entirely outside resort boundaries. When the snowpack is solid and conditions are right, these areas deliver experiences that resort riding simply cannot match.

The barrier to entry is real but manageable. You need a splitboard setup (board, bindings, skins), avalanche safety gear (beacon, probe, shovel), AST 1 training as a minimum, and a willingness to put in the uphill work. The reward is powder lines and terrain that you will almost certainly have to yourself. We have backcountry experience in Australian terrain and can talk you through what's realistic before you buy.

How to Choose a Splitboard

Size and shape. Splitboards are sized similarly to regular snowboards — your weight and riding style drive the choice. Directional shapes (longer nose, setback stance) are the standard for backcountry because you're almost always riding variable snow in one direction on the descent. Avoid very soft flex — you want a board that holds an edge on Australian firm morning snow.

Compatibility. Splitboard bindings mount differently from regular bindings. Most modern setups use a puck system — bindings mount to pucks that sit in channel inserts on the board. We check compatibility for every setup we sell.

Skins. Climbing skins attach to the base of each ski half for grip on the uphill. Skin width should match your board width. Mohair skins glide better and are lighter; nylon grips harder in icy conditions; mixed mohair/nylon is the most versatile for Australian terrain.

Binding system. Most splitboard bindings use a touring mode (rotates for a natural walking stride) and a riding mode (locked into normal stance). Spark R&D, Jones and Karakoram are the most common Australian brands — we can advise which system suits your board.

The Jones Splitboard Range — Australia's EPICenter

Jones makes the most respected splitboard range available and we carry it deeper than any other Australian retailer as the Official Jones EPICenter.

• Jones Stratos Splitboard — the all-mountain touring split. Versatile across Australian terrain. The right choice for a first splitboard setup or one board that does everything.
• Jones Howler Splitboard — directional freeride split. More aggressive shape for experienced riders targeting steeper terrain. Women's version also available.
• Jones Solution Splitboard — the flagship performance split. Lightweight, precise, built for serious multi-pitch tours where every gram matters.

Backcountry Safety — Non-Negotiable

Every person in your touring group needs a beacon, probe and shovel — no exceptions. Avalanche rescue is a team effort and every individual needs to be equipped and trained to conduct a rescue independently. We stock a full range of avalanche safety equipment in our backcountry safety collection and can help you build a complete kit. AST 1 is the minimum qualification for independent backcountry travel — Jones runs Avy Savvy courses through us.

Splitboard Bindings · Splitboard Skins · Splitboard Essentials · Backcountry Safety Gear · Avalanche Beacons · Complete Splitboard Kit Guide · Jones EPICenter — What It Means