The best beginner tours for splitboarders and ski tourers

You should take it easy on your first splitboard tour. At Radical Sports, we’ll tell you which tours in Switzerland are particularly suitable when there’s enough snow.

What are beginner/beginner tours and what are the requirements?

Splitboard tours without steep and narrow sections are generally ideal for beginners. Whether a tour is suitable for beginners depends not only on the route, but also on the conditions. Even a medium-difficulty tour can be suitable for beginners in ideal conditions, whereas an actually easy route can be quite unpleasant in icy or slushy conditions, for example.

Powder snow and blue skies, that would be the wish. Unfortunately, the reality is usually different. You rarely encounter powder snow from the summit to the end of the tour. The snow conditions are constantly changing. So do the demands on the snowboarder/skier. Powder, hard snow, wind-packed snow, slabs of ice, frozen avalanche cones – an experienced winter sports enthusiast can adapt to these conditions.

You should still be safe and fearless on the board even in bad weather and when the black pistes are no longer perfectly groomed.

It is difficult to give everyone a general answer as to what exactly you need to be able to do in order to be able to ski downhill in open terrain. However, there are a few things that you can easily practise in advance on or off the piste.

You can find the exact requirements for a tour here: Radical tour requirements

Please note: Even as a beginner, you need experience in ski touring. We recommend that you attend a freeride and avalanche course before you venture out into open terrain on your own. Otherwise, book us as a leading and experienced splitboard guide in Switzerland.

Apart from the conditions and your own riding ability, it can be said that good beginner tours should include the following:

• Adapted vertical meters in flatter terrain without drops or narrow sections.
• Abort the tour and turn back at any time
• The danger spots are clear and the avalanche danger is low due to the steepness (less than 30°)
• The weather and conditions are good

What is the difference between ski touring and splitboard touring?

Splitboard tours differ somewhat from ski tours. The material is obviously different, which has an effect on walking and riding. Longer traverses in particular are more uncomfortable for splitboarders, whether up or down. The same goes for dragging routes or plate air rides. An adapted route specifically for your needs therefore makes sense.

Basic physical condition

Of course, you need a basic level of physical fitness for ski and splitboard touring so that you can make it to the summit. For a beginner’s tour, it is said that you should manage around 600-800 vertical meters in 360hm per hour. In summer, this corresponds to around 300 vertical meters when hiking.

Where and how can I learn to ski tour?

You can learn how to snowboard in deep snow in snowboard courses with a freeride focus. There are countless offers from snowboard schools, and we also offer such technique courses. Good riding technique is a basic prerequisite for building on this with a touring course.
As far as touring know-how is concerned, the Alpine clubs and various Alpine schools, and of course we too, offer excellent basic and advanced courses. Our specialty is that we all ride splitboards ourselves. Alpine clubs or alpine schools tend not to. This can have an effect on the choice of tour, such as traverses, flat spots or vertical meters. And of course there’s nothing wrong with having really competent friends who can teach you how to tour. However, it is often difficult for a beginner to judge whether a friend is competent or not; and often the imparting of knowledge falls by the wayside on a special tour because it is simply about having fun. Anyone who entrusts themselves to a friend or acquaintance should therefore always question their actions. Not out of mistrust, but simply because you need to know why the other person is making the decisions they are, why they are going left and not right, why this slope is now “safe” and the other is not. Otherwise you won’t learn anything on a tour. In addition to our courses and tours, you can acquire knowledge from books and reliable internet sources.
And of course you can also take a private guide (instead of the courses). Walking with skins is relatively easy, but hairpin turns require specific practice from the splitboard touring beginner in order to achieve a good technique.

Practice converting from a split to a snowboard in the dry. It is usually cold and windy on the summit. Fitting climbing skins sounds easy, but if they are fitted incorrectly or not optimally, the ascent can quickly become tricky and/or strenuous. Practicing on suitable piste tours would be the next step.

But now let’s get started with our recommendations:

The link to WhiteRisk includes the snowboard version with GPS track. Nevertheless, the choice of route must always be decided anew on site due to the conditions. Our tour suggestions are also suitable for children and, of course, for ski tourers.

Which tours are suitable?

Laucherenstöckli

An easy and regularly visited classic tour entry point, which is also popular with tourers when snow is scarce. The panoramic summit (summit at 1755m) is away from the ski slope and lifts. The playful but flat terrain is ideal for snowboarders.

Ascent: 620m 1.30 – 2h
Orientation: north-east to north-west

Link to WhiteRisk with the GPS track: https://whiterisk.ch/tour/niki/11403384

Link to the official SAC tour (a paid account may be required)
sac-tourenportal/3403/skitouren/2976/

Pischa via Mattjischtäli

Away from the hustle and bustle of the slopes despite the cable car support. The Pischa summit can be skipped. Despite its beautiful view, the ascent ridge is often blown off. The descent via Mattjisch Täli in the Flüela valley over gentle terrain is easy to reach via the saddle at P.2835. The key sections are the transition to the “Verborgen Pischa” at P.2593, which can be easy depending on the track, but is difficult for splitboarders. It is best to walk down the 20m. On the descent, it is important to find the right gully/ridge from 2300m. Many are too steep or too overgrown. Pay attention to the GPS!

Ascent: 380m 1:30
Descent: 950m
Orientation: south-east

Link to WhiteRisk with the GPS track: https://whiterisk.ch/tour/niki/3919032

Link to the official SAC tour (a paid account may be required)
sac-tourenportal/pischahorn-5073/skitouren/abfahrt-durchs-mattjisch-taelli-ins-flueelatal-41559/

Twelfth horn

The easy tour leads over extensive and forest-free alpine terrain up to an inconspicuous hilltop in the immediate vicinity of the striking Piz Beverin. If the snow conditions are suitable, you can extend the descent by a few more meters and swing down to Zillis. Thanks to the alpine terrain, this is also possible when there is little snow.

