Real Splitboarding Adventure
Not sponsored, not paid - we’re just a passionate bunch of splitboarders documenting our adventures, kit obsessions, and mountain-related musings, as well as doing pods with inspiring people involved in anything to do with a splitboard. We want to inform, amuse and inspire the community of like-minded mountain nuts getting into the backcountry.
Ride, Connect, Stay Safe - and check out what’s new below!
FROM OUR JOURNAL
OUR FFS PODCASTS
OUR KIT JUNKIE OBSESSIONS
WHAT WE DO
Splitboarding Expeditions
The raw beauty of remote back country terrain was once the reserve of ski tourers, and pricey heli-drops. Now, even the farthest flung mountain range is open to splitboarders too.
A splitboard literally splits down its length, the bindings transition into skis for climbing up mountains. At the summit, it simply clips back together and becomes a snowboard again.
From remote base camps, multi-day hut to hut tours, or quick altitude yomps straight from the lift – it’s all now possible for any snowboarders willing to put the work in climbing. As the old saying goes, ‘Earn your turns!’
kyrgysztan: tien shan mountains
Iceland: trok peninsula
BRITISH COLUMBIA: kitimat mountains
arctic NORWAY: lofoten islands
MARTY’S GARAGE: KIT CHECK
WE MAKE
Films
‘I’m too busy riding to take any damn pictures’. This was our former riding philosophy, until one night we sat by the fire getting all thoughtful, reflecting that one day we’ll be old and our grand-children won’t believe we were ever awesome.
As a bunch of award-winning creative minds, photographers, jounalists, animators, directors, IT nerds and… a special forces guy – we decided to start documenting our mountain experiences. We rock climb, ultra-run, ride and ski.
We’re dedicating this site to a balanced sustainable life juggling work, family life, friendship, and mindful escapism through splitboarding.
Stuff we like
Every collective has one committed stuff-monkey: the person who loves STUFF. So, this page is dedicated to Marty, by Marty, for Marty-minded folk out there.
Marty’s got the best collection of axes we’ve ever seen. Maybe the only collection of axes we’ve ever seen.
If you like cool stuff, bear with us this section is coming soon.
Kit Junkies
Being in the mountains is extremely soulful and spiritual - it’s also a great excuse to become a total gear-junkie.
We love kit. And whilst we’re not promoting any particular brands, we are happy to review kit we use: both new and seasons old kit that we’ve personally tested in the field.
BACKDROP has a policy of straight up, independent, no B.S reviewing.
Avalanche Safety
At BACKDROP, we think obsessing about avalanches, snowpack and backcountry dangers is super cool.
Mountains are dangerous, yet there’s an industry-wide lack of emphasis on mountain safety, with brands more interested in selling you a new board than a shovel.
We want to ride hard and still come home safe!
Ski AND Snowboard
We splitboarders have time for all mountain lovers. Our collective actually is half back country skiers, and some who swing both ways.
We respect skiers, we ride with them, we drink beers with them, we just don’t take as many pictures of them (which is rude, as they always wait patiently for us to transition).
Love the snow, don’t label it.
founded in the fjords of
Norway
Seeking adventure and camaraderie, BACKDROP collective was formed on a trip to a remote archipelago in North Norway, the legendary Lofoten Islands in the Arctic circle.
Bushwhacking, a first descent, sphincter-winking summit climbs and fish chowder to die for. See more by watching, ‘Lofoten: A Splitboarding Story’, on our film page.
THE sPLITBOARD
Anatomy
Read more in our
Journal
We’ve a few different types of article - something for anyone who’s fascinated with the mountains…
Dispatches
If you’re looking for a more in-depth tale then Dispatches is for you. A longer read, accompanied with all the pics, stats and facts so you can go do it yourself.
Moments
Short-read contemplations and imagery from the mountainside. Not bogging you down with too many words, just letting you know how we felt when the photo was taken.
FFS
Fear, Failure and Success - Interviews revolving around these three central themes with folk we think have some things worth saying about them.
“TO NEVER SIMPLIFY WHAT IS COMPLICATED
TO NEVER COMPLICATE WHAT IS SIMPLE
TO RESPECT STRENGTH BUT NEVER POWER
ABOVE ALL TO TRY AND UNDERSTAND
TO NEVER LOOK AWAY AND NEVER FORGET”
