Steep Splitboarding Clinic
A steep splitboarding clinic for snowboarders. Learn the technical skills required to make sustained descents of up to fifty degrees, in a safely controlled environment.
The session will cover technique tuition on executing jump turns, correct weight distribution and edge control. You will be taught how to ride using axes and how to self-arrest in case of a fall.
Understanding the psychology behind steep snowboarding is critical. Over this 4-day period, we will help you to manage the natural fear that can arise from steep snowboarding, making you feel more comfortable when making sustained, steep descents.
The course is progressive; we start with shorter pitch steeps in the local area, gradually building up to longer pitch runs of up to fifty degrees.
Your instructor is also a UIAGM-qualified high mountain guide. They will use ropes to manage your descent until you are comfortable with making them yourself, unaided.
This allows you to manage the feeling of exposure, practice and refine your technique and have an incredible experience in a safely managed way.
When will it take place?
The best time for steep snowboarding is in the spring months. We can normally arrange a session during March and April. Please contact us to discuss potential dates.
- 18th – 21st April 2026, €1850
- The Programme
- Fitness & Ability
- What's Included
- What's Not Included
- Why Book
- Payment & Cancellations
The Programme
A progressive clinic that takes place over 4-days. We will start locally, building up your skills and helping you mentally prepare. We hope to culminate the session with a classic steep descent in either France, Italy or Switzerland.
Fitness & Ability
This clinic is focused on the descents more than the ascents, even so (ideally) you will already have some splitboard touring experience. We expect participants to already have a strong snowboarding technique, who are experienced in riding through varying terrain and conditions.
Steep snowboarding requires good fitness – you may have to make a tour of 1200+m metres and have enough left in the tank to then manage a physical descent.
We will talk to you in about this in more detail upon your enquiry with us
What’s Included
- 4- full days of steep splitboarding tuition with Laurent Bibollet or Paul Verdier.
- 2-nights of refuge accommodation
- Alpinist equipment if required – ice axes, harnesses and snowboard boot crampons
What’s Not Included
- Accommodation in the resort on your night of arrival and the night after the first day spent locally. We will help to arrange this.
- Airport transfers (fly to Geneva)
- Food, drinks or snacks
- Any day pass required for a local ski area, if used.
Why Book
This is an opportunity to learn how to ride steep lines at altitude under the pro guidance of UIAGM-certified splitboard guides who are also snowboard instructors. There are very few full-time UIAGM splitboard / snowboard guides in the French Alps; your instructors have many years’ experiences of riding in this type of terrain
Payment & Cancellations
Payment Policy: A deposit of €495 is required immediately upon booking your session with The Rider Social. The balance of your trip costs are due 6 weeks before the course start date. Failure to meet the payment deadline 6 weeks before the start date will forfeit your place on that session without refund.
Cancellation policy: For cancellations made up to 6 weeks before the course start date, 25% of the ‘deposit’ amount paid will be refunded. For cancellations occurring within 6 weeks of the course start date no refund payments will be made. If cancelling a course within 6 weeks of the course start date, payments made cannot be refunded, carried forward or moved to another course.
Refund policy: The Rider Social is not liable for refunds or compensation due to late arrival, failure to attend or complete a course due to injury or illness, travel restrictions, resort closure, adverse weather conditions, force majeure or any other causes or conditions outside the control of The Rider Social
Covid-19: In the event that you can’t attend your session due to Covid-19 associated travel and holiday disruptions including (but not exclusive to) resort closure, FCO imposed travel restrictions, airline train or ferry travel bans imposed by International or local governments, a total refund of the balance paid, minus the non refundable deposit amount, will be refunded to you (the client).
In the event that you can’t attend your course due to you, (the client) being personally affected by the Covid-19 virus (including illness, inability to travel due to illness or any other personal restrictions affecting your travel) The Rider Social will not be liable to refund any monies (as stated in the refund policy above). It is strongly recommended that you have adequate personal insurance for illness, personal cancellation and personal travel disruption.
Upon booking any advertised session of any duration with The Rider Social you are in agreement of the Payment & Cancellations policies listed above.
FAQs
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Where will it take place?
We have a lot of good options in the Chablais Alps, there are several shorter pitch steeps that we can start with ranging from thirty-five – forty degrees and several hundred metres in vertical drop. We will look to move you onto to steeper aspects of up to fifty degrees with much longer descents, dependent on how quickly you progress.
Chamonix is only a 90-minute drive away from our base here in the Portes Du Soleil so there are a lot of options a short journey away should conditions dictate that we move somewhere better.
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When will it take place?
The best time for steep snowboarding is in the spring months. We can normally arrange a session during March and April. Please contact us to discuss potential dates.
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Who will lead the course?
Laurent Bibollet or Paul Verdier – both are UIAGM certified high mountain splitboard guides.
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How many people on each course?
We accept a maximum of 2 clients on a 4-day steep splitboarding clinic. We would even suggest that you consider booking on as a solo client for faster progression.
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What level do I need to already be at to join?
This clinic is focused on the descents more than the ascents, even so (ideally) you will already have some splitboard touring experience. We expect participants to already have a strong snowboarding technique, who are experienced in riding through varying terrain and conditions.