Revelstoke event: Canuck Splitfest celebrates 10th anniversary

Originally considered to be a very niche sport, the popularity of splitboarding is on the rise. Nowhere is this more obvious than at the Canuck Splitfest, a two-day celebration of the sport featuring demos, training workshops, guided tours, presentations, a trade show and talks from experts in the field. The event is organized in support of Avalanche Canada’s Craig Kelly Fund and in memory of the event’s founder Wade Galloway.

For those unfamiliar, a splitboard is a snowboard that can be split into two parts for climbing, making it possible for snowboarders to enjoy the backcountry experience that’s historically been limited to skiers.

The 2017 Canuck Splitfest evening event attracted about 400 people. Now in its eighth year, the event grows each year and promises to attract even more in 2018. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer

Rather than an event just for those experienced in splitboarding, organizer Emilie de Crombrugghe says it’s a great opportunity for anyone who might be interested in trying the sport out to get a taste of what it’s like and decide if it’s right for them and what type of equipment might be best for them.

The Canuck Splitfest evening event features a tradeshow with a variety of vendor booths. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer.

This year’s event, its 10th anniversary, is meant to be bigger and have more of an offering for attendees than previous years. De Crombrugghe says they’re expecting a greater turnout and will have more brands on board. They’re also bringing back fan favourites for the Saturday night speakers and adding demos at the Revelstoke Mountain Resort.

“I think more and more people are realizing that splitboarding is a little more accessible than they used to think. I know a lot of beginners never really know what they should do and if they should come to these events,” de Crombrugghe says. “If you’re a beginner, you should absolutely come.”

The event takes place on January 10 and 11 and will be hosted at RMR, Mt. Begbie Brewing, the Trapper factory and the community centre. More information can be found at canucksplitfest.com or in the events calendar in this issue