Spark R&D

Happy New Year splitboarders! We hope your 2023 is filled with smooth skin tracks, stable snow, and epic pow days with your favorite people.

P: Pierre Lucianaz
R: Ettore Personnettaz

Out For A Rip - Part III "Arctic Edition"

🙋‍♂️ Raise your hand if you'd go out for a rip with this crew! We would.

Justin Lamoureux, Harry Kearney, Timmy B. Taussig, Jessa Gilbert Art, and Cedric Landry.

Out For A Rip - Part III "Arctic Edition" Part III - Arctic EditionIn search of high alpine turns the crew heads to Arctic Norway to explore the Lyngen Alps region with the help of some local legends...

Caught in an avalanche. Is freeriding worth the risk? | Arctic Lines - Twenty Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Antti Autti's 3-part series, Twenty, is now live. The episode kicks off with an intense avalanche situation and then dives deep into risk assessment and risk tolerance. It's a topic all splitboarders, not just pros and big line seekers, should consider and think about critically. It's not all heavy though, chapter 2 concludes with an incredible line in Northern Norway, close to the Finnish border.

Caught in an avalanche. Is freeriding worth the risk? | Arctic Lines - Twenty Chapter 2 Arctic Lines presents: Twenty – A documentary series about a freeride snowboarder's journey towards sustainabilityTWENTY CHAPTER TWORisk-taking is part of sn...

CTM DAY TICKET 28. Januar 2023

Have you ever wanted to test the best splitboard gear on the market in the heart of the Austrian Alps? Well then, let us introduce you to the Climb the Mounain festival. It’s an incredible test event in Silvretta, AT that includes gear demos, safety workshops, and guided tours. If you book with the code ctm-spark you’ll save yourself 14€. We’ve personally attended this event and it is outstanding.

CTM DAY TICKET 28. Januar 2023 Splitboard Testival Day Ticket 2023 - sei dabei für nur 29 € das größte Splitboard Testival der Alpen! 18. Climb the Mountain | Festival für…

✅ The Perfect Gift for the Splitboarder in Your Life ✅

When you purchase an ‘I Support My Local Avy Center’ T-shirt or Hoody, we’ll donate $20 to the avy center of your choice! It’s a win/win! T’s come in men’s and women’s sizes, while the hoodies are unisex and come in a super-soft tri-blend material.

Follow the link to check out the gear >> https://www.sparkrandd.com/product/spark-apparel/i-support-my-avy-center-gear/

Spark R&D Splitboard Bindings | Quick Fire Quiver Reviews

Our friends at Whitelines Snowboarding Magazine have produced an excellent video that covers our new ST Tech and 22/23 binding line. If you have any questions about what Spark has going on this winter and want that info from an established, outside source, we highly recommend checking out the Quick Fire review!

Spark R&D Splitboard Bindings | Quick Fire Quiver Reviews Welcome to the Whitelines Quick Fire Quiver Series! We'll be taking a look at some of our favourite collections of snowboard gear from various brands, and ta...

You know we're into the winter season when the first episode of The Splitboard Project drops! In episode 1 of season 3, Will and Mark discuss early season precautions, gear checks, and splitboard movies, and Mark interviews Team Rider Elena Hight, and chats with Holden Outerwear founder, Scott Zergebel, about splitboarding in Southern California. It's a full show and we know the splitboarders out there will dig it.

Listen >> https://www.sparkrandd.com/2022/12/07/the-splitboard-project-s3-e1/

We're excited to share that Nick Russell has officially joined the Spark Team! Nick's splitboard resume speaks for itself. He spends more time on his splitty than most and crushes everything from deep, surfy pow, to extremely technical, big-mountain lines. His passion for human-powered shredding is undeniable and he's a perfect addition to our Team. Welcome, Nick!

P: Dave Campbell

The Spring Branch Road

Check out the full version of The Spring Branch Road, now available on YouTube. The story follows Tailer Spinney and Amanda Hankison on a long bike ride from South Lake Tahoe, CA to the Trinity Alps. They bike through areas devastated by wildfires, battle challenging weather, and then skin deep into the mountains to camp and shred. The riding conditions aren’t ideal, but the stoke is real!

