Splitboard Reviews and Tests

KHYBER SPLIT 160 XTC CARBON REVIEW & TEST

12/3/2015

Model: KHYBER Split XTC Carbon
Length: 160 cm
Weight: 2890 g
Radius: 8 m
Nose / Waist / Tail width: 314 / 256 / 287 cm
Setback: 25 mm
Base: 4001 Sintered
Core: Aspen / Poplar (wood)
Edges: Rockwell 48 Steel
Interface: Chinese Hooks / Voile Pucks

I amply tested this board for 5 month now and I’m happy to share my experiences with you.
Handcrafted by PRIOR, Whistler Canada, the KHYBER has a hybrid rocker design. The nose and tail rocker support the playful character of the board and the camber in between guarantees stability down- and uphill. The massive taper (nose is significantly wider than the tail) of 27 mm and the setback provide floatability. The tight radius makes it easy to turn and allows quick maneuvers.

On paper the KHYBER seems to be a perfect powder-board for deep days in the trees. For sure it is, and we all want to enjoy as many of these epic moments. But in the Alps there are a lot of different conditions and snow is shaped by wind, variation in temperature and insolation.
I rode this in fact playful, easy rotating and super surfy splitboard in deep pow, where it performs best. But I also experienced the KHYBER as fast friend in all other conditions with those winter served us so far - hardpack, firn, crust and spring snow. The versatility of this board is great. It bridges the gap between conveying confidence and persisting playful.
I must admit that there are more stable boards for high-speed straight lining, but for me the surfy feeling is of greater importance.
For what concerns the uphill quality it made all hikes in the mentioned snow conditions without objection. I want to highlight that the XTC carbon construction helps to save energy during ascent. Going more in detail is quite difficult as uphill performance also strongly depends on boots and bindings.

This board fits perfectly for riders who prefer lightweight uphill performance and really like it deep. If you are doing high alpine touring, having fun in your backyard and like touring in favor of your fitness, the KHYBER does it all as well.

My advice: go for the TXC carbon version and enjoy!

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Prior BC Split 165 Review & Test

28/2/2015

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Model: BC Split
Length: 165cm
Weight: 3520g
Radius: 9.5m
Nose / Waist / Tail width: 302 / 260 / 298mm
Setback: 30mm
Base: 4001 Sintered
Core: Aspen/Poplar (wood)
Edges: Rockwell 48 Steel
Interface: Chinese Hooks / Voile Pucks

Most board reviews test their gear on easy conditions or an intermediate tour to make assessing the equipment as pleasant as possible. When I decided to write this review I opted for a quite different approach. I decided to expose my Prior BC Split to one of the most radical terrain you can find on Stubaier Glacier, namely the steep couloirs & gullies of the Vorderer Daunkopf (2882m). This beautiful north-eastern face offers narrow 45-50 degree steep rides of up to 500m of elevation drop. Different routes can be chosen, from open powder fields scattered with cliffs to close-out couloirs sometimes filled only with crust and slush.

Since Prior calls its BC Split THE board to withstand a wide range of different snowpacks including powder, crud, hardpack or crust, the decision to take the BC on this adventure was easy. The BC Split is something like the all-time classic of Prior Splitboards, originally designed by Chris Prior 25 years ago. It is cut in a directional all-mountain shape to provide full control when going warp speed in steep terrain. It comes with Prior’s hybrid rocker in the nose and tail for extra floatability in nipple-deep conditions, combined with a more traditional camber construction (quadraxial fiberglass) to add resilience against all impacts. However, it even manages to be playful when spinning over pillows and riding switch in powder through the use of minimal taper.

This I witnessed when taking my Prior BC on a 40cm-of-fresh-day, a joyful experience with spray shots, quick turns in deep powder and occasional cliff jumps. The BC also handles these situations with ease, providing enough float to do the trick. Nevertheless, riding fall line speed with big turns spraying some powder in your face is the home turf of the BC. Please convince yourself by studying the lines drawn into the Daunkopf face to realize how well the BC managed this radical ride.

Earning your turns on the way up also comes easy with the BC Split. Skin attachment is convenient thanks to the quick-hooks for tip and tail. The profile of the board allows for a lot of skin contact onto the snow, providing a great grip. This is reinforced by the long effective edge length of the BC, making it even easier to climb on a slippery slope or surface. This results in good pressure and good grip on your way up, making you feel stable and in full control while skinning.

