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With metro Denver shaping up to get more snow than our humble mountain town of Park City, we have a serious case of powder-envy. “The mountains are expecting 12-18-inches tonight,” the weatherman says. The clouds form, the winds shift, anticipation and excitement mount. Without fail, however, the storms crap out on us. 2007 is not shaping up to be such an epic year—in Utah at least.
“Go touring,” was Backcountry Bob’s automatic response. Easy for you to say Mr. Telemark-Alpine-Touring Extraordinaire. Alas, we are of a different breed. We are on a snowboard, cursed by our one-planked proclivity. If only we had a split board...
There are dreams of a Burton S Series or a complete split package, but we’re not content to take the easy way out. We want to get crafty and save some cash. We commandeered a well-loved, but still-running Type A snowboard, grabbed a Voile Split Decision Kit, and went nuts with a saw—we made a split board.
Advantages:
You choose the board. You decide the flex, size, stance, shape. Totally customized for you. Cut an old deck or go big and saw a new one.
Price. This is the frugal powder hound’s solution. Provided you have most of the tools, you’ll save a pretty penny. Check it out:
This is with a new snowboard. If you have an old deck, you’re looking at around $300. Keep in mind that a Burton S-Series costs $600 without the Voile Binding Interface or tractor skins.
Satisfaction: You’ll be the envy of all the wannabe do-it-yourselfers out there.
Fundamental Requirements:
Tools. You need quite a few tools. Check out the Tool List.
Ability to use said tools. If you’ve cut plywood with a circular saw, can drill with accuracy, and know what a countersink is, you’re golden. If you think a posi-drive is some sort of golf shot, best leave this to someone else.
Patience. This whole operation takes time to do right. You’ll spend two afternoons on it. Go slow.
Cajones. You need the gumption to saw your precious snowboard in half. If you screw up, you’re screwed. Beware of the consequences.
Flexible yard stick or chalk line, tape measure, saw horses or clamps, can of macrobrew
Clamp down board, mark center with tape measure, draw line with yard stick or chalk line, take a swig of beer
Drawing a straight line, gaining liquid courage
5 minutes
Step 1: Get Cuttin’
Circular saw with carbide blade, a work bench, edge file, spray polyurethane, a strong stomach
Saw your precious deck in half, file down edges, seal edge
Making a consistent cut, praying you don’t mess up
10 minutes + 1 hour dry time (for polyurethane)
Step 2 - 3: Mount Pivot Hooks, Touring Bracket, and Climbing Bar
Posi drive drill, drill bits (3/16”, 1/4”) countersink bit (3/8”), wood bit (3/4”), 3/8” nut driver, #3 Phillips, center punch or hammer and nail
Lay down template stickers, center punch holes, drill, countersink, tighten nuts and screws
Drilling, care in countersinking (you must go slow!), patience
1 hour
Step 4: Mount Binding Slider Plates
Drill, 9/16” bit or 4.1 x 9mm ski mount bit (recommended), center punch, wood glue or epoxy
Figure out desired stance, lay down template stickers, center punch, carefully drill 16 holes 1/4” into board (not through), insert glue, tighten screws.
Utmost care not to drill through board, precision
45 minutes
Step 5: Mount Tip Clip
Drill, 3/16” bit, hammer, slider pin from kit
Lay down template stickers, center punch, drill, insert rivets, flare by hammering the tapered head of slider pin into rivet end, pound rivet end flush with snowboard with hammer
Care in flaring rivet, brutish strength to make rivets flush
15 minutes
Step 6: Seal Your Work
Quick-set gel epoxy, packing tape, razor blade, old flathead screwdriver, sandpaper
Place packing tape around areas you will seal (around 1/4” T-nut holes), fill holes with epoxy, flatten out with long edge of razor blade, let dry, sand even
Care when sanding, patience
15 minutes to apply epoxy, 6 – 12 hours to let dry
If you’ve made it this far without destroying your board, you’re done! You just have to mount your bindings onto the slider tracks, skin up, and go out and tour… If you’re outside the Pacific Northwest, hopefully you’ll have some snow to do it on… Damn you, global warming!
Better yet, if you’re crazy enough to take our advice and make your own split board, we’d love to see your photos. We’ll pick the greatest successes and the worst botches and post them on our blog.
Send your submissions to: jmool at backcountry dot com
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