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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.
What Is a Splitboard?
A splitboard 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 and touring-compatible bindings, it allows you to access terrain that lift-served riding cannot reach. 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 significant snowfall, the adjacent backcountry zones can be as good as anything accessible to the average rider anywhere in the world.
The Australian backcountry is also relatively forgiving compared to the Alps or the Rockies — lower altitude, a different avalanche risk profile, and often straightforward access from resort boundaries. This does not mean it is without risk. But it is not the extreme endeavour most people associate with the word backcountry.
And almost nobody is out there. On a crowded weekend when the groomers are tracked out by 10am, skinning thirty minutes from the Falls Creek boundary puts you in terrain most resort riders will never see.
Where to Splitboard in Australia
Falls Creek and Mt Hotham: The terrain connecting and surrounding these resorts is the best accessible backcountry in Victoria. Bogong High Plains beyond Falls Creek offer genuine alpine touring. Descent options from Hotham into Diamantina and beyond reward the uphill significantly.
Kosciuszko National Park: The highest terrain in Australia surrounds Thredbo and Perisher. Charlotte Pass and the Main Range area in winter is accessible splitboard terrain with descents from genuinely exposed alpine ridgelines. The most serious backcountry terrain in Australia.
Mt Buller and surrounds: More limited backcountry but accessible zones exist. Best for early season when snowpack is building.
What Gear You Need
Splitboard: Jones makes some of the best splitboards available. The Stratos Split and Hovercraft Split are the two most relevant for Australian conditions. We are Jones-authorised dealers.
Splitboard bindings: Touring-specific bindings — Spark R&D is the most widely ridden, Karakoram makes premium alternatives. Not your regular snowboard bindings.
Climbing skins: Directional fabric strips that attach to the base of each plank. Black Diamond, Pomoca and Kohla make quality options. Skin width should match your board waist width.
Poles: Adjustable length touring poles. Make a significant difference to uphill efficiency.
Avalanche safety gear — non-negotiable: beacon, probe and shovel. Every person in the group. Every time.
Backpack: 20 to 35 litres for day tours with dedicated avalanche gear pocket.
Clothing: Touring generates significantly more body heat than lift-served riding — a base layer and shell without insulation is typical uphill kit.
AST Qualifications — Why You Should Get Them
AST 1 (Avalanche Safety Training Level 1) — typically two days, covering avalanche science, terrain recognition, companion rescue and decision-making. Every person who ventures into Australian backcountry terrain should complete AST 1 before doing so independently.
AST 2 — four to five days, deeper snowpack assessment and complex decision-making in serious terrain. Relevant for riders regularly touring beyond resort boundaries.
Snowsafe Australia runs AST courses during the Australian season. Falls Creek and Thredbo-based guide operations also run courses. Book early — June and July fill quickly.
Splitboarding With a Group
Never go into the backcountry alone. Three-person minimum — if one person is caught in an avalanche, one partner can dig while the other goes for help. Every group member 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 execute a companion rescue.
Getting Started — The Practical Path
Step 1: Complete AST 1. Non-negotiable first step.
Step 2: Do a guided splitboard tour. Learn transitions, skin track etiquette and terrain reading in the field with a qualified guide.
Step 3: Get the right gear. Come in and talk to us about splitboard setup — board selection, binding compatibility, skin sizing, pack selection.
Step 4: Start conservative. Begin with terrain immediately adjacent to resort boundaries. Build experience before pushing into more serious terrain.
Shop Splitboards → · Backcountry Beginner Guide → · Avalanche Safety Guide → · Ask Our Team →
Frequently Asked Questions
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 that grip snow on the way up and touring-compatible bindings, a splitboard allows you to access terrain that lift-served riding cannot reach. The transition from tour mode to ride mode takes three to five minutes with practice.
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 offer genuine alpine touring terrain. Kosciuszko National Park surrounds Thredbo and Perisher — the Main Range is the most serious backcountry terrain in Australia. Mt Buller and surrounds offer more limited but accessible zones. Mt Stirling in Victoria is the best beginner-appropriate backcountry zone.
The essential kit: splitboard, splitboard-specific bindings (Spark R&D or Karakoram), climbing skins sized to your board waist width, adjustable touring poles, and avalanche safety gear — beacon, probe and shovel — which are non-negotiable for every person in the group. Also a touring backpack of 20 to 35 litres and appropriate clothing for high-output uphill travel. Come in and we can help you build a complete splitboard setup for Australian terrain.
Yes. AST 1 (Avalanche Safety Training Level 1) is the minimum acceptable qualification before independent backcountry travel. It covers avalanche science, terrain assessment and companion rescue — the practical skills for beacon search, probing and shovelling. Snowsafe Australia runs AST courses during the Australian season. Courses fill quickly in June and July — book early.
Yes. We are Jones-authorised dealers and the largest splitboard dealer in Australia. We stock the Jones Stratos Splitboard, Jones Howler Women's Splitboard and other splitboard models. We also stock splitboard bindings and climbing skins. Come in and we can build a complete setup for your touring goals in Australian backcountry terrain.
The Jones Stratos Splitboard for most Australian riders — all-mountain versatility across variable Victorian and NSW backcountry terrain. The Jones Hovercraft Split for riders who prioritise powder days and off-piste terrain. Both handle Australian snowpack — shallow, variable, and often ice-crusted — better than more specialised powder-specific shapes that suit deeper international snowpacks.
