Frequently Asked Questions

About us

Splitboard HQ opened in 2012 as a side project of AQOutdoors & Aquabatics. The owner Simon is very passionate about whitewater kayaking and splitboarding and is working toward building a community and information flow around these sports. We teach courses, rent gear, and love chatting with fellow outdoor enthusiasts (and beginners!) about their next trip in the backcountry.

What is a splitboard?

Splitboarding is a pretty new sport and continues to be a mystery to some. If you cut a snowboard in half lengthwise, it can be separated into skis which can be used to skin up the mountainside. The technology for bindings, boards and accessories has rapidly grown in this industry. Over the course of the pandemic, we have seen increased interest from folks wanting to skip the lines at the ski lift and general cost of resort passes. Splitboarding is a great way to increase your physical activity in the winter while gaining easier access to backcountry areas. 

Where is the best place to go splitboarding?

Anywhere there’s snow! We recommend Chester Lake and Black Prince for people close to Calgary who are looking to get started. We also recommend checking out books in the Confessions of a Ski Bum series for more info about the Icefields Parkway, Kickinghorse Pass, and Bow Valley areas. Remember to check avalanche conditions before you head out.

I have a warranty issue, what do I do?

We fully trust in the brands that we stock and we want you to, too. Most of the brands that we stock will have a warranty form on their website that you can fill out. We can help file a warranty claim for you if you supply us with photos of the issue, your proof of purchase, and your contact details. You can also come in-store with your product and we’ll see if we can fix it for you or give suggestions. We’re also the Canadian warranty centre for Spark R&D so we may have replacement parts on-site for you!

What if I need spare parts?

We stock backcountry kits and hardware sets for Karakoram, Spark, and Voile. There’s a chance that we may have just the right piece that you’re looking for but can recommend a hardware store for most missing screws. Finding parts is much easier for us to sort out in-store if you bring in the item that you need parts for. We can also order in spare parts for some brands that we stock.