5 Skin Track Hacks to Crush Your Next Splitboard Tour!

Backcountry snowboarding wouldn’t be complete without the uphill battle on the skin track. Don’t worry, we have some tips for you to try out on your next shred mission.

Here are 5 hacks to help you crush the next splitboard tour!

1. Change Your Style!

If your hips are hurting, notice if you are using the toe drag method to glide your ski forward or more of the heel push forward technique.

Usually if you are dependent on propelling yourself with the toe drag, you could feel it more in your hips. If you are used to one style then try switching it up to the opposite style to activate and recruit those specific muscles and give the other ones a break.

This is really helpful early in the splitboarding season when your hips may not be used to the movement of skinning as opposed to the glute and leg strength in general year-round activities like hiking, running, biking.

2. Watch Your Stride!

Don’t over-stride….your gliding movement on the skin track should be within the normal length of your general walking steps. Anything longer will tax additional energy and recruit muscles that you aren’t used to using. Take the more efficient smaller steps, especially on the steeper sections.

On the flats...for sure it is fun to have long glides so slip and glide away but if you are feeling taxed, shorten your stride back down to a normal gait.

3. Switchback, Switchback, Switchback!

Save the straight uphill battle for the bootpack up the couloir….your calves and reserve energy will thank you. You really want to maintain your strength for that 3,000 foot vertical ride down!

4. Stop Skin Track Slips

Slippery skin track? No one ever said you needed to stay within the lines. Step off the established skin track and blaze your own path. Usually you may find that you will have a better grip on the untracked snow versus the compacted path.

If you are still slipping then you will need to take a look at your skinning technique. Make sure that you are weighting your foot and heel while leaning more back. Leaning forward may seem more natural when heading uphill but your splitboard skin will have greater contact with the snow and have more even pressure if you position yourself back. Trust it.

5. It Doesn’t Have to Be a Balancing Act!

Tired of balancing on one leg or just feeling a little uncoordinated when turning up the next switchback? Skip the fancy ski kick turns and create a rounded corner track to manage the switchbacks. While mastering kick turns can make for some really efficient uphill speed for ski-mo types, if that isn’t your specialty then you might be better off skipping them entirely.