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A Split Powsurfing Introduction: Ultimate Freedom in the Backcountry

Nothing beats cruising down untouched powder with a board under your feet. A kind of magic that makes you feel like a kid again. What if you could replicate that feeling with something new, something freeing, something hard to do, but so rewarding?

Well, there is a an early niche for our sport making a comeback that can re-create the backyard sled feel. Some may know it as snurfing or the birth of snowboarding, but in 2025 we call it split powsurfing - the hybrid evolution of splitboarding and powder surfing. It gives riders the best of both worlds: the ability to tour uphill like a splitboarder and surf down bindingless in the pow.

What Is Split Powsurfing?

What It Is

  • A blend of splitboarding, snowboarding, surfing, and skateboarding.
  • Done typically in deep powder snow (hence "pow"), where the snow is soft and forgiving.

The Style

  • Emphasizes surf-like turns and freedom of movement.
  • Requires balance and finesse rather than brute force.

The Board

  • Often shorter and wider than traditional snowboards.
  • Designed for maneuverability and floatation in powder.
  • DIY boards like the old days of making a snowboard into a splitboard OR a Factory board made specifically for Powsurfing.
  • Can be set up with pucks or without pucks.
  • Often equipped with a grippy top sheet or utilized with aftermarket traction pads. 

Follow the links below to learn more about Split Powsurfers. From DIY to factory there are many different options.

Bindings

  • While the goal is to ride bindingless, bindings will be needed to travel uphill in split mode.
  • Some people make their own custom minimalist bindings with no highback and just some snowshoe-like straps.
  • Some people prefer a binding that they can tour with AND still charge downhill when things get dicey (that’s what we prefer! More on this, keep reading!)
  • Bindings will then be stored in or on your pack for decent.
  • Utilize after market traction pads or DIY traction for better grip when riding bindingless.

Follow the links below to learn more about the different traction pads/options.

Where It's Done

  • Backcountry areas or places with lots of fresh, deep snow.
  • Some ski resorts or powder zones as long as it’s safe and within regulation. Check the rules and make sure you have a leash of some sort.
  • If your local resort does not allow powsurfing you can utilize pucks with bindings, take the lift, head out the gates, ditch your bindings and surf the pow. Split back in-bounds, slide the bindings back on the pucks and blend in with the local shredders.
  • No bootpacking or snowmobiling required! Unless you want to…

This all sounds fun, right? But what if the “pow” turns out to be zipper crust? What if you’re staring down a line with variable conditions or there is a technical exit? This is more the reality of the backcountry, and to give the ultimate option, we like to ride boards equipped WITH pucks and bindings equipped WITH our latest accessory – the Pow Surfer Heel Loop.

This specialized heel loop is an add on accessory for any of our soft boot bindings in our line. It’s lower and lighter so it tours easily, and packs the bindings down so they take up less room in your pack. But … if conditions are not at surf quality, they are completely rideable.

Here’s how it works:

  • Before you head out to your zone, remove your standard heel loops and swap in the Pow Surfer Heel Loops. Now, grab your whole setup and head for the trailhead.
  • Split your board into tour mode and tour up to the top.
  • Assuming conditions are deep and dreamy, stash your Spark R&D bindings in your pack (the Pow Surfer Heel Loop makes this nice and compact), switch to surf mode, and enjoy a binding-free descent. Whoop!
  • When the snow is crusty, you’re exiting through a luge track, or facing technical terrain, simply slide your bindings back on and snowboard your way out.

This level of adaptability is becoming a game-changer for backcountry riders who seek out powsurf opportunities but don’t want to be held back by variable conditions.

Powsurfing is often seen as a pure and soulful expression of riding, closely tied to the natural flow of the mountain, similar to how surfers relate to the ocean. We highly recommend you give it a try. It’ll bring back that magical feeling from childhood, bring your snowboarding to a new level, and will for sure keep you humble and feeling free.

Enjoy!

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