Performance Matters: Julien Herry & Another First Descent

Before we really get into this post, it must be said that we (Karakoram) don't necessarily want to encourage our friends or customers to partake in this style of snowboard alpinism. In case you're really wondering, snowboarding on the terrain that Julien "Pica" Herry enjoys, is more akin to full-throttle, full-stakes big range mountaineering. For those with experience in large-scale, high-angle environments, you'll understand what the magnitude and consequences of these photos really are. For those without a trained eye or experience on peaks and slopes like this, all we have to say is, "Don't try this at home!" It

“Snowsurf” The Movie Trailer from Gentemstick

Fair warning: this one might be hard to watch after seeing the winter they just had in Japan. But you should watch it anyway. This movie teaser is from our friends at Gentemstick. ‪The 4K Ultra-High Definition film features snow/surf legends Taro Tamai and Gerry Lopez along with Karakoram Ambassadors Alex Yoder and Forrest Shearer. Be on the lookout for tour dates and the release of "Snowsurf" The Movie this fall! [video_responsive] Snowsurf Trailer from My House Pictures on Vimeo. [/video_responsive]

By |August 26th, 2015|Categories: Ambassadors, Ride, Splitboarding|0 Comments

Teaser for “Seasoned” a new movie from Will Film For Food

We are so stoked to see this teaser for "Seasoned" a new full length film by Aaron Hooper and our friends at Will Film For Food! Check it out for yourself and get stoked to see the whole video this fall. [video_responsive] "Seasoned" Teaser from Aaron Hooper on Vimeo. [/video_responsive] "'Seasoned' is about exploring all that winter has to offer from the very beginning all the way to that warm spring end. We partnered up with Saas Fee to spend the majority of the winter there and truly get "Seasoned". Starring Forrest Bürki, Wyatt Stasinos, Sammy Luebke, with Frederik Kalbermatten

By |August 24th, 2015|Categories: Ambassadors, Ride, Splitboarding|0 Comments

Forever Ride Support Program

If your splitboard bindings are a few seasons old and looking a little beat up, don’t worry, Karakoram has your back! We have a comprehensive Forever Ride Support program that can restore your bindings to brand new function.   When you send your bindings in to be refurbished, we do an in-depth inspection of all components, interfaces and hardware. For the original owner, worn or broken components are rebuilt or replaced under our “Forever Ride” policy for a nominal cost that covers the expense of materials and manufacturing time. Bindings come out functioning like new, and will continue to perform

By |August 12th, 2015|Categories: Equipment, Ride, Splitboarding|0 Comments

Thanks April!

This winter in the Pacific Northwest started late and fizzled early.  It is safe to say it was a bad winter of epic proportions.  Our local ski area at Snoqualmie Pass, WA saw an all time record low snowfall of just 104 inches this winter. Two of our snowiest months on average, February and March brought a combined 10 inches total. We thought last season was bad and we received about 3 times as much snowfall! On a typical season we'll see upwards of 4, 5, even 600 inches of snowfall, and much more at higher elevations. (Numbers gathered from: http://www.wsdot.com/winter/files/HistoricalSnowfallData1415season.pdf?v=15)

By |April 30th, 2015|Categories: Ride, Splitboarding|0 Comments

Cat Boardin’ in Colorado With Weston Snowboards

We recently took a trip down to Colorado, not only for the SIA Tradeshow, but to get some snowboarding in as well. Since our winter has been so rough here in Washington State, it sure was nice to extend our stay and see how conditions were in the Rockies. Sure enough, the Rockies did not disappoint! First, we had to take care of some business in Denver for a few days. Here's Kyle "Handsome" looking like his usual handsome self in our booth at the 2015 SIA tradeshow. Before heading back home we linked up with our friends

Miikka Hast: Splitboarding from Here to There

Miikka Hast has been having a great winter. Currently Miikka is in AK, but here is some video footage from his earlier trip to Switzerland. The Southern Alps were hit with some of the deepest powder in years. Miikka and his buddy Jonas were there to rip it up. [video_responsive] Miikka & Jonas - Back to Back 4/4 from Protest Boardwear on Vimeo.[/video_responsive] [br][br] [video_responsive] Miikka & Jonas - Back to Back 3/4 from Protest Boardwear on Vimeo.[/video_responsive]

Early Season Sliding and Splitboarding

Since I was a kid I’d get this antsiness once Fall rolled around.  I’d watch and rewind and watch my snowboard videos over and over again.  It was a bit like scratching an itch, the more I watched TB2 or the Transworld Video Magazines the more I wanted to go snowboarding but I couldn’t do anything about it.  I just had to wait until Stevens Pass or Alpental opened in late November or early December to finally slide on snow.  After 26 years of snowboarding I still feel the same way, but splitboarding has allowed me to get out earlier

