Gear Review: Black Diamond Ascension Skins
Voile markets a Splitboard Tractor Skin, which is actually made by Black Diamond and branded under the Voile name. These are made specifically for splitboards, although a 140mm will work the same. The problem with the tractor skins is that there is no tail clip.
If you plan on skinning a slope more than say 30-50 degrees you are going to want the piece of mind having the rear tail clip. If it gives out on a steep traverse you are screwed (aka a ‘skin roll’), in which case you will find yourself sliding backwards. I would still stick to my word and use the BD STS Ascension Skins that have a tail clip. They are exactly the same as tractor skins, except that the STS includes a tail clip & leash. The above pic is the 2013 model of BD Ascension skins as Black Diamond replaced mine for a warranty issue (see below).
Adjustable front nose cable
In 2011 the adjustable nose cable came out allows you to install at any angle or size! Note – the nose cable is now standard on all the STS skins.
On that note: This is the most informative (and funny) video from Steve Romeo [RIP] at TetonAT on how to go about attaching skins (ski and splitboard skins are identical)… here
Shock cord to attach tail skin.
Problem 1: The tail clip issue has been huge in the splitboard community – most jury rig shock cord to the rear board clips to suffice a solution. Since the tail of a split is not flat like a ski (rather an arced point) it has made attaching the skin tail clip a challenge. Some people notch a square cut to their board – I would not advise this because you risk a probable delam point.
My custom milled tail attachment
Solution 1: I custom milled two square clips out of the high density composite I had left over from the Voile kit. The pieces are mounted with G-flex and a heat treatment. You could do the same thing with virtually any high density plastic. Update: 1/15/14 – I now use the G3 Twin Tip Connector.
Problem 2: A note on skin cheat sheets – the ones provided with BD skins are crap. If you get in to extreme temps or windchill they will disintegrate small pieces on to your skins when pulling them apart – which is bad. And yes, unless you plan on spring boarding only, you need the cheat sheets. The cheet sheet is basically a plastic screen that goes between the skins making them easier to pull apart in cold temps. Otherwise they can be impossible to get apart.
Solution 2: go to your local fabric store and buy a yard of plastic backing (stiffener screen), or, get a yard of gutter screen at your local hardware store for a buck. On a side note – if you get the 2013 model of skins Black Diamond has now corrected the problem as the new cheat sheets are essentially the same material I just described. Update: 12/6/12 – Black Diamond corrected the problem with the cheat sheets. The current cheat sheets from 2013 forward work great.
