Over the past few seasons, we have seen more and more IFSA athletes come down to SASS Argentina for summer training in full-on winter conditions. SASS Argentina is the perfect opportunity for freeride athletes looking to get a leg up on the competition the coming season or gain avalanche awareness and experience in the backcountry. Practicing natural airs, line selection, flow and overall confidence is difficult on the glaciers. These athletes below joined us and took their skiing and riding to the next level.
IFSA Athletes are invited to join us for SASS Argentina 2018 at a $300 discount.
CHRIS MAYERS – SASS Argentina 2016 (guide intern for 2018)
We met Chris at an IFSA comp at Grand Targhee. If you were there, you remember his fall. He bounced back and took advantage of the summer months with us at SASS Argentina. His wide-eyed enjoyment of the terrain, backcountry experience, and sending it in August was contagious. He developed a deeper appreciation for the backcountry and has been eager to begin the process of becoming a guide. He will join us again in 2017 as our on-mountain intern.
ELSA SMITH – SASS Argentina 2015
Elsa may be a year removed from her days competing on the IFSA, but after her summer at SASS Argentina, she was atop the podium numerous times. She is a true lover of skiing and her passion helped to develop numerous lifelong friendships that she has taken back stateside. A Jackson native, it would not surprise any of us to see her skiing in the future.
NICHOLAS WESTFALL – SASS Argentina 2015 – 2016
Nicholas is a skier. Now competing at the collegiate level, his two seasons with us at SASS Argentina kept him in big mountains year-round. He took his AIARE Level II course last summer and we are all impressed by his mountain awareness, constantly increasing experience and confidence in the backcountry. Nicholas will have a long career on snow; Which direction he wants to go is up to him.
NICK SCHMIDT – SASS Argentina 2015 – 2017 (he also went to SASS Canada 2018)
Nick Schmidt is already signed up for his third season at SASS Argentina. Never without a smile on his face, it has been awesome watching him push his riding in the Andes. He spent his time with us building jumps, finding natural features, splitboarding for the first time and riding big lines with confidence. We are all stoked to have him back again for another couple of weeks.
ELIZA ROHRER – SASS Argentina 2016 – 2017 (office intern in Puerto Rico now)
Liza was just straight up stoked every day at SASS Argentina. Whether hiking lines with new friends, practicing her 3, pushing herself to ski some more committed lines or just hanging out back at the lodge, her stoke was palpable. We met Liza at a number of IFSA stops and it was obvious from the beginning that she would be a perfect fit for some summer training in the Andes.
Over the past two seasons there have been so many more IFSA athletes than just the ones above. Below is a glimpse at some of the better shots from staff photographer Ben Girardi. Photo packages are available for all athletes (additional cost applies). At SASS Argentina, shooting with a professional photographer is more than just getting a few photos to make your friends jealous or send to sponsors. It is a learning experience that will teach you how to operate in a media team on the mountain and give you some experience in front of the camera.
IFSA Athletes are invited to join us for SASS Argentina 2018 at a $300 discount.
Click HERE for more information.