By |November 21st, 2013|Categories: Human Powered, Ride, Splitboarding|0 Comments

Summer Splitboarding

Not all of us have the means to migrate to the Southern Hemisphere to follow Winter. Whether it is lack of funds, a full-time job, or family commitments there are still a few of us that yearn to slide on snow after our Spring snowpack dwindles into Summer suncups. Here in the Pacific Northwest we are lucky enough to have a deep snow pack that lasts late into the Summer.

SIA, ISPO and Austrian Splitboarding (Trade Show Detox)

Before starting a business in the snowboard industry I used to think that I’d snowboard a lot more if I worked with snowboards every day. Little did I know that trade show season falls right in prime snow season. Trade show prep, OR, SIA and ISPO basically take up all of January and February. This was our third year at the trade shows so we were a bit more prepared, but it is always exhausting being on your feet all day and talking for eight hours straight. To make matters worse the brilliant planners of SIA and ISPO decided to

Mitch and Bibi Splitboarding Praxmarerkarspitze

Mitch Toelderer sent me this picture a couple weeks ago pointing to his next splitboard mission.

Fun Times at the Dirksen Derby

[br]We had the opportunity to make it down to Mt. Bachelor, Oregon for the Dirksen Derby this year. The Dirksen Derby is one of the first snowboard events of the season, so lots of industry folks make it to the event. It was pretty cool to race against some of the best riders in the world like Terje Haakonsen and Temple Cummins. Needless to say, I did not win… [br]Josh Dirksen has been putting this event on for six years. The Derby is a great event with a great cause, all proceeds go to cover medical expenses for his friend

By |December 30th, 2012|Categories: Ride, Splitboard Events, Splitboarding|0 Comments

October Splitboarding in Tahoe

Story by Allison Lightcap, Photos By Seth Lightcap Have you ever had the feeling that Old Man Winter was going to come early? I started to get this feeling in Tahoe a few weeks ago when I saw the squirrels rushing around collecting food. They knew what was up. Then I got this subconscious urge to clean out the garage and find all my winter stuff. I never like to clean the garage. Something was seriously screwy. But then all of a sudden it made perfect sense. Tahoe got dumped on last week of October!

4th of July on the North Twin Sister

There is some fun summer shredding going on right now. Our friend Kael Martin sent us this nice little report of his trip with Lucas Debari and friends. A Mountain Adventure to Celebrate America’s Independence Lucas Debari, Kael Martin, Anthony Gervais, Calvin Patterson, Daniel Sandberg, Jerry Mark, Quinn Baumberger, Cody Garrington July 4th, 2012 was a unique day not only because it marked the bicentennial of the War of 1812 in which America went to battle with our northern neighbor Canada, but also seemed to be the beginning of summer in the Pacific Northwest. It was hard to complain about

By |July 26th, 2012|Categories: Explore, Ride, Splitboarding|Tags: , , , |1 Comment

Mt Shasta and the Great Pleiadian Eclipse Alignment

“On May 20th, 2012, for the first time in 26,000 years the sun, the moon and the constellation responsible for our evolution and ascension, the mysitc Pleiades, [aligned] in a spectacular total solar eclipse directly over one of the most powerful, mysterious, spiritual vortexes in the world: the mighty Mount Shasta” (http://www.divinetravels.com/Shasta.html). Chris, Tyler and I drove down from Seattle to meet up with the Jones, TGR, twsnow and Further crew, for this was a once in 26,000 year event we couldn’t miss. Anticipation was high and everyone was on the look out for Lemurians, UFOs and Crystal Cities ascending.

Spring Time Splitboarding

[br]Once a year, whether you live in the northern or southern hemisphere, the earth’s spinning axis tilts towards the sun. This has a profound impact: days get longer and temperatures rise. Just about every eco-system on the planet responds to this. Just as life has evolved to use water, so has it evolved to use sunrays. It’s Spring Time! And every year this seems to elicit a population-wide increase in happiness levels.

Mt. Baker Splitboard Fest Recap

The third Mt. Baker Splitboard festival was great time. The last two we worked up until the last minute to finish off prototypes and demo bindings. This year we were a little bit more prepared, but we still rolled in a little late for the Demo set up on Friday evening. We’ll be on time next year… I always look forward to the Mt. Baker Splitboard fest because it is the time of year that I actually get to ride my snowboard a bit more.

