Its time to focus once again on the glacier clad Western Alps where a DIYS (do it yourself) splitboarder is taking advantage of endless untracked slopes. Wether its surfing waves or snow Federicos life revolves around the outdoors averaging over 80 days of riding for the past twenty years. I was happy to have a few words with him about his previous experiences and his passion about splitboarding.
Name: Federico Ghione
Primary Location, Home Mountain, or Home Range: Western Alps
Age: 39
Primary Solid Board: Rossignol Undertaker 186
Primary Split Board: Burton Malolo DIYS
Preferred Binding System: Burton Mission
Boot: Burton Driver X
How Many Days a Season do you Snowboarding? from 60 to 80 days / year since I was 20
How Long Have You Been Splitboarding? 6/7 years
What Compelled You to Begin Splitboarding? a split board is better than snowshoes most of the time
Most Memorable Glacier Travel: “Pan de Rideau”, La Grave, 5.1 S5 E4 TD, 2000m 50°max
Gnarliest or most Extensive Approach for a Single Line: “Polluce” N – W face 4092m from Champoluc (1600m) S5 50° in the first 300m. D1 1800m board on my backpack, D2 shit-stop every 100m hanging on my axes…
Ideal Backcountry Day: wake up in my van in my best secret spot, 60-70 cm of new snow covers the old tracks, just a few friends
Lifetime Goal or Objective, a Line You’ve Been Eyeing for a While, or What Would Be your Dream Trip? keep on surfing and snowboarding until I die
Favorite Backcountry Meal: coffe toasts butter & honeyfor breakfast, dry fruits during the day, lot of wine bread and cheese after
Favorite Piece of Gear: my ABS backpack, I hate it for its weight, I love it when I find myself on a minefield
Favorite Place You’ve Travelled: some years ago I crossed Sahara on a motorbike, driving from my house to Dakar on my own. Not exactly a sb trip when I come back from a snowboarding trip I always think that nothing compares to Alps…
Local Causes You’re Passionate About: NO TAV, it’s a movement against the distruction of our valley (Val di Susa) for building a high speed railway (we will never surrender!!)
Other Stuff You Do: climlbing, surfing, traveling
Here is a day in the life of Federico
