Volcano boarding? In Nicaragua? And, you can combine with a surf trip? Yes, please.

Splitboarding may be the ideal backcountry snow sport. Taking a snowboard and splitting it vertically to create skis, a splitboard offers the best of both worlds. Venture Snowboards (out of my former home of Colorado) has the Zephyr Splitboard which I really fancy.

New snowsport to try, no-boarding.

No-boarding is a young sport that replaces traditional snowboard bindings with a knobbed polymer traction pad and a heavy-duty bungee rope, which transform a snowboard into a no-board. Without highbacks to lean on or straps to hold feet in place, the pad prevents slipping, and a firm grip on the rope keeps the board in place. Staying upright is like surfing: riders adapt to pitch and snow conditions by moving their feet and center of gravity.

A skiing/snowboarding alternative to Steamboat, Howelson Hill.

Receiving the same “champagne powder” as the neighboring Steamboat resort, Howelsen Hill is a town-operated training area that has helped send more than 64 athletes, including the 2003 Nordic combined world champion Johnny Spillane, to the Winter Olympics. Howelsen has 15 trails served by four lifts. If the fun runs out on the downhill side, visitors can switch over to cross-country skiing on nearly 13 miles of trails or try out the terrain park. One-day adult weekend lift ticket (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.): $16.