Ascent: 700m 2h
Orientation: south-east

Link to WhiteRisk with the GPS track: https://whiterisk.ch/tour/niki/3429914

Link to the official SAC tour (a paid account may be required)
sac-tourenportal/6180/skitouren/2564/

Dance floor

When there is snow, even at lower altitudes, the Tanzboden is a popular ski and snowshoe tour destination in high winter, even in poor weather conditions. The wide grassy knoll of the Tanzboden is the most important tourist attraction north of the Speer and is “crowned” by the Tanzboden mountain inn, which is open all year round.

Ascent: 710m 1 – 2:30h / with ski lift use minus 250 vertical meters and a good 1h less
Orientation: North – North-East

Link to the official SAC tour (a paid account may be required)
SAC-skitouren/ab-ebnat-kappel-oder-himmelstoerli-ende-tanzbodenlift-2611/

Chrüz with departure to Gadenstätt

At St. Antönien, the Chrüz is easy to see and reach. The sun-exposed route first leads through the forest via the winter hiking trail. From Stafel Valpun, follow the ridge to Chlei Chrüz. The very avalanche-prone Chessi hollow should be avoided at all costs. The main summit can be safely omitted, the Chlei Chrüz at 2102m is more interesting for splitboarders. Caution. The ascent ridge can be tricky depending on the conditions. The descent leads down its eastern slopes to the tree line. Now turn right and through a forest aisle past the huts of Alpanova (1600 m). Continue south-east over open terrain towards Heldstabe as far as Gadenstätt and the post bus stop at P. 1276 on the St. Antönierstrasse. Depending on the snow, even as far as Pany.

Ascent: 740hm 2:20h
Orientation: north-west
Descent: 920hm
Orientation: south-east

Link to WhiteRisk with the GPS track: https://whiterisk.ch/tour/niki/220836

Link to the official SAC tour (a paid account may be required)
sac-tourenportal/394/ski_tour/4600

Erdisgulmen near Flumserberg

The Flumserberg area offers excellent touring opportunities. Ideal for anyone who wants to gain their first experience of ski touring. Many meters of descent thanks to the cable car support. The tour up to the pre-summit of Erdisgulmen leads over easy terrain, but a clever choice of route is important for safety, as some of the slopes above are steeper than 30°. Descent over beautiful hilly terrain with a mini halfpipe to Alp Fursch for a coffee and cake stop and then back to the ski area.

Ascent: 530hm 2h / 350hm if start from Leist
Orientation: East
Descent: 700hm / 1300hm if to Prodalp-Tannenboden

Link to WhiteRisk with the GPS track: whiterisk.ch/tour/niki/736252

Link to the official SAC tour (a paid account may be required)
SAC-flumserberg-bergstation-maschgenkamm-3475/

Redeten ridge from Lake Wägital

A popular, easily accessible splitboard tour at the back of the Wägital. Wonderful views of the Wägitalersee and Fluebrig. Easier and more secluded than the much-visited Mutteristock. Caution: The karst terrain should be well snowed in. Otherwise there is a risk of nasty scratches. It’s a good thing that this area is one of the wettest in the region. Depending on the route chosen, the ascent through the forest can be challenging. Hardly at risk of avalanches if the tracks are laid wisely.

Ascent: 1290hm 4 – 4:30h
Orientation: North-West
Descent: 1290hm / can be reversed at any time from Rinderweid.

Link to WhiteRisk with the GPS track: https://whiterisk.ch/tour/niki/164692

Link to the official SAC tour (a paid account may be required)
sac-tourenportal/raedertenstock-redertenstock-1481/skitouren/vom-waegitalersee-4929/

Attention: Even supposedly avalanche-safe tours require specialist knowledge for touring. Weather, conditions and the human factor require well-structured planning, even for beginner tours

Touring involves risks. It is almost impossible for beginners to assess them properly. My recommendation:

• Improve your skills: Skiing in different types of snow and shapes. And all this on different slope inclinations. The whole thing is great for practicing in a ski resort.

• Test your equipment: Do you like touring at all? Join a group. I would hire the equipment first. Make sure you get good advice. The equipment for touring is versatile and more extensive than on the piste.

• Professional competence: Knowledge of the dangers and their consequences is the key to safe touring. Read up on the subject in the literature and, even better, on tours advertised for this purpose.

What will I learn in the course?

This may not apply to every touring course, but in principle you probably learn about the same thing on most of my courses. This includes the following:

• Glueing and stowing climbing skins correctly
• Adjust skis, snowboard boots/splitboard bindings for walking and riding incl. climbing aid.
• Height adjustment for the touring pole and correct holding height
• Checking and using the avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe
• Use of crampons and their assembly
• Introducing and practicing hairpin bends
• Run, enjoy, powder, enjoy nature
• Avalanche awareness, planning, orientation etc.

One way to find other popular tours is to use the numerous headmaps, e.g. on Strava. A heat map shows hotspots (red) where a particularly large number of ski tours have been recorded. However, this does not mean that they are also suitable for beginners. Professional competence on tours is and remains an important point.

Figure: Heatmap of a collection of GPS tracks of ski tours from the period 2006-2017. Base map from © Swisstopo

Niki also has other tour recommendations:
-> The most beautiful multi-day tours
-> The most beautiful T4 – T6 hikes
-> The most beautiful climbing routes
-> The most beautiful bike tours

You can find the tools we use at: www.snowboardcoach.ch/tourenplanung/

Our tours and events, especially beginner-friendly: