Our latest interviewee is based in out of the Big Sky country and has shreded lines all over the PNW and as of recently Alaska. In this interview I talk with Chad about what got him into splitboarding and why he stuck with snowboarding when the majority of his touring partners are skiers.
Name: Chad Klein
Primary Location, Home Mountain, or Home Range: Bridger Range and Big Sky,
Bozeman, Montana.
Age: 23
Primary Solid Board: Venture Zephyr Rocker
Primary Split Board: Venture Zephyr Split Rocker
Preferred Binding System: Karakoram Split30
Boot: Burton DriverX
How Long Have You Been Snowboarding Semi-Professionally?: Not sure I’m ready to claim Semi-Pro yet. For the past few years people have been giving me free shit, so call it what you like.
How Long Have You Been Splitboarding?: 2 years
What Compelled You to Begin Splitboarding?: It became to difficult to get to the places I wanted to get without skins. I played with an AT ski setup for a while, but then I realized I didn’t really like skiing and would rather snowboard. I was not really into splitboarding back in the day because you had to sacrifice so much performance by cutting a snowboard in half and adding a bunch of heavy hardware, but splitting has come a long way recently. I caved a couple years ago and bought myself a split setup
and now I’ll never go back.
Most Memorable Glacier Travel: I spent a month this past May in the Fairweather Range in Southeast Alaska this spring with 5 of my closest friends and it was epic. It was 21 days, and every day all I was concerned about was eating, and where I was going to ride that day, that’s it. Can’t wait to do it again.
Where has Split Boarding taken you?: I’ve explored numerous areas in the PNW, from the Cascades, to my old stomping grounds in Idaho, to Alaska, and all over Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.
Gnarliest or most Extensive Approach for a Single Line: We skied this line in AK this spring named after one of our expedition members’ mom, Judy Krueger. It was a pretty narrow, 1500 vertical 45+ degree chute with a decent sized bergschrund at the bottom. It was one of the roughest and steepest roped up ascents I’ve ever done through some
pretty sketchy spots strait up the gut of the chute. It was a sick run, and I’m sure I would have really liked it if I hadn’t tomahawked down it!
Ideal Backcountry Day: Waking up in my tent, late because the snow doesn’t soften up until after noon. Cook some rad breakfast, dig up all the gear buried by the fresh pow, and go shred some lines. Come back to camp when the snow starts to get hard, cook a rad meal, do some reading, and snuggle up in my sleeping bag ready to do it all over again the next day.
Lifetime Goal or Objective, a Line You’ve Been Eyeing for a While, or What Would Be your Dream Trip?: I’ve recently set my sights on a Japan trip sometime, but haven’t really nailed down the specifics or goals. I just want face shots of
Okanagan Champaign Pow.
Favorite Backcountry Meal: Breakfast burritos with powdered eggs, cheese, dried hash browns, summer sausage, and El Pato hot sauce.
Favorite Piece of Gear: My Marmot CWM -40 sleeping bag. After a long day it feels so good to snuggle up in that thing, warm up, and fall asleep. I even love it after having 21 days of shower free funk in it. The stench feels like home.
Favorite Place You’ve Travelled (and Why): Southeast Alaska. The mountains there are so huge and drop straight down into the ocean. It is a super unique place with nobody around. Don’t tell anyone though, I don’t like crowds.
Sponsors: Again, I don’t want to claim pro, but these people have been known
to give me free stuff – Smith, Venture, Karakoram, Mountain Khaki, Hilleberg, Mystery Ranch, Helly Hansen, and Pacific Outdoor Equipment
Local Causes You’re Passionate About: Big Sky Youth Empowerment Program and Protect Our Winters
Other Stuff You Do (music, volunteerism, art, school, etc.): I’m currently finishing up my undergraduate degree in Snow Science at Montana State University. It’s a real major, I swear.
Website/Blog: www.mountainstache.com
