Author: Max Tabor

Yes, it’s dumping snow in Argentina right now.  Yes, Session 1 of SASS Argentina is underway, and it looks insanely fun.  But if you [like me] aren’t in South America [yet], I can sympathize with you on how frustrating this time of year can be.  And if a powder hunting mission in the Andes isn’t in the cards for you, two things will help this frustration: (1) live in the now and escape summer in the city with a spontaneous surf trip, and (2) start saving for your big mountain adventure next summer.  I know, they’re rather contradictory, but for now let’s focus on the first option…

In the heart of the summer, local surf in the lower 48 can be difficult to find.  New England sees lengthy lulls in the swells during the time between winter storms and hurricane season, and California tends to suffer similarly from flat spells, fog, and onshore winds.  Conveniently, parts of Central America are a relatively short flight from many major US cities, and you can score some awesome waves here during the summer months on a reasonable budget.

 

Costa Rica

The classic trip from the states is to get on a flight to San Jose, Costa Rica.  From here, your number one priority is to get to the pacific coast ASAP.  San Jose is notorious for being pretty dumpy and there’s not much to do.  Hop in a cab from the airport aeropuerto to the bus station estación de autobuses (~$25) and find a bus over to Jaco (~$5).  A touristy beach town, Jaco is a good place to get your bearings and work back into your sea arms.  Surf some fun crumblers out front of town, or hitch a five minute ride over to Playa Hermosa to step it up a notch.  Expect fast sections that may closeout on you at this heavy beach break.

 

From Jaco, you can head south to Playa Dominical for another all-time beach break, or north up to Santa Teresa which is slightly more populated, but breaks consistently almost everyday.  For Santa Teresa, you can either endure a series of buses (~$8), or jump on the direct water taxi from Jaco (~$40).  Plenty of hostels will take you in for $10-20 a night, but nicer cabanas and villas are available in the area as well if you’re looking for a luxury experience.   The town itself stretches across sandy beach sections, and there are plenty of restaurants to grab lunch at in between surf sessions.  Stop in at any of the restaurants that say “soda” (directly translates to a cafe in the US) on them for a cheap casado (~$5 for a massive plate with salad, fries, rice, beans, and fish), and after your late-afternoon siesta, be sure to hit up La Lora Amarilla on their Thursday reggae night for some fiesta-ing.

Plenty of other surf towns exist on Costa Rica’s pacific coast, just keep an eye on the swells and ask a local surfer what the best way to get to your destination is, chances are they might be heading the same direction. All World (has an amazing review of their trips to the springs in costa rica) is a must visit website for the best tips before going to Costa Rica. Tamarindo is a great wave, but is a very touristy area and can get crowded quickly on a good day.  If the swells aren’t hitting, jump over to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica for a change of scenery where you can also hire the san diego whale watching tours to enjoy the ocean wild life.

 

Nicaragua

Called by many the “home of the offshore winds”…  while the breaks themselves are less than spectacular, a massive lake lago in the middle of the country produces offshore winds for a good portion of Nica’s pacific coast 300+ days per year.

Take the same steps as in Costa Rica when you fly in – collect your bags at the Managua airport, and get the hell out of there.  Heading to San Juan del Sur, chicken buses are the cheapest route (~$5 but it’ll be very crowded and will take a few hours with a lot of stops), or you can split a cab with friends or other travelers for a direct trip.  From San Juan, you can grab a fish taco, and then hitch a ride to the nearby break at Playa Maderas.  There are restaurants and hostels on the beach here, so hang out for a day or two before continuing north to Manzanillo, Gigante, Santana, and the well-known Popoyo.  Popoyo can handle all of your surfing needs, providing playful inside sections as well as a notoriously mean outer reef that can handle double overhead waves without a problem for those looking to unleash their inner Laird Hamilton.

Outer Popoyo

 

Typically cheaper and less developed than Costa Rica, Nicaragua provides travelers a less Americanized experience, so brush up on your Spanish and stay conscious of your valuables.  The surf towns tend to be pretty safe, but the cities inland can be a bit dicier.  That said, it’s cheaper overall, and will give you a better, more unique cultural experience.  Don’t forget to hit up San Juan’s famous Sunday Funday for a wild and unforgettable all-day party with hundreds of other travelers (and locals too) from around the world.

 

So if a snow-based shred trip isn’t in the foreseeable future this summer, get your time off squared away and book your next surf trip down to Central America.  They’ve been seeing awesome swells over the past two months, and you’ll surely score something if you spend a week down there.  If you’ve got a longer time frame, continue on to check out parts of Panama and El Salvador as well.  Or for first time surfers, send it over to Puerto Rico where the waves stay small through the summer, and learn to surf from the best at SASS’s own Rincon Surf School.  We’ll have you ready for those closeout barrels at Hermosa in no time.

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With the abundance of freshies that Los Andes are being pounded by, big name skiers are beginning to migrate south in search of the endless winter.  Argentina experts Aymar Navarro and Adria Millan are taking full advantage of the prime conditions, and are sharing their adventures with the rest of the world.  Check out these three righteous lines they put down in the last week:

 

 

 

Look like fun?  Grab yourself one of the last few spots at SASS Argentina by INQUIRING HERE for the trip of a lifetime.  (Note: going as big as Adria and Aymar is encouraged but not required.)

