Splitboard Workshop Feb 2024 - is a wrap - Information on 2025 weeklong trip to follow soon!
The aim of the Backdrop Journal Splitboard Workshop is not to answer all the questions, as there’s always going to be more, it’s to get you to a position where you’re asking the correct questions at the right time.
It can be hard to start splitboarding, so in association with UpGuides, we’ve designed an on-snow workshop to enable you to take your first splitboarding strides, or to build on your existing backcountry knowledge with the view to start planning your own tours.
Ride, Connect, Stay Safe!
Who’s the Workshop for?
This is not a classroom-based course, it’s an on-mountain workshop. We aim to introduce you to the process and execution of planning a tour in the mountains, from reading maps, avalanche and weather forecasts, to on mountain micro terrain management. But don’t worry as we plan to ride all the best snow we can find too.
The workshop is suitable for both experienced splitboarders, looking to improve their on-mountain decision making and to gain confidence to start self-guiding, to splitboard novices looking to take their first splitboarding tour.
This isn’t a march to the top - as we’ll be stopping multiple times to discuss route choice, safety processes, and hone techniques - but, to attend the course you must be able to ride with confidence off-piste, on crud to powder, from steeps to heelside traverses. You will also need to be fit enough to skin uphill (walking on skis) for multiple hours, possibly climbing around 1000m of altitude with a 10/15kg backpack (FYI the Pyg Track on Snowdon involves around 800m of ascent).
You must have proof of valid personal off-piste with a guide travel insurance, that specifically states that it covers splitboarding. Many of our crew use Snowcard’s Max Adventure cover or above.
If you are unsure that you have the correct skill set, or would simply like to discuss any aspect of the workshop, you can contact us on crew@backdropjournal.com or fred@upguides.com
What's on the Workshop menu?
Safety, what gear to have and how to use it
Best rescue practices
Splitboarding techniques
Mountain weather, global and local patterns
Snow science
Cartography, map reading & trip planning
Group dynamics, communication and human factors
Redefining our goals as ski mountaineers, are we aiming for the best snow or for the summit? When’s the right time to turn around?
Terrain management with a group, both up and down
The good snow, where it is and why? How to find it?
What’s in your backpack?
Please be aware that you may not get to eat all the menu, mountains are fluid and so are we, and conditions will always dictate the itinerary. Your safety will always take precedent over the proposed itinerary, if you can’t cope with change this workshop isn’t for you and to be honest nor is splitboarding.
Location
The workshop will be based in the Haute Maurienne, France, a little know valley that sits between the often-busy resorts of Val D’isère, Val Thorens, and Sestrières in Italy.
The Maurienne valley is a perfect location for our workshop as there are five very different resorts along its 50 kms, offering a great variation of terrain, altitude, slope orientation and steepness. There are high alpine glaciers in Bonneval sur Arc, forest riding in Val Cenis, north facing slopes in La Norma, and south facing off-piste slopes in Aussois.
Guides
We’ve partnered with Fred Buttard from UPGUIDES, a IFMGA mountain guide who worked in Chamonix for ten years, before returning home to the Maurienne Valley. Fred has a great range of experience, having led trips all over the world, he now mainly spits his winters between his home mountains and both Norway and Greenland.
Fred’s first language is French, but the workshop will be run in English and rest assured Fred’s english is great. All on mountain decisions, risk assessments and final say will be made by UPGUIDES, they are the IFMGA guides after all, UPGUIDES will also deal with all payment and reservations, they are acting as the principal and your holiday contract is with them. A member of the Backdrop Crew will be in attendance, but only as an observer/bad Dad joke teller.
There will be a maximum of six clients with one guide. If there’s a demand we may run two groups of six on the mountain, with everyone together for the evening workshops. It’s fine to come on your own, or book with friends, just make sure you’ve read this page thoroughly and understand your snowboarding skill set and fitness levels. Each group will need a minimum of 4 people to run.
Dates 4-8th Feb
Arrival and first night accommodation will be 4th Feb, with workshop starting proper the morning of the 5th, finishing after riding on the afternoon of 8th.
Itinerary
4 days on the mountain, 3 evening briefings/debriefings in the classroom, with a possible night in a hut.
Day 1
Before heading onto the slopes, we will check kit and backpack contents. Once on snow we’ll start with the basics of transceiver training, shovelling and rescue procedures, basic splitboarding skills, group management, terrain observation and snow knowledge.