SIA and ISPO Whirlwind Tour

So we just got back about a week ago from a whirlwind trade show tour of SIA and ISPO.  What a trip!  Splitboarding is truly taking off and it's pretty amazing to be right in the thick of it. It was great to see the excitement for our new releases for next year, including the Prime- our new 575gram binding The Prime on the Jones Carbon Solution Our new heel lock down (just realized we didn't take any pics of this, so I'll post one later), the rest of our binding line, and accessories including board clips and crampons. The Binding Line Up- Split30

By |February 11th, 2012|Categories: Innovate, Ride|4 Comments

Neil Provo Splitboarding in Silverton

[br]There are some lucky people that get to follow the snow for a living. I think everyone who loves to ride has done it or wishes they could pull away from their 8-5 job and live the dream of riding powder everyday. Neil Provo is one of those lucky people. Neil has teamed up with fellow Outdoor Research Ambassadors Zack Giffin and Molly Baker to chase storms in their "Tiny House." They've followed the snow to Silverton Colorado. I wish I was there as it's raining here in the PNW... Click here for more info on the OR Sidecountry sessions.

Winchester Lookout Trip: A Magical Return to Winter

Just got this trip report from our friend Kael Martin. I’m incredibly jealous of the snow he got to shred last weekend. Heading deep into the Northern Cascade mountains provided an incredibly satisfying and refreshing start to the 2011/2012 snowboard season. Many uncertainties nearly hampered our trip plans, but in the end it all came together and we were thoroughly rewarded for our persistence. We all gathered in Bellingham on Friday night and set out to the Winchester Lookout via the Twin Lakes Trail very early Saturday morning. Almost 4 miles out on the skin track were alarmed as we

Jones Solution Video

Check out the new Jones Solution Video.  Jeremy is riding the Snowboard Mag Editor's Choice splitboard set up and  Backpacker's Ultimate Splitty Setup: the Jones Solution and Karakoram Split30 Splitboard System.

Forrest Shearer Shredding on Karakoram Splitboard Bindings

With winter approaching quickly it's video premiere time. Check out Forrest Shearer shredding on his Karakoram Splitboard Bindings in the following films this September. Forrest had this to say: Snowboarding to me is all about evolving my riding and adapting to the terrain in front of me. Now that I splitboard almost my entire season the right gear is crucial for taking it to the next level in the backcountry. Karakoram is the interface that I rely on to get the job done. [br] Sweet Grass Productions: Solitaire World Premiere next thurs sept. 15th Denver, CO Gothic Theatre Powder Whores:

Press Release: Jeremy Jones Partnering with Karakoram

PRESS RELEASE, Snoqualmie, WA- Karakoram is proud to announce a partnership with Jeremy Jones, renowned big mountain snowboarder and owner of Jones Snowboards. [br]The partnership will combine Jeremy’s legendary backcountry freeriding experience and Karakoram’s innovative design capabilities with the goal of delivering products that redefine the backcountry experience for snowboarders around the world. “We started Karakoram to create backcountry snowsports equipment that challenged the norms and provided performance beyond expectations. The opportunity to work with Jeremy on this journey will bring a perspective destined to help take our designs and products to the next level. Jeremy is truly an inspirational

Q & A with Jeremy Jones

Why did you change to the the Karakoram Splitboard interface? I am always looking for ways to improve my riding system.  I spend about 80 to 100 days splitboarding so most of my focus is on finding lighter product that is faster in the transitions and makes my snowboard ride better.  This was a lot of my motivation to start Jones Snowboards.  We have made great improvements on boards but the interface has the biggest room for improvement. When I first saw the Karakorm interface system I was really intrigued. It looked like a serious step forward that was definitely worth testing out. However changing

Mt. Shasta with Jeremy Jones and Friends

Last week I got a phone call from Chad at Jones Snowboards saying that Jeremy was putting together a crew to climb and splitboard Mt. Shasta and he wanted to know if Tyler and I would like to join. My immediate reply was, “Ummm… YES! When are we going!”

