About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the splitboard, which I purchased with my own money in January of 2022.

My take

The Pallas Epiphany is an aggressive splitboard that would be a solid choice for advanced women riders in the backcountry. It floats effortlessly in powder and plows through chunder like a groomed run.

About the gear

• Model: 2022 Pallas Epiphany Splitboard
• Size: 151cm

About me

• Height: 5’7”
• Weight: 130 lbs
• Experience: 23+ years of snowboarding

Test conditions

• When I bought these: January 2022
• Days tested: 20+
• Mount position: +12 / -6
• Boots: Salomon Ivy Double Boa
• Boot Size: 8.5
• Bindings: Union Explorer Splitboard Bindings - Medium
• Where I’ve used it: Oregon, Washington, Utah, California, Mt. Shasta
• Terrain: Powder, trees, uneven terrain, icy slopes, and groomers

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking to get into splitboarding for another winter activity when the lift lines got too long. I figured the bulk of what I’d be doing would involve tree runs and spring trips to summit volcanoes in the PNW. I wanted a board that would plow through ungroomed terrain well and would be fun to carve through trees and ride bigger bowls in spring conditions.

Why I chose this gear

I liked that Pallas made all of their boards specific for women. They seemed like a company that puts a lot of work into making a board that girls love shredding on, and they were also getting high reviews. I also liked the profile of the Epiphany. It was pretty stiff with a flat camber between the feet, so it was rated high for variable snow conditions, which I figured I’d hit in the backcountry.

I initially bought the Nitro Volta because it was the cheapest splitboard I could find, and I thought cheap was the way to go until I knew if I loved splitboarding. After more research, I returned it due to its less aggressive design and started looking at the Jones Solution, Weston Riva, and Pallas Epiphany. I love all three of those boards, but I got the Epiphany because I heard the top sheet was durable, and I wanted to support a smaller company.

What I love about it

• Speed: I can go as fast as I want on the Epiphany and stay completely in control. It carves great and is stable even at high speeds. The base is graphite-infused, and it seems to be very fast and durable.
• Edge hold: The edge hold is fantastic. It was a pretty icy day in the backcountry on one of the first days I went out with this board, and I could still hold an edge and carve down the mountain.
• Turns: I think the sidecut of this board favors larger turns at high speeds. Going fast down an open bowl is where the Epiphany really shines, and it turns effortlessly. The stiffer flex makes it a little bit harder to turn when going slow, but overall I love carving and turning on this board.
• Groomers: I took the Epiphany to the local resort for a day to get a feel for it, and I was surprised how awesome it did on groomers. It was stable at high speeds and was really fun to carve on groomers. It has the feel of a regular snowboard, and if I didn’t look down, I don’t know if I would be able to tell that it’s a split!
• Powder: I absolutely love riding this board in powder. It has a fatter blunt nose that helps it float really well and features an early rise in the nose. It’s slightly volume shifted as well, so the entire board has a bit more volume than an average board of the same length. Floating through powder feels effortless with the Epiphany.
• Trees: The Epiphany is responsive but likes bigger turns more than tight turns. It definitely holds its own in the trees, but if the trees are tight, I have to muscle through by making super tight turns. On the other hand, if the trees are a little more spread out, I can keep my speed well while weaving through them.
• Backcountry: This board really shines in the backcountry. When hitting less than ideal conditions, it easily plows through. It’s great in powder, and it even goes over ice pretty well. The flat camber underfoot also makes it grip good when skinning uphill.
• Durability: I’m very impressed with the durability of this board. I’ve already taken it out over 20 times, and it still looks brand-new. The textured top sheet is another level. I haven’t gotten a single chip on the edges or the top sheet. The base seems very durable as well with the graphite-infused materials used.
• Weight: I would say it is very average on weight. I looked at a chart of splitboard weights before purchasing, and there were some lighter and some heavier at the same length. I would not say it feels heavy when I’m skinning or riding it, and the average weight probably helps to plow through chunder better than a super lightweight board would.
• Stability: I would say this board is very stable. It offers a damp feel, feels very connected to the ground, and doesn’t chatter over uneven terrain or heavy tracked-out snow.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Moguls: I wouldn’t say this is my favorite board to take through moguls. It is solid and very connected to the ground, so I find it a little hard to throw around in moguls. It’s not the best board at making really quick turns, so moguls can be tiring.
• Park: I’ve definitely had some fun hitting kickers in the backcountry on this board, but the stiffer flex combined with the simple fact of it being a splitboard deters me from taking it into a park at a resort.
• Switch riding: It is a directional board with an extra 4 inches or so in the nose. This makes it less than ideal for switch riding, but definitely not impossible if you’re in a pinch.
• Hardware: The only real issue I noticed with this board is the hardware that is included to connect the splitboard. It looks great and is very sleek, but I have difficulty getting the board to slide together when I'm out in sticky snow or powder. The hardware gets bits of snow and ice stuck in it, making it hard to get out on a cold day. I have started taking hot tea or water with me if I need to pour it on the hardware to melt the ice it collects. This could be easily switched out and doesn’t affect the board itself.

Favorite moment with this gear

Climbing Mt. Shasta with this board was very memorable! It was a long day, and the board kept up. We skinned for quite a while until having to carry the boards on our backs up the steep headwall. It was a long climb, but it was incredible to drop four to five thousand feet down the avalanche gulch route! The snow had softened by afternoon and was perfect spring corn. The sky was perfectly blue, and the air was crisp. It was a great day!

Value for the money vs. other options

I think the Epiphany is a good value. It is very close in price to the Jones Solution and Weston Riva, being a little less than the Jones board and a little more than the Weston. However, the quality of this board is unmatched, in my opinion. It’s an aggressive snowboard that you’ll never get bored with, and the durability and construction are top-notch. I think it’s definitely worth the price.

Final verdict

For an aggressive, advanced rider, this board is absolutely amazing. The durability is incredible, it plows through any conditions thrown at it with style, and the graphics are also unique. I would highly recommend this board to any of my friends.