For our first evening session we will discuss the snow & weather conditions of the day, and from there, with the help of avalanche and weather forecasts, you’ll propose a safe mission for day 2. You tour ideas will be presented for everyone to discus and you'll get the green, amber or red light from the guides.
Day 2
We’ll execute one of the proposed tours, with a focus on group management, route choice/micro terrain management, and general safe on-mountain practices. Once off the mountain the evenings debriefing will discuss the expectations of the days tour, and the reality of what actually happened, the on-mountain questions that arose, and the thought process behind our decision making.
Day 3
We’ll once again plan a tour, weather permitting, up to a mountain hut (possibly Refuge du Plan du Lac), for an overnight on the mountain proper, where there’ll be plenty of time to discuss kit, destinations, and all things split, before riding out the next day.
Day 4
We’ll tour above the hut and back down to resort (€15pp overnight hut fees), where the workshop will finish. If we didn’t overnight in hut we’ll make a final tour from one of the resorts.
Getting there
We promote green sustainable travel, and as such strongly advise people to travel to our workshop by train. Direct TGV trains run from Paris Gare de Lyon to Modane and link up well with Eurostar trains from London. Due to a landslide this summer the closest station is currently Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne.
Transfers between Paris Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon is simple, it’s just two stops on the Green RER line D. Direct trains also run from Torino Porta Susa, only taking 1hr 30mins, itself easily reached from Turin airport (it’s also only 1hrs40mins drive from Turin airport to resort, if hiring a car).
If you want to drive, we suggest that you lift share wherever possible. We may be able to link you up with other course attendees to share the ride and expense.
The airports of Chambéry, Grenoble, Geneva, Lyon and Turin are less than a 2-hour drive and there’s limited buses in the winter from
Budget
Included
4 days splitboarding and on mountain instruction/guiding 5-8th Feb
3 evenings of briefing/debriefing/discussion/enlightenment 5-7th Feb
4 nights self catering accommodation 4-7th Feb (weather permitting we will overnight in a mountain hut, there’s an additional €15pp hut fees)
Loan of backpacks, with transceiver, shovel and probe (bring your own if you prefer, but must be in full working order).
Not included
Drinks, breakfasts, lunches, dinners
Transportation between resorts (we hope there will be enough car space but we may need to use the odd taxi).
Your personal off piste splitboarding with guide insurance
Lift passes (we may use lifts to gain altitude and make the most of day)
Station/airport transfers
Equipment rental (splitboard, skins and poles available from €20 - €40 a day)
PRICE
€515 pp for a group of 6
€560 pp for a group of 5
€630 pp for group of 4
Lodging will be at Gites de la Combe or equivalent, you will need to share rooms or pay for upgrade.
Practical informations
Payment - To secure one of the limited places a 20% deposit is to be paid direct to Fred at Upguides, with balance due 19th Jan, all payment and course delivery is the responsibility of UpGuides. To make a payment please email fred@upguides.com with Backdrop Journal Workshop as email title. There are many payment options, which are best discussed with Fred direct.
Meeting - in Sollières, Zone des Favières, Upguides office, morning of 5th Feb Map here.
Rental gear - available for rental from Upguides: any rental kit needed must be organised well before the start of workshop as Upguides only has limited sizes and kit may need to organised through a 3rd party.
Packing List
Splitboard Equipment:
Needed:
Splitboard with touring bindings
Climbing skins
Good quality snowboard boots
Ski poles (adjustable preferably), with wide baskets
Backpack 30l, avalanche bag not obligatory but recommended
Avalanche transceiver (can be supplied by Upguides)
Avalanche probe (can be supplied by Upguides)
Metal avalanche shovel (can be supplied by Upguides)
Preferable:
Ice axe, ski straps, binding repair kit, snowboard tool, single malt
Clothing:
Technical and warm underwear, preferably wool. Think several layers for the upper body, long and short sleeved tech t-shirts, ski socks, softshell jacket, hardshell jackets & pants (or bibs), light puff jacket or vest, warm down jacket, gloves (2 pairs, one thin, one thick), neck protection, face protection (buff or more advanced), warm hat.
Gear:
Helmet , sunglasses and goggles , thermos bottle, water bottle , your own first aid kit with personal medication, spare batteries for your transceiver, sun screen, phone.
Workshop specifics:
Apps, Fatmap (60 days Explorer Access for free here), Météo-France Ski et Neige,
A sense of adventure, a flexible attitude, an ability to adapt, skill in the kitchen, and a good sense of humour all appreciated .
