Wintersports
Snowboarding
What is backcountry snowboarding? Guide to exploring the untracked terrain
Backcountry snowboarding is a super fun way to explore slopes that no one ever has before.
Accessible only by helicopter, the backcountry competition venue for this year’s Natural Selection Tour is a sensational stretch of technical and dangerous terrain that has even the world’s best snowboarders awe-struck.
“I was like, this face is absolutely psycho and I don’t know how we’re gonna get down it,” said Elena Hight, the 2022 tour champion, when she got a first look at the course in Revelstoke, British Columbia.
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Elena Hight vs Enni Rukajärvi
2022 Tour champion Elena and newcomer Enni made names for themselves in halfpipe and slopestyle, respectively.
Revelstoke is one of several stops on the Natural Selection Tour, and with 12 world-class competitors like Hight, Travis Rice, Mikkel Bang, Kimmy Fasani and Blake Paul, it was a showcase of the best of backcountry snowboarding.
Backcountry snowboarding is a term that refers to snowboarding where the slopes are unaltered and unmarked. This style of snowboarding has grown in popularity because it’s challenging, rewarding, and doesn't have any rules! But that is also why you need the right gear, and the right to tips to stay safe when you’re off the grid.
01
Benefits to Backcountry Snowboarding
Let’s start with the benefits of backcountry snowboarding.
Untracked terrain and fresh powder
If you have a thirst for being first, backcountry snowboarding is a great way to scratch that itch. The whole point of backcountry is to ride terrain that hasn’t been touched or is relatively unaltered. It gives you a chance to blaze your own trails. Most resorts allow you to go off established trails and explore on your own, so long as you recognize and assume the risks of doing so.
Travis Rice rides in the Kootenay Valley of British Colombia, Canada
© Tim Zimmerman / Red Bull Content Pool
Empty slopes and no lift lines
That plays into another benefit. Most people who go to ski resorts go for the resort itself, not the mountain. Especially if you’re at a popular resort, the lines and wait times can drastically slow down your day. But your average casual snowboarder isn’t going to go beyond the boundaries of the resort to explore. This means that when you decide to go backcountry, it’s just you! There are no reservations for going off the beaten path and even less to get in your way and slow you down.
Freedom and adventure
However, the primary appeal for those who enjoy backcountry snowboarding is the sense of freedom and adventure you feel as you ride. There are no patrols in the backcountry, no rules to adhere to outside of the laws of nature. There aren’t any slow zones either. It’s just you and the open slopes, and everything is determined by your own preferences and skills.
Travis Rice at the Natural Selection Tour at Jackson Hole in 2021
© Leslie Hittmeier / Natural Selection Tour / Red Bull Content Pool
02
Choosing the Right Gear
In order to reap all the benefits that backcountry snowboarding has to offer, you have to make sure you’re geared up for the challenge. Backcountry snowboarding has its own gear designed for the challenges of the sport.
Snowboards
Compared to your average snowboard, backcountry snowboards are stiffer, longer and narrower. These specifications allow you to better handle the changes in terrain that you may experience in the backcountry. A backcountry snowboard allows the rider more stability at high speeds and increased responsiveness to movements. The boards are also given a directional shape (wider at the nose, skinnier at the tail), increasing the rider’s forward mobility. Since most backcountry snowboarders don’t intend on switching their stance as they ride, there’s less of a need for the board to be twin-shaped (head and tail shaped the same).
Bindings, boots, and other essential equipment
Boards aren’t the only piece of your gear that can be designed specific for backcountry snowboarding. There are backcountry bindings, which allow you to lock your heels into the board and give you more stability as you ride. You have backcountry boots, which are lightweight and have cuffs that make hiking much more comfortable. There are other essentials as well like a backpack filled with safety equipment. Essentials include a first aid kit, an avalanche transceiver ( continuously transmits radio signal), an avalanche safety kit and a shovel. That is in addition to your helmet, goggles and gloves.
Mark McMorris in the backcountry at the Natural Selection Tour in Alaska
© Dean Blotto Gray / Natural Selection Tour / Red Bull Content Pool
Tips for selecting the right gear
When you’re looking for gear, make sure that you’re considering your comfort level as well. Your gear should be snug, not too tight or too loose. Your backpack shouldn’t be too heavy or overflowing with stuff. One of your most important pieces of gear, of course, is your snowboard, and choosing the right one is crucial.
If you’re a beginner, go with a beginner snowboard. Compared to advanced snowboards, beginner boards are wider at the base and tail and longer at the nose, giving the rider more balance with its symmetrical design. They are also lighter and less expensive.
As you improve your skills, you can upgrade to the advanced boards, which are narrower at the base and tail and have a shorter nose. This increases the board’s responsiveness to the rider and makes the board better suited for fast speeds.
03
Finding the Best Backcountry Terrain
Doing your research before you head out into the backcountry can often keep you away from situations that would ruin the fun.
As tantalizing as the quest for adventure might be, your first time in the backcountry shouldn’t be completely new terrain. Your first backcountry run should be a place that’s already been explored before, easy to get to and from, and a low avalanche risk. This will give you a relatively safe environment for you to iron out all the kinks as you get used to riding in the backcountry.
Hana Beaman at Red Bull Natural Selection Tour in Alaska in 2021
© Tom Monterosso / Natural Selection Tour / Red Bull Content Pool
There are also several hazards to check out before you go out:
- Couloirs, which are crevasses in mountain terrain that are very steep. Not knowing where those are could be very dangerous.
- Glades, which are dense forests that you could encounter on the slopes.
- Roots or tree wells, which could be hidden in the snow but cause you to lose balance.
04
Tips for Backcountry Snowboarding
With the inherent dangers of backcountry snowboarding, you want to have a solid grasp on snowboarding before venturing out into the backcountry. The general rule of thumb is once you can confidently navigate several intermediate runs at a resort, then you can take on the backcountry.
Basic techniques for riding off-piste
When riding in the backcountry, remember that the terrain is a lot less traveled than the resort. The terrain is going to be very bumpy at times, and not every landing is going to be a smooth one. However, the main thing you have to do is keep your stance firm but not tight. You want to be able to withstand landings but also have some stability should the terrain start to get uneven.
How to conserve energy and pace yourself
Backcountry snowboarding is going to be more physically draining than riding at the resort. When you go on a trip, make sure you have some sort of snack that can sustain you without weighing you down. A trail mix or some granola bars is a good recommendation. It also would be good to build up some physical endurance before you head on a trip to the backcountry. Carrying all that weight up and down a mountainside is no small feat, and if your body is not used to such a workout, the backcountry will not be kind to you.
Tips for staying safe and avoiding common mistakes
At the end of the day, the most important thing once you head out into the backcountry is staying safe.
- Go with someone else. Bring a buddy or a group of friends who are also capable of handling backcountry terrain. This can help mitigate potential risks and its negative effects.
- Make sure you are dressed properly for the weather. Backcountry snowboarding is hard enough; you don’t want to add on to it by not being comfortable or getting sick.
- Make sure all your gear is functional and bring some tools that can repair or replace that gear should something go awry.
- Don’t go beyond your limit. Explore the backcountry within reason and don’t do anything unreasonable or dangerous.
Conclusion
Backcountry snowboarding is a super fun way to explore slopes that no one ever has before. However, you have to take the necessary precautions and prepare accordingly to ensure that you will have a safe time on the mountain. There’s more than one way to explore the backcountry and there’s so much to learn in order to have a good time. Once you put in the necessary work, you’ll quickly understand why so many snowboarders enjoy backcountry snowboarding!