Kalifornia Split Party 2011

  I don’t really know what to say except, “Man, I can’t wait to go back!!!” This was the second year for Bryce and I to attend and the Kalifornia Split Party didn’t disappoint!  Josh, Mike, and the crew did an amazing job all around, but I have to especially thank them for ordering up the healthy helping of deep pow.  Not sure how they did it, but they must have an in with the snow gods :-) We flew in to Reno, picked up our economy car, and as we were about to head south on 395, the Russman

By |April 16th, 2011|Categories: Ride, Splitboard Events, Splitboarding|1 Comment

Mt Baker Splitfest 2011

  What a difference a year makes… last year at the first annual Baker Splitfest we unveiled our new Split30 system to the public for the first time. We scrambled like mad to get everything in order for our first demo and I have to admit the nerves were a bit high, our minds running, “What will people think?” Fast forward to this past weekend… we sold out of bindings in December, had a great showing at SIA, and have some new partners for the 2011/12 season. It’s been a whirlwind of a year and there is no better way

By |March 28th, 2011|Categories: Ride, Splitboard Events, Splitboarding|1 Comment

High Avy Danger… To the trees!

The snow hasn't stopped falling here in the PNW, which is great for snow accumulation, but not so hot for avalanche conditions.  Avalanche conditions were high to extreme this weekend, so Tyler and I decided to find some fun low angle trees in the Common Wealth Basin with some natural features to play on.  Here is a little helmet cam footage of what we found... Karakoram- Day in the Trees I'm working on trying to figure out how to get a little higher resolution video.

By |February 27th, 2011|Categories: Ride, Splitboarding|0 Comments

I wish I was in Chamonix…

While I'm stuck behind my computer working on the 2011-2012 bindings (lots of top secret stuff we're working on here...)  I keep seeing friends getting after it on their splitboards.  Here's a little helmet cam video from Liz Daley shredding in Chamonix.[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4FzZ-jQQ44]Liz's Prior Brandywine with Karakoram Split30s

By |February 25th, 2011|Categories: Ride, Splitboarding|0 Comments

Dan Donnelly Slashing Up the Mt. Baker BC

Washington has had a bad month or so of snow, or should I say rain, but winter hasn't given up and the Snopacalypse is back!  Tyler just received some awesome pics from photographer Mike Stamm (www.mikestammphotos.com) of Mt. Baker local Dano Donnelly taking advantage of the new snow.Dano laying out a toeside slash Baker style on his Split30 splitboard system.There are a lot of different mind sets on what size split you should ride.  Dano showing us how it's done on a custom 158 splitboard made by his buddy Jake.Keep getting after it Dano!

By |February 23rd, 2011|Categories: Ride, Splitboarding|1 Comment

Powder Day-Off

Tyler and I have been working like dogs for the last three months, so we decided we deserved a day off this weekend.  We headed out with my wife and brother-in-law.  The timing of the little trip couldn't have been better because a big storm front just came through Washington.  I guess we were "working" because we were "testing" product :).   Needless to say, the testing went well!Mattia riding a pillow line.My wife, Melissa, "testing" her splitboard setup.Playing on the powder marshmallows!A fun sequence of Tyler playing hide-and-seek through the boulder field...and breath...hold your breath...and breeth...Now back to work.

By |November 22nd, 2010|Categories: Ride, Splitboarding|3 Comments

Summer Fun on the Flett

Last weekend we (Bryce, his wife Melissa, my wife Marcy, and I) headed up to Flett Glacier on Rainier for some casual summer touring and camping. The road to Mowich had just opened and after talking to the ranger we were expecting good snow coverage starting at the lake. Unfortunately it had melted out quite a bit so we ended up booting up and over Knapsack Pass. Crossing the creeks, scrambling up the mossy roots and across a few snowy patches, we were over the pass and finally able to start skinning. Just over the pass we spied some fun

By |July 20th, 2010|Categories: Ride, Splitboarding|0 Comments

Summer Season Riding

Late spring/early summer riding, one of the many great reasons to live in the northwest. So my day last Thursday: woke up and went to my paying job (no that's not working for Karakoram, yet :) ), cruised home at 5pm, met up with Aaron and headed up to Silver Peak to hit up the last of the late season up at the pass, at the trail head by 6:30pm a short hike to the snow before we can start skinning scoped the lines headed up the ridge dropped the west face down to Annette Lake and hit some killer

By |June 28th, 2010|Categories: Ride, Splitboarding|2 Comments

Lassen Peak and Mt. Shasta

A couple weeks ago JimW invited Tyler and me to join the California splitboard crew on their trip to Shasta.   We jumped at the opportunity to check out a little more of the California split scene and also invited Russell to join.  50+ emails later the plan on where we were touring was still in flux, but we hit the road anyway. We just finished our new crampon concept around 5 pm Thursday and were looking forward to testing them out on the frozen late spring corn.  Despite finishing building the prototype crampon and hoping to be in bed at

By |June 18th, 2010|Categories: Ride, Splitboarding|0 Comments

Late Season Snow!