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In case you’ve been living under a rock for the last three weeks, South America’s winter is off to one of the best starts we’ve seen in years.  Hefty storm cycles are providing solid early season coverage, and more snow in the forecast has our stoke at an all-time high for SASS Argentina which kicks off in just two days.  INQUIRE HERE to claim one of the last couple spots available and get in on the shenanigans while you still can.

Whether or not you’ll be sending it in Argentina, add our latest handpicked, fresh-never-frozen playlist to your summer music lineup.  SASS Jams Vol. 04 brings you the latest and greatest in the reggae/dancehall world, so roll the windows down and feel free to burn one down to this collection.

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Here at SASS, we pride ourselves on the amount of focus we dedicate towards backcountry safety.  All of our Argentina and Japan clients see a basic avalanche education course, and everyone conducts several beacon drills before hitting the sidecountry or backcountry with our experienced guides.  While it’s important for backcountry skiers and riders to carry the basics in their packs (beacon, shovel probe, water, maybe an extra layer), we put together our fool proof packing list for those big days outside the gates.  Enjoy and critique as you will…

Gear Essentials

• – Beacon, Shovel, Probe – $224.  It should go without saying but know how these devices work    before busting through the gate.
• – Inclinometer – $25.  Also see Lucas Moore’s personal pick, the Kickstarter-funded PoleClinometer.
• – Extra Batteries – $5.  If you don’t end up using them, we guarantee a buddy will.
• – First Aid Kit – $27.  Safety first.
• – Lighter – $2.  This one serves a variety of purposes…
• – Knife – $5-50.  Clear brush from a takeoff or fend off a hungry yeti.
• – Radios – $149.  Communication in the backcountry is everything.  Use these to scope landings from below, call your drops, and keep each other entertained on grueling hikes.
• – Water – $free.  Stay thirsty my friends…
• – Snacks – 12 pack for $27.  Honey Stingers are my personal pick, tasty and high in energy.

Clothes/Outerwear

• – Puffy Layer – $186.  An essential for emergency situations requiring you to stay on site.  Don’t break the bank with Mountain Hardware’s functional hooded option.
• – Extra Gloves – $27.  A thin pair for hiking, or a down pair for emergencies.  Preferable both.
• – Extra Goggle Lens – $ free with purchase of Smith goggles.  No one likes changing lenses, make it an extra pair of gogs if you’ve got room.
• – Sunglasses – $209.  Keep your goggles from fogging and stay cool on the hikes.  Demand respect and authority with the ever-stylish Pit Viper collection.

Fun

• – Bluetooth Speaker – $59.  Loop it to the outside of your pack to get your stoke up on the approach, just be sure to turn it off for safety on the descent.
• – Pabst Blue Ribbon – $5-10.  A heavy but undeniably refreshing item to carry.  Toss a few tallboys in your pack, you won’t regret it (unless they explode all over your gear).
• – Fireball – $3-18.  The 750ml bottle slides nicely into a pack, or throw in a few shooters to save on space.  For a cheaper option, see a personal favorite of mine, Black Velvet.
• – Fireworks – $5-20.  No explanation needed.

Extras

• – Snow Saw – $27.  Take your snow studies to the next level.
• – Portable Splint – $15.  Small, light, and a must have for injury situations.
• – Ski Strap – $9.  Keep your skis together if they’re in tour mode or apply pressure to a wound.
• – Compass – $24.  Stay oriented.
• – AIARE Field Book – $29.  Keep track of your backcountry experiences and enhance your decision making.
• – Portable USB Charger – $49.  Charge a dead phone or radio from anywhere in the field.

So there you have it, SASS’s complete list of backcountry pack essentials.  Yes, this is expensive stuff, but get in touch with the right people and you’ll be able to score some healthy discounts.  Additionally, we’re not expecting you to carry every single item here, however if you join us in Argentina this summer, it’s more than likely our crew will have everything here covered.

Just a few spots are left in Session 5 for SASS Argentina, join the fun by Inquiring Here while you still can!

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South America has continued to see significant snowfall this week, and if that wasn’t reason enough to celebrate, we’ve only got 2 weeks left until SASS Argentina kicks off in Bariloche.  Cerro Catedral has reported snow everyday this week, and we’re psyched to head down south to get things started.  A few spots remain in Sessions 4&5, be sure to fill out an Inquiry Form to get in on the fun.

In the meantime, turn up this weekend with the third installment of the SASS JAMS.  This round includes some of our (my) favorite hip-hop tracks from over the years – some new, some old.  So crack a 40 oz, turn this one up, and get ready to go big like SASS guide Piers Solomon (pictured below).

 

 

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Just over a year ago, we posted a writeup on what an El Niño snow year actually means.  Key takeaway from last year’s piece: El Niño means significantly more moisture in the air for the Andes, along with milder temperatures, La Niña indicates the opposite; cooler temps, less chance of precipitation.

While we didn’t see the record breaking numbers last year we all were hoping for, we are looking on the brightside for this season, and things seem to be headed in a good direction, especially as of this week.

Our friends over at Snowbrains recently published a piece on what various weather services were predicting for the upcoming season in South America.  After the declaration of the El Niño weather effect to continue for 2015, AccuWeather forecasting manager Jason Nicholls stated the following:

“The mountain snow is expected to increase during July and August, allowing for a much-improved ski season for the resorts central Chile [and Argentina].  Since the start of the year, only 5.6 mm (0.22 of an inch) of rain have fallen in Santiago, a mere 7 percent of the normal.  During the strong El Niño of 1997, Santiago received 142 percent of normal precipitation during the months of June, July and August and even though the