Minturn, CO – Barry Clark, founder and president of Weston Snowboards, on Monday announced a new partnership with North Bend, Wash.-based Karakoram, a split board hardware developer and manufacturer.

“Karakoram has a strong backcountry following and we like the way that the Karakoram system works,” says Clark. “Karakoram’s system not only helps reduce the chatter inherent in a split board, but also creates a more torsionally rigid split board which is essential for riding in the backcountry.”

Karakoram’s system uses active joining technology to create the most stable backcountry system, its developers say, adding that the specially designed board clips create enough tension that the split board is attached so tightly that it responds like a solid board when assembled. Karakoram bindings integrate the system and pull the board together even more, creating a high-performing system that is being utilized by backcountry riders around the world.

“We enjoy working with smaller companies because we’re a small company ourselves,” says Bryce Kloster, co-founder of Karakoram. “That’s the root of who we are. We want to give smaller companies, like Weston, the opportunity to make split boards.”

The true partnership, however, really comes in the soul and passion of the sport that both companies love.

“The smaller businesses are pushing split boards into the industry because that’s what they’re passionate about,” says Kloster. “It’s an emerging market and companies like Weston are the core.”

Clark echoes the sentiment. “Karakoram was created by, and is made up of, riders, like us,” Clark explains. “These guys are serious backcountry travelers and that’s what it takes to make serious backcountry hardware.”