It seems like this is the snow season that never ends, I'm not complaining because I love it.  I woke up yesterday to two inches of snow at my house in Sandy, UT.  Late April and May have been good to us in Utah.  My only problem is my normal touring partners have hung up their boards and skis and turned to biking and climbing. May 1st, Cruising up White Pine May 4th, PM patrol May 11th, lunch time pow run down Lone Tree at Alta May 14th, looking down down the Cirque at Snowbird May 22nd, looking down a

By |May 25th, 2010|Categories: Ride, Splitboarding|0 Comments

Kalifornia SplitFest

Two words to sum up this last weekend: Freakin’ Amazing! Day 1 Bryce and I really didn’t know what to expect going down to the Kalifornia Split Party, except that it was going to be an adventure. We decided last minute we were going and scrambled to get plane tickets. Keeping with tradition... the night before was another long one. Finishing up parts and packing by 1:30am and crawling out of bed at 4:30am, I sleepily flew to Reno where Bryce and I met up and began our road trip to Convict Lake. Taking in the epic views of the

By |April 20th, 2010|Categories: Explore, Ride, Splitboard Events, Splitboarding|6 Comments

Going to California!

The Baker SplitFest was so much fun that Tyler and I have decided to check out the Kalifornia Split Party which is being put on by a bunch of California splitters on splitboard.com.  Here is a link to the Split Party thread. Neither of us have had the opportunity to ride/tour in the Sierra Nevadas, so this is too great a opportunity to pass up.   We'll be bringing a demo Split30 splitboard system with us for people to try out.

By |April 6th, 2010|Categories: Ride, Splitboard Events, Splitboarding|1 Comment

Toni on his Split30 Splitboard System

I just got some pictures from one of our first users, Toni Walbridge.  Toni has been riding his Karakoram Split30 splitboard system on his DIY Split Salomon Sick Stick 160 on tours in the Wasatch, sled-in tours in the Uintas, and slackcountry rides at Brighton since January.  Thanks for the pictures Toni!

By |April 5th, 2010|Categories: Ride, Splitboarding|0 Comments

Mt. Baker SplitFest

Leading up to the Splitfest Tyler and I were thinking we'd have a nice leisurely week getting ready.  But again, true to form we cut it down to the wire.  Our new boards for splitting didn't show up until Thursday night, some stainless parts we were waiting for were finally ready Friday morning, and our new straps arrived in Issaquah at 1:00 pm Friday afternoon.  We were mounting t-nuts at 5:00 pm Friday.At 7:45 pm we were finally ready to go.  We got on the road and made it up to Mt. Baker around 11:45.  We met a couple of

By |April 2nd, 2010|Categories: Ride, Splitboard Events, Splitboarding|0 Comments

Slot Couloir

I flew back to Seattle March 20th to prepare for our first demo at the Mt. Baker SplitFest.  My flight came in around 7 pm and I went straight to the shop to finish building up my bindings with the production changes coming from input from our beta testers.  We didn't change much, only combining a couple parts to shave more weight and reduce hardware.  True to Kloster form, Tyler and I finished machining and building the bindings around 1:00 am.We woke up around 6:00 am and threw our gear in the car and picked up Aaron by 6:30.  We

By |March 22nd, 2010|Categories: Ride, Splitboarding|0 Comments

Alpental Vertfest 2010

I wasn't able to get back to Seattle for the Vertfest, but Tyler got his first go at it.  The race is mainly AT guys, but there were still 10 splitboarders.  For those familiar with Alpental, the race went up under Armstrong Express to Chair 2, then up the Fan with a booter section and then up Rollen with another booter section with the up finishing at the entrance to International.  The riding portion went down International, Snakedance and finished at the bottom of Sessel.  Here is another write up with some pictures of the event: http://www.wildsnow.com/2721/vertfest-2010-race-recap/.  This guy only

By |March 12th, 2010|Categories: Ride, Splitboard Events|0 Comments

Flagstaff, Days Fork, Toledo Chute

Snow conditions finally started to stabilize, so I was feeling good about riding some steeper lines with my friend Manuel and some of his friends from Chile.  The snow in upper Days Fork was nice on the north facing aspects.  Here is Manuel dropping into upper Days. The weather was perfect, so I skinned up to the Reed and Benson Ridgeline to take some pictures of Cardiac Bowl on my way to Toledo Chute.I skied down Cardiff pass in split mode and then skinned up to Toledo Chute.  Here is Adolfo on skiers right of Toledo Chute.  The snow was

By |March 12th, 2010|Categories: Ride, Splitboarding|0 Comments
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