How to properly cut your splitboard skins

How to cut your skins for your next splitboard tour

A relaxed ski tour starts with good preparation. And for optimal preparation, you need perfectly cut skins. Here's a detailed explanation of how to do this. You can also watch the video below for a recap.

Before cutting

Make sure your splitboard is free of dust, dirt, and wax residue. Any wax residue that is not removed can severely impair the adhesive properties of the skin.

For cutting, you will need:
Your new splitboard skin, splitboard, hammer, cut-resistant surface such as a cutting board. Integrated with Kohla splitboard skins: 2x butterfly clips, 2x elastic straps, wooden base, cutter, template

1. Template

Place the template on the adhesive side at the end of your splitboard skin. Make sure that the edges line up perfectly.

2. Cut out the template

Select the correct length for your splitboard and use the enclosed cutter knife to cut along the line through the template and skin. Make sure you are using a cut-resistant surface, such as a cutting board. Keep the cut-out template, as you will need it for the second skin. Now mark the intended position with the claw by pressing the claws lightly through the template into the skin. You can then remove the template.

3. Tail attachment

Now place the splitboard skin with the adhesive side on the supplied underlay. Remove the protective film approx. 5 cm from the skin, position the elastic strap on the marked spot and hammer the tips straight through the skin. Use the supplied wooden block for this.

4. Elastic Strap

Stick the protective film back onto the fur, turn it over, and use a hammer to bend the tips on the hair side toward the end of the fur so that they are slightly slanted. Then hammer them all the way down so that they lie flat against the fur.

5. Attaching the skin

Now place the skin on your splitboard so that the straight edge of the splitboard is flush with the straight side of the skin. Make sure to leave the edge free.

6. Attach the butterfly clip

Attach the butterfly tensioning system to the elastic strap and adjust it so that the elastic strap is tensioned by approx. 5-10 mm.

7. Cutting the skin

Check again that the edge is exposed, and then you can start with the cutting.

8. Cutting the skin

Hold the splitboard half firmly and quickly cut off the excess skin with the knife along the edge at a 45° angle in the direction of the skin. Repeat all steps for the second skin. Use a fresh blade for each cut to ensure optimal results.

9. Have fun on your tour

Now your skins are cut to size and you're ready for your next ski tour.

Using protective net correctly

Smart Glue technology:

With skins featuring Smart Glue technology, you can stick your skins together without using the release film. This is actually advantageous, as the adhesive technology is reinforced when the skins are stuck together again. We only recommend using a release film for storage over a longer period of time, e.g., over the summer, to protect the adhesive from drying out.

Hot melt technology:

A film is mandatory here! This is a very strong adhesive that can only be pulled apart again with considerable effort. For this reason, we recommend always using the release film.