Hut Trip

Hut Trips: How to, Heuristics, and Having Fun

Hut trips… This simple term evokes mental images of endless deep powder runs, quality time spent with friends, eating excellent home-cooked food, and living a life of backcountry simplicity solely centered around what skiing dreams are made of.   Of course, this is likely the general idea of what all of us are hoping for when we drop $1,000-5,000 on …

Be Curious Header

Be Curious, Not Judgemental: A Mindset for Approaching Avalanche Incident Reports

All Photos in “Be Curious, Not Judgemental” Courtesy of Aidan Goldie-Ahumada The backcountry is a harsh and unforgiving learning environment. While Backcountry skiing is a uniquely thrilling and multi-faceted activity that can give access to stunning and untouched natural landscapes, interacting with avalanche terrain comes with inherent risks. Over the years, avalanches have indiscriminately claimed the lives of many people, …

Aaron Diamond Header

Planning a Safe Backcountry Ski Tour: Avalanche Awareness and Navigation Basics

Planning a backcountry ski tour requires more than just picking a destination—it’s about managing risks, understanding avalanche hazards, and navigating with precision. This guide breaks down essential tour planning steps, from interpreting topographic maps and slope angles to incorporating avalanche forecasts and timing strategies. Whether you’re new to the backcountry or honing your skills, this article will help you create …

Taking Your Dog Ski Touring

Taking Your Dog Backcountry Skiing

All photos courtesy of Brooke Jackson Watching 60 lbs of pure fluffy joy barrel down a snowy slope is an unforgettable skiing experience.  Since she was a puppy, my Field Retriever, Eva, has loved snow as much as any Powder Hound out there. As we drive up the mountain pass and hit the snow line, she begins whimpering in excitement …

Spartan vs Spartan Ascent

Voile Spartan vs. Spartan Ascent Splitboard

We’re often asked about the differences between the Spartan and Spartan Ascent splitboard. While the quick answer is that the Spartan is a heavier, softer, more budget-friendly version of the Spartan Ascent, there’s obviously much more that goes into it. So hopefully today we’ll help give you a better idea of which Spartan option is right for you. What’s The …

Which Splitboard Is Right For You

Voile Splitboard Shootout: Which Board is Right For You?

Here at Voile, we have 4 distinct Splitboard shapes in our lineup. Each one is geared toward a distinct feel and style of riding. Hence, there are a few notable characteristics in each board that help them specialize in these different categories. While there are riders out there who’d be comfortable with any of these boards as a daily driver, …

Kuo Denali Rib

How to (finally) Plan Your Dream Ski Expedition.

V-Team ambassador Iain Kuo shares experience from previous ski expeditions to destinations around the globe that will help you execute in style, from the airport to the summit. Here are Iain’s pro tips to help you plan your dream ski expedition. If you’ve been dreaming of high peaks in remote places, thirsting to take your skis to another continent, planning …

Gear Repair

A Field Guide To Repairing Your Gear

Photo Courtesy of Aidan Goldie-Ahumada We’ve all been there; one minute you’re excitedly pulling your favorite puffy jacket on, ready to run out the door for a day of skiing, the next you’re staring in shock and frustration at the zipper, split wide open as cold air billows through the jacket. Outdoor gear, like everything, has a lifespan and suffers …

Hyper Skis Thumb

What Makes Voile Hyper Skis Different

Here at Voile, we make skis for the backcountry. Keeping it simple, solid, and lightweight are top priorities for everything we build. This formula is proven to work well for almost all backcountry users. But then there are those who want to take weight savings and uphill performance to the next level. This is the reason behind our Hyper series …

Hyper Glide

Everything You Need To Know About Climbing Skins

Having a good set of climbing skins and knowing how to use them can be the difference between an epic day of riding and a complete suffer-fest. We’ll be running you through their history, installation, maintenance, and everything in-between. Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Climbing Skins. The History of Climbing Skins Climbing skins have been around for a …