V: Danny Kern

The Spring Branch Road Not everyone wants to bike hundreds of miles to then spend aweek split boarding in a little known, remote mountain range, all insub-par conditions.But deep d...

Freeriding roadtrip to the biggest couloir in Norway with Polestar | Arctic Lines - Twenty chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Antti Autti's 3-part project, Twenty, is now live! Twenty highlights Antti’s 20 years as a professional snowboarder and focuses on his goals of riding big, aesthetic lines, while also considering how his choices and lifestyle impact the planet.

The first chapter is an awesome blend of honesty and shred stoke from Antti. Exactly what we come to expect from him over the years. Enjoy!

Freeriding roadtrip to the biggest couloir in Norway with Polestar | Arctic Lines - Twenty chapter 1 Arctic Lines presents: Twenty – A documentary series about a freeride snowboarder's journey towards sustainabilityTWENTY - CHAPTER ONEAntti Autti has been a ...

Touring with New Splitboard Partners | onX Backcountry

Touring with new backcountry partners can be a little intimidating. We wrote a guest blog for our friends at OnX Backcountry that highlights a few tips when hitting the skin track with new splitboarders.

Touring with New Splitboard Partners | onX Backcountry Riding pow is no fun alone, but how does one go about finding new partners in a safe and sustainable way? We've got your answer.

Boogie 3

🚨Warning - Boogie 3 will make you want to stop what you're doing and go snowboarding with your friends! Another awesome film from Team Rider, Grif Siebert.

Boogie 3 Visuals from a winter spent with good friendsHope you enjoy :)Yours Truly,Grif

A few beautiful shots from Rafael Pease's latest project, SOMOS, filmed last spring in Alaska. We’ll be screening SOMOS and several other splitboard/snowboard movies on Wednesday, November 9th in Bozeman at the Rialto Theater. Tickets are only $12 and proceeds from the event will benefit the Friends of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center.

Info and Tickets >> https://bit.ly/3TsNZT6

Prizing and support from: World Boards | OnX Backcountry | Ridge Merino | Backcountry | Rocky Talkies TINCUP Whiskey



P: Jana Rogers and Jesse Levine

Spark R&D Surge ST 2022/23 Review

We’re always excited when one of our pieces of gear makes the Whitelines Snowboarding Magazine's 100 list. This season, the Surge ST made the cut and we're pumped! Here’s a snippet from the review:

“I always believe that the best binding is the one you barely notice. No pressure points, and no mechanical issues… it just works. That’s exactly the philosophy behind the Surge ST. The guys at Spark have delivered a masterpiece of industrial design here, stripping away any unnecessary bulk – even pointless padding – to focus on pure lightweight function.”

Spark R&D Surge ST 2022/23 Review Tested and selected for our top 100 snowboard products of the year: the Spark R&D Surge ST

Nice review of our Arc ST Splitboard Bindings from the folks at Outside Magazine. Follow the link to check out the review >> https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/snow-sports-gear/best-splitboard-gear/. Here are a couple of quotes from their testers:

“Spark made a smooth binding smoother.”

“The connection from the binding to the new touring brackets yields noticeably less friction, but I was most stoked on the new touring risers .”

[Bottom line: Spark’s industry-leading interface plus the Arc’s tried-and-true, approachable flex and the brand’s recent “smooth touring” innovations make the new Arc ST a solid pick for the vast majority of splitboarders.]

Virtual Powder Blast 2022, organized by Friends of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center

It’s time for Powder Blast 2022, the Friends of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center's annual fall fundraiser! This year will be online, so it is a nice and easy donation process. If you read the reports or benefit from the educational opportunities they provide, please consider making a donation.

