A new way to meet great partners

Research participants of all experience levels consistently tell us how hard it is to meet good partners. So, we built the SlabLab Partner Network to help like-minded backcountry skiers, splitboarders and snowmobilers connect on the important stuff.

Check it out

75% off for black friday!
‍$9.99 for season membership until midnight tonight.

Our Partner Network helps you find and form better teams, the biggest factor in safety and fun.

Find like-minded partners

Have better first conversations

Grow as a partner

latest research

Our latest report, A Culture of Candor in the Backcountry, explores what our sport can learn from sexual consent.

Being candid can feel overly serious and clunky

We underestimate the skill and practice it takes to be candid

Safety concerns don’t always rise to the level of conscious thought

Read the report

The Teamwork Toolkit is a free library of actionable ideas to develop key skills. Your feedback supports our research.

Devil’s advocate

Assigning a Devil's Advocate gives them permission to make the team defend decisions

The "1 to 5 check"

A quick way to check in frequently without breaking the flow.

A debrief for good days

Debriefs are not just for when things go wrong. If you have a good day and want to repeat it, debrief and figure out what made it so awesome.

Observe your partners too

Observing your partner(s) can be more important than looking at the snow

Share it with a story

Tell real stories about times where other parties practiced a new communication tactic and how it paid off for them.

Visit the Teamwork Toolkit

SlabLab uses Human-Centered Design to help the winter backcountry community innovate.

about slablab

2022-2023 RESEARCH

Trip Reports

15 min

Report a trip

We need your voice

Share a little bit about your tours this season and contribute your experiences to this effort.

2021-22 Season Research Report

We spoke with backcountry travelers at every skill level to understand the breadth of their experience of the sport, from risk to partners to why they do it in the first place. Lessons and opportunities emerged for both individuals and the industry.

READ THE REPORT

Let's talk about skiing

Currently we are engaging with people through both 5 minute surveys and hour-long interviews. We’re able to offer a $25 REI or Amazon gift card for your time for interviews. Please fill out this form to get in touch:

Let's talk

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SlabLab conducts research and creates products for the winter backcountry community

Welcome Friends of CAIC!