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A skiwv.com Featured Attraction Backcountry Splits (continued)
Skis or snowboards? That choice has confronted countless winter sports enthusiasts, with more than just technology at its core. Both groups sport their own distinctive style, attitude and even lingo. So much so that some industry insiders a few years ago were calling it "The Great Divide." The space in between these two, often hard-core groups was so well defined that it was easy to wonder if ever the twain would meet.
Well, if nature abhors a vacuum, so do manufacturers. So it shouldn't really come as a surprise that several companies are now bridging the gap with "split boards" -- snowboards that can literally be split down the middle whenever you want.
Right now, the big growth in split boards is in the backcountry arena. The board configuration is used primarily for downhills, while the split configuration is used for uphills and close-quarters maneuvering. Some even come with optional plates that convert the splits into telemarks, for even more downhill fun.
Conversion is easier than you might expect. Circular snaps or slider pins hold the splits securely in their board configuration; conversion to skis is accomplished through the simple twist of a snap or pull of a pin. Rotating plates switch easily from the sideways foot configuration of a board into the straight-ahead angle of skis, snapping securely in place. In short, you can switch just about anywhere, anytime.
These rides are definitely high-tech, and perhaps because they're relatively new, they don't come cheap. Most run between $750 and $900, but hey -- you're actually getting a board and a cool set of shorty skis, all in the same package.
Back Country magazine recently highlighted two of the newest and most innovative split boards for the 2002 season: The "Burton Split Board," and the Voile "Split Decision." Both got rave reviews, Burton for its solid and elegant design and Voile for its innovative technology.
With their high-tech style and their amazing versatility, split boards are likely to begin showing up in increasing numbers, at more locations. They aren't for everybody -- but then again, maybe they are!
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