Virtual Powder Blast 2022, organized by Friends of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center With your support, we provide over $100,000 every year in fr… Friends of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center needs your support for Virtual Powder Blast 2022

Earn Your Turns - A Night of Backcountry Inspired Snowboard Flicks

Join us in Bozeman on Wednesday, November 9th at the Rialto Bozeman for Earn Your Turns – a night of backcountry-inspired snowboard flicks! We’ll be screening five splitboard/snowboard films and holding a nice little raffle to benefit the Friends of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center. It’s going to be a fun night and a great start to the winter as we move into splitboard season!

Tickets >> https://bit.ly/3TsNZT6

Tickets are $12. Doors at 6:30p. Show at 7:00p.

Films:
SOMOS, Rafael Pease
Backyard Boogie 3, Grif Siebert
The Spring Branch Road, Tailer Spinney
Season Edit, Marissa Krawczak
65%, Jean-louis St-arneault de Lasalles

World Boards OnX Backcountry Connections Movement Ridge Merino Rocky Talkies Backcountry TINCUP Whiskey

Earn Your Turns - A Night of Backcountry Inspired Snowboard Flicks Backcountry Inspired snowboard films to get you stoked for the winter ahead.

Several members of Team Spark participated in a 2-day Wilderness First Aid course last weekend. It’s important to keep your first aid skills just as sharp as your avalanche skills when traveling in the backcountry. Our friend Rachel actually wrote a blog for us a few years ago detailing five good reasons to get some wilderness first aid training >> https://www.sparkrandd.com/2017/12/14/rescue-importance-wilderness-medicine-training-backcountry/.

- Things DO Go Wrong
- Medical Care Could be Hours Away
- It Makes You a Better Partner
- You’ll Pack Better
- You Could Save Someone’s Life

Happy National Manufacturing Day. Here at Spark R&D, we are proud to do it all. Most people think of our large milling machines that make our aluminum parts like baseplates, heel loops, and pucks; but our manufacturing goes much deeper than that. Our in-house capacity includes design, tool making, 3D printing, anodizing (color), injection molding (plastics), pad printing, and more. Today we celebrate manufacturing and draw attention to the excellent career opportunities across multiple industries that manufacturing offers.

Check out our careers page if you’re curious about any of our open manufacturing positions >> https://www.sparkrandd.com/jobs-and-careers/.

Cone Run 4 11 22 1080 v1

Check out our buddy Jason Walker snagging pow laps just outside of Mt. Bachelor last winter! We sent Jason more baseplates this fall so he could keep dialing in his setup for the upcoming winter.

Cone Run 4 11 22 1080 v1

Here’s an awesome opportunity to tour with a couple of Spark R&D Guide Crew members, Jason Champion and Brendan Burns, in Alaska this spring! Spots in the camp are already filling up, find more information here >> https://book.pulselineadventure.com/adventure-detail/pulselineadventure/alaska-backcountry-touring-camp/5653/active



Pulseline Adventure

Did you know we make nearly every part and component to our splitboard bindings right here at our shop in Bozeman, MT? We take a lot of pride in doing our own manufacturing and will continue to emphasize and increase our in-house capabilities as we grow. If you’d like to learn more about how we make our awesome splitboard gear, sign up for one of our Manufacturing Day shop tours on Friday, Oct. 7th >> https://forms.gle/acxoqBG2vvQWzfQR8. Space is limited, so don't wait!



Manufacturing in Montana

We are excited to announce that the 22/23 Arc ST has won Backcountry Mag's coveted Editors' Choice Award! Pick up a copy of the just-released Gear Guide to get their testers' full breakdown on the 22/23 Arc ST, as well as their thoughts on all the other awesome pieces of splitboard equipment hitting the market this winter.

We're stoked on the fresh new apparel for this season. 🔥 New hoodies, new t-shirt graphics, and some updated colors for the logo t's.

Boom --> https://www.sparkrandd.com/product/spark-apparel/

Spark R&D | Splitboard Bindings and Accessories

For all the splitboarders out there who need an early season dose of stoke, check out our updated website to see what’s new for the 22/23 season! https://www.sparkrandd.com/

We’re pretty fired up on our updated colorways and new Smooth Touring (ST) Tech! Using a process called overmolding, we’ve enhanced both our touring bracket and Whammy Bar climbing wire with a unique thermoplastic that is molded right over the actual metal part. We’ve also redesigned our highbacks to be asymmetrical for improved ergonomics, increased lateral mobility, and better overall durability. The new shape has been a huge hit with the Spark Team Riders!

Is it winter yet!? Maybe not, but it’s not too early to scope the line and get the splitboard stoke flowing. We begin shipping to our dealers in October.

Spark R&D | Splitboard Bindings and Accessories Spark R&D is rider owned and operated. We are dedicated to building the best splitboard bindings & accessories in the world from our shop in Bozeman, MT.

Our Summer BBQ photo gets bigger every year! It was fun to share some good food, cold drinks, and laughs with the crew last Friday. A big thank you to all our employees who make Spark R&D what it is!

Come work with an awesome crew building splitboard bindings and accessories right here in Bozeman, MT! We have multiple manufacturing and assembly positions available. Check out our jobs page to learn more and let us know if you have any questions about any of the listed positions --> https://www.sparkrandd.com/jobs-and-careers/.

Email your resume to [Email hidden] and [Email hidden] to schedule an interview!

Spark R&D manufactures the best splitboard bindings and accessories in the world right here in Bozeman. We are seeking driven and reliable individuals to join our assembly team. You'll learn new skills, work with cool people. Positions start at $15 per hour and increase to $16 within 60 days. Employees will also be eligible for discounts on Spark R&D and other outdoor gear and will have access to demo products. The right candidate is comfortable standing for prolonged periods, using pneumatic drills, and has an eye for detail.

No experience required. Full-time preferred. Positions are seasonal and will go from now until End of Production, however, permanent status is possible after such time. Positions available to start immediately. Please be prepared to wear a facial covering to interview-IE mask, bandanna etc.

A little about us:

We're lucky to build products that bring joy to people and allow them to splitboard places they otherwise couldn't. We are as excited to help splitboarders get out in the backcountry and explore as we are about getting out ourselves. We're looking for awesome individuals who want to share our stoke for snowboarding, splitboarding, and building bindings.

Duties and Responsibilities:

-Assist assembly lead with maintaining organized and accurate inventory.
-Assemble bindings, binding components, and crampons with other assembly team members.
-Count parts in-process and finished goods to assist in accurate ERP entires.
-Conduct quality control checks throughout the assembly process
-Assist machining with bending of flat parts as necessary
-Assist with counting and recording processed parts in all sub-departments as needed
-Alert supervisor if tools/fixtures are broken
-Maintain a clean work area. Clean and take out trash at the end of every shift

Skills and Qualifications:

-Attention to detail
-Able to use pneumatic air guns, presses, and hand tools
-Good communication
-Able to stand for long periods of time
-Able to bend and lift 50lbs

After 60-days of employment, all Spark employees have access to Employee Purchase Discount and Incentives as well as free use of the Demo Product Fleet.

Email resumes to: aubrin (at) sparkrandd.com

Spark R&D, the industry-leading splitboard binding maker, is hiring CNC Mill Operators for Day and Night Shift! Positions start at $16-$21 per hour depending on experience.

Here at Spark, we make a wide variety of splitboard bindings and accessories for people who are passionate about getting out and earning their turns. We manufacture the world's best splitboard binding right here in Bozeman, MT. We are seeking hard-working, passionate, and reliable individuals to join our machining team. You'll learn new skills, work with a rad crew and help us to grow as a company.

Duties and Responsibilities:

-Operate mills to produce a variety of production parts.
-Ensure quality parts by performing quality checks and performing necessary machine/program adjustments.
-Replace and reset worn tooling.
-Prepare stock with a hydraulic shear and bandsaw.
-Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area.
-Accurately track daily productivity and inventory.
-Bend parts using hydraulic and manual presses.
-Perform regular machine maintenance and maintain daily consumable levels.
-Perform other necessary machine shop tasks.
-Occasionally assist other departments around the shop as the need arises.

Skills and Qualifications:

-Previous machining experience or automated equipment operation.
-Able to properly use and read measuring instruments: micrometers, calipers, go/no-go gauges, etc.
-Able to read and interpret part drawings.
-Ability to work and solve problems independently.
-Possesses a strong mechanical aptitude as well as good math skills.
-Ability to work while standing for extended periods of time and capable of lifting 50 lbs.
-Day shift hours are 6am - 2pm, days are flexible
-Night shift hours are 2pm - 10pm, days are flexible

After 60-days of employment, all Spark employees have access to Employee Purchase Discount and Incentives as well as free use of the Demo Product Fleet.

Email resumes to: [email protected]

Spark R&D manufactures the best splitboard bindings and accessories in the world right here in Bozeman. We are seeking driven and reliable individuals to join our Screw Machine Team. You'll learn new skills, work with cool people.

Employees will be eligible for discounts on Spark R&D and other outdoor gear and will have access to demo products. The right candidate is comfortable standing for prolonged periods, using pneumatic drills and has an eye for detail.

No experience required. Email your resume to schedule an interview! Currently, we are not scheduling remote interviews, please plan to be in Bozeman for an in-person interview. Positions are seasonal and will go from now until End of Production, however, permanent status is possible after such time.
Positions available to start immediately.

A little about us:
We're lucky to build products that bring joy to people and allow them to splitboard places they otherwise couldn't. We are as excited to help splitboarders get out in the backcountry and explore as we are about getting out ourselves.

We're looking for awesome individuals who want to share our stoke for snowboarding, splitboarding, and building bindings.

Duties and Responsibilities:
-Run production parts per screw machine manager’s instructions and according to work orders.
-Replace broken tooling in machine to return to working condition.
-Clean, check quality, tumble, count and package finished parts. Deliver to physical locations.
-Maintain machine and work area cleanliness and safety.
-Assist manager with machine maintenance.
-Prepare machines for part changeovers.
-Perform manual changes to programs and offsets as required.
-Fill in with other departments as time allows or as required.
-Maintain oil and other consumable levels daily and perform weekly machine maintenance.
-Separate scrap by material and type for recycling.
-Report to manager on consumable inventory, alert about any low stock levels.
-Construct needed worktables, shelves, racks, etc. per manager’s specifications.

Skills and Qualifications:
-Attention to detail
-Good communication
-Able to stand for long periods of time
-Able to bend and lift 50lbs.

Both Part-time and Full-time positions available. Starts at $16/hour with a $1 raise after 60 days, plus $1 for Gallatin College, Montana Tech, and MSU Engineering grads.

Split Fitness: Summer Activities to Help you Prepare for the Splitboard Season - Spark R&D

Each summer we produce a split fitness blog because we want to encourage people to think about their fitness and how it impacts their splitboarding. Our basic premise is: splitboarding is awesome, and when you’re in good shape, you can splitboard more, go farther, have more fun, and reduce your chance of an injury. This summer, we wanted to focus on just getting outside and having fun!

Split Fitness: Summer Activities to Help you Prepare for the Splitboard Season - Spark R&D Each summer we produce a split fitness blog because we want to encourage people to think about their fitness and how it impacts their splitboarding. Our basic premise is splitboarding is awesome, and when you’re in good shape, you can splitboard more and go farther – which is good. his summer, w...

Congratulations on 10 years at Spark, Alex! Thank you for all your hard work in anodizing and making our colors pop! It has been awesome watching you grow (both professionally and vertically) with us over the last decade.

The New Zealand splitboard season is off to a good start for longtime Team Rider, Mike Handford! He mentioned he's already been getting into terrain that hasn't been ridable in 20 years. Epic shots by Mark Clinton.

Happy Father's Day to all the split dads out there!

Pictured is our owner Will out with his kids on their first official tour this season, and our other owner Becca with her own dad, who is fond of a good splitboard mission.