Conclusion: The BC Split is a real all-mountain, all-terrain riding machine built for plenty different situations. Whether riding steep faces, being high-alpine on a multi-day tour or just hitting the slopes, this allrounder will provide full support in every mission.

Have fun, please comment and share your own experience!

Team SPLIT

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Prior Fissile Split XTC 172 Review & Test

25/2/2015

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Model: Fissile Split XTC
Length: 172cm
Weight: 3310g
Radius: 6.5m
Nose / Waist / Tail width: 310 / 252 / 295mm
Setback: 20mm
Base: 4001 Sintered
Core: Aspen/Poplar (wood)
Edges: Rockwell 48 Steel
Interface: Chinese Hooks / Voile Pucks

So after riding it for the entire season I now have the pleasure of reviewing the Prior Fissile XTC 172. The Fissile is said to be for powder hounds and soul riders. I consider myself to be both. My riding style over the years has gone more and more towards steep terrain with couloirs and the occasional drop. However, I also enjoy tree runs with pillows.

Anyone who first spots the Fissile will be intrigued by its extraordinary shape. The board leaves no doubt that it’s been built with only one condition in mind. And that is deep and steep powder.

The nose is far longer than any other model I have seen and is shaped like a shovel with a pointy elongated end. No need to say the board is built directional. That means the shape is not just tapered, but at a 15mm wider nose (310 mm) than the tail (295 mm) I would call it super-powder-tapered. The tail seems ridiculously short, especially since I ride my bindings with a big set-back. Thanks to the long 172cm this board is very stable, even at high speed.

Additionally, Prior designed the board with what they call a “powder-rocker”, meaning it is a cambered board from binding to binding, but has a rocker towards the nose to give it extra float.

Now if you think that this means this board rides like a long board and you have to initiate your turn a minute before to make it then you will find yourself a big surprise. The Fissile in fact has – at 6.5m - the shortest radius of all the boards produced by Prior. This means the board is very versatile and agile and allows you to also thrash through tight tree runs.

Equipped with a sintered base, triaxial carbon weave and steel edges with Kevlar reinforcing the Fissile can take quite a beating, which it will considering the terrain it was built to ride.

When I first rode my Fissile I used it in conditions with little powder thanks to the late winter we had in Europe. However, after riding through some well-known tree-runs at my home resort I had actually forgotten that I was standing on a Splitboard. Now I might not have been too spoiled by the Burton Freebird I was riding until then, but being a member of a Splitboarding team I have gotten to test a variety of boards by now and probably had my boots strapped in in the majority of name worthy boards out there. One thing was clear very soon – this board is a treat and delivers more than you can ask for.

Hitting a few pillows and riding through the tight trees this board amazed me. In fact it seemed better than my freeride solid board at home. Thanks to the super long and wide nose that produces so much float the Fissile seems - unlike the Titanic – basically unsinkable.

The next day I took the Fissile out on for hiking to get a feel for its uphill climbing performance. Again the conditions were not perfect. Little snow and a single trail to hike up. However, the Fissile demonstrated that it was built by passionate mountain people. The climb mode showed no signs of slipping back and good pressure on the entire board while pacing. Our sponsor spoiled me and gave me the XTC carbon version of the board, which makes it about another 500 gram lighter than the normal version. This means the board is not really heavier than a solid board and my legs were thanking me with some extra energy for the ride down thanks to the lighter load to be carried.

Since then I have been on a number of tours with the Fissile and I have really been extremely satisfied. Even when traversing on hard pack the board has hardly slipped away and I haven’t had to use my cramp-ons a single time. The only draw-back with the Fissile might be that when we Splitboarders already suffer when walking in a ski track because of the width of our boards, the Fissile is even wider than most boards and that makes it a bit annoying when following pre-made skiers tracks. Also this board is not for freestyle freeriders, due to its shape that really isn’t meant to go switch for long. Two issues that are well worth it, considering the downhill performance of this powder beast.

Conclusion: The Prior Fissile has delivered everything I am looking for in a board and shown me that the technology of Splitboarding has gone far and is now on a level to compete with regular solid boards. Even though we are being sponsored by Prior Europe this is a most sincere review and I fully stand behind the praise I have been giving this board. If you are a real powder head then go out and try it. You will definitely not regret it.

Plus: Amazing floatation, very stable at high speeds, super agile and quick turning, agressive
Minus: Wide nose doesn't fit in skiers tracks, not suitable for freestyle tricks