The Weston Japow Split x Hokkaido Backcountry Club is a limited-edition powder splitboard built for one thing: deep, cold smoke. Named for Japanese powder and co-designed with Hokkaido’s most respected backcountry collective, this directional swallowtail split is Weston’s most specialised tool for riders who plan their season around storm cycles. Artwork by illustrator Henry Lai, manufactured at GP87 in Colorado.
Who is the Weston Japow Split for?
The Japow Split is made for intermediate to advanced riders who primarily ride powder and backcountry terrain. The swallowtail shape and directional stance reward riders who know how to drive the nose and let the tail sink naturally. It is not a resort all-rounder — it is a weapon for deep days.
Size by weight rather than height. The Japow is designed to be ridden shorter than average for maximum manoeuvrability in trees and tight lines. If you are between sizes, go shorter for technical terrain and longer for open faces and maximum float.
Construction & Specs
- Shape: Tapered Directional Swallowtail
- Profile: Pow Rocker (powder-optimised, nose rise)
- Core: Slayer Split Core — Poplar + Bamboo stringers
- Layup: Triax Fiberglass
- Carbon: Tail V Carbon Inserts (inserts to tail contact points)
- Base: Sintered DuraSurf 4001 — holeless
- Sidewalls: UHMW (Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene)
- Topsheet: Castor Bean-based Rugged Nylon (bio-based, hydrophobic)
- Touring hardware: Karakoram UltraClip 2.0 + Tip-Loc
- Binding position: Shifted touring bracket — easier kick turns on steep terrain
- Skin attachment: Tip holes + tail notches
- Warranty: 4 years
Size & Weight Guide
| Size |
Rider Weight (kg) |
Effective Edge |
Waist Width |
Taper |
Board Weight |
| 149 cm |
48–79 kg |
116 cm |
25.2 cm |
25 mm |
2810 g |
| 154 cm |
52–84 kg |
119 cm |
25.6 cm |
25 mm |
3090 g |
| 159 cm |
64–95 kg |
123.5 cm |
26.2 cm |
25 mm |
3270 g |
| 164 cm |
75–107 kg |
125.5 cm |
26.6 cm |
25 mm |
3550 g |
| 169 cm |
86–118+ kg |
128.5 cm |
27.0 cm |
25 mm |
3850 g |
Why a Swallowtail?
The swallowtail cuts tail volume so the back of the board sinks naturally in deep snow without needing a heavily set-back stance. Your nose planes up automatically, your back leg does less work, and the board develops a surfy, slashy feel. The 25 mm taper across all sizes amplifies this: the board narrows from nose to tail, directing snow flow around the shape rather than under it.
The wide blunt nose and deeper sidecut at the tip (8.4–9.6 mm nose vs 6.3–7.5 mm tail) mean the Japow initiates turns with minimal edge engagement in powder. You guide with pressure and weight, not with a hard edge-set.
Ride Feel
On a powder day, the Japow is one of the most playful splitboards in its class. It wants to slash, smear, and surf — it rewards a relaxed centred stance and punishes riders who try to muscle it. At flex 6/10 there is enough stiffness for edge hold on firmer sidecountry exits, while staying forgiving in soft snow where flow matters more than precision.
The Tail V Carbon Inserts add snap through the tail without stiffening the whole board. On a deep day you notice it in the rebound when you pop out of a turn — there is energy there, ready to redirect into the next one.
In anything other than powder the Japow is honest about its limits. Hardpack, variable crust, and groomed exits expose the loose surfy feel of the swallowtail. That is not a flaw — it is a design choice. This is a quiver addition, not a quiver-of-one.
Uphill Performance
The Slayer Split Core keeps the Japow competitive on weight for a freeride-focused board: 3270 g for the 159 cm. The Karakoram UltraClip 2.0 is fast and reliable to transition, and the shifted touring bracket moves the balance point rearward — making kick turns on steep, deep lines significantly easier.
The wider nose means wider skins. Use Weston Skin 7 for 149 and 154, Skin 8 for 159–169. The holeless sintered base removes drag from hardware cutouts and improves glide on flat exit tracks. Wax retention on the 4001 series base is excellent — but higher density means faster wax release, so wax regularly.
The Hokkaido Backcountry Club Collab
This version of the Japow was co-designed with Hokkaido Backcountry Club — a Japanese collective that has spent years mapping the best lines, hidden zones, and deepest powder in Hokkaido. Artwork by illustrator Henry Lai. Limited edition. Manufactured at GP87 in Colorado.
The collab graphic is a nod to the culture that birthed the board’s name — not marketing wallpaper. If you ride Japan or aspire to, that lineage is part of what you are buying.
Awards
- Backcountry Magazine Editor’s Select — 24/25 season
- Backcountry Magazine Editor’s Choice — 19/20 season
- Backcountry Magazine Editor’s Select — 18/19 season
Verdict: Weston Japow Split
If your calendar includes a Japan trip, or you ride somewhere that gets consistent cold, light powder, the Japow earns its spot in the quiver. The swallowtail delivers effortless float, surfy turns, and reduced back-leg fatigue on long powder descents. Three Backcountry Magazine accolades across six seasons confirm this is not a novelty shape — it is a refined tool that performs at a high level in the conditions it was built for.
Not the right board if you regularly split on firm morning snow, variable crust, or groomed resort terrain as part of your route. For those days, look at the Weston Backwoods Split or Weston Eclipse Split. For dedicated powder use, the Japow is one of the strongest options in Weston’s current lineup.
→ View all Weston splitboards · → Compare powder splitboards
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Weston Japow Split good for beginners?
No. The swallowtail shape and powder-focused design reward riders who already know how to weight the nose and balance in deep snow. Beginners benefit more from an all-mountain directional board first, and can revisit the Japow once comfortable in variable backcountry conditions.
What size Weston Japow Split should I ride?
Size by weight: 149 cm for 48–79 kg, 154 cm for 52–84 kg, 159 cm for 64–95 kg, 164 cm for 75–107 kg, 169 cm for 86 kg and up. Between sizes and riding deep powder? Go shorter for manoeuvrability in trees. Go longer for float on wide open faces and speed stability on long descents.
Is the Japow Split good for uphill touring?
Yes. The Slayer Split Core keeps weight down, the Karakoram UltraClip 2.0 transitions quickly, and the shifted touring bracket makes kick turns easier on steep terrain. It is purpose-built for the kind of terrain you tour into to find powder — and the holeless base keeps it fast on flat exit tracks.
