Splitboard event creates safe, open environment for women splitboarders – Explore Big Sky

By Bella Butler MANAGING THE EDITOR

BIG SKY Although splitboarding may not seem graceful at times, it is a beautiful sport for its rhythm. The back-and-forth movement between climbing skins on snow is effortless. It blends seamlessly with the breeze, birds, creek, and song of the backcountry.

Today, our song has become loud. My Beehive Basin Trail is a group of fourteen women who glide behind me, taking deep breaths and finding the rhythm of my splitboard. We’ve covered our faces with glitter, and the March sun bounces off our sparkling cheeks onto the crusty white snow. This area hasn’t seen a storm in weeks and the melt-freeze cycle has created less than variable conditions. Today is not about getting the best results. It’s about building community.

According to Mati Tressler, founder of Sisters in Split, the Bozeman-based organization organized this women’s ride day on March 5, just one month after it was launched. It was its first opportunity to fulfill its mission to empower women via sisterhood and safe travel through mountains via splitboard.

The ride day was held as part of the sixth annual Bozeman Splitfest. It is a multiday event that raises money for the Gallatin Forest Avalanche Centre. Splitfest offers the Bozeman community gear demos, clinics, and raffles.

Pallas Snowboards, an American women’s splitboard manufacturer, hosted demos this year. This allowed more women to ride without having to pay for splitboard gear. Backcountry Squatters at Montana State University, a non-profit that works to build networks of college-aged women interested outdoor recreation, supported the ride day by rallying participants.

Becca Ritter, coowner of Spark R&D splitboard binding company in Bozeman, helped riders to get familiar with the features of Spark gear.

Carloads upon carloads of women were seen rushing to the trailhead in a sea of gear and glitter earlier. While some were proficient at rigging up a board, others looked anxiously at their climbing skins and detachable bounds.

Yvonne Leung, Bozeman, looked nervously through the group to find a place where she could start her demo setup. Madeline Thunder from Big Sky, an experienced splitboarder, saw Leungs confusion, and offered her assistance.

Thunder beckons!

Thunder gave Leung one side of the folded skin, and the women laughed as the glue was pulled apart.

Soon everyone was strapped into their boards and ready for the trail. During introductions, the diversity of the group was evident. All ages and abilities of women were represented. Some were looking for mentorship, others were looking for new partners.

Outdoor Foundation published a report in 2021It was found that outdoor recreation participation by women is still lower than that of men.

Despite significant industry efforts, the report says that, despite 51 percent of Americans being female, outdoor participants have been dominated by women for the past eight years. In 2020, this number grew slightly to 48%.

Although splitboard-specific statistics can be hard to find, there is a comparable gender gap. Thunder and I joked at the trailhead about being surprised to find other women splitboarders. It was almost like Thunder was one of the last survivors of a dying species.

Many participants on the ride-day said that the only thing that prevented them from splitboarding was the intense environment in which they had previously been involved in male-dominated groups.

I’ve only been with groups of skiers or my boyfriend who’s super hardcore about touring, said Emily Heaton, a ride day participant and student at Montana State University. Its just such a different energy and vibe, because it’s like, I need to keep up, I need to do what he does, kind of thing. And there’s just a little bit more pressure.

Tressler was the founder of SIS. She splitboarded her first time at last year’s Bozeman Splitfest. She was immediately hooked, but quickly realized that it would be hard to get into the sport as a female. 

Tressler explained that it was difficult for me to find mentorship and other women who were willing to take my out and make it a more enjoyable learning environment. I just decided that since there’s not resources for lady splitboarders, why not create [them]?

Tressler created SIS on Instagram and started building a community for women who are looking for connections and learning opportunities in the sport. SIS’s first physical manifestation of its social media network was the ride day.

We reached the top of the hill about a mile into our tour. We crossed a creek to reach the meadow and climbed a steep slope with many trees. Thunder led the climb to the pine tree, which was blocking our path. She climbed over the obstacle in a series of skilled movements and into the meadow. Next in line, I turned to face the group, my mind racing with worry.

Splitboarding, even for the most skilled riders, can be difficult. Splitting your board down the middle creates only a part of the edge, making it harder to cut into slope sides. You also have riders who are used to fumbling with their legs while trying to mount a single plank.

I was concerned that this difficult maneuver would make it too difficult for the riders in front of me who were braving their first day with this gear.  

Thunder suggested from the meadow that it might be better for them to get a full experience of splitboarding. Thunder’s smile softened her nervous look and helped to calm her nerves.

The women started climbing the obstacle, filling the meadow without any instruction. Tressler calls Courtney McNiff SIS’ official hype woman. She stayed behind to support each rider throughout the challenge.

Instead of grumblings or groans, laughter and expressions gratitude were the only sounds that floated above the trees. Each rider soared into the meadow and took in the cheering of the rest.

Katie Olson, one of the first riders, said that the support she received from the entire crew helped her overcome the stigma of sucking.

It was much better than I expected. [a]Olson said that it was a very safe and open environment for people who want to try new things. If everybody had an environment like this, it’d be so easy to try something new.

Many of the women shared that feeling of safety and acceptance. It helped them reflect on their backcountry experience.

It is so male-dominated, according to Sid Garrido (Pallas event coordinator and board shaper), that they have established the standard of fun or good.

And what does it mean? Another rider chimed in.

Garrido stated that it is so inspiring to see women take charge of this space and define their role. 

We enjoyed some fast turns on the way down and then tried out the splitboard on the flats. The crew was already planning the next ride day back at the parking lot. I asked the new riders: What’s next?

Olson shouted, “I want to go tomorrow!” As everyone nodded their heads. This is what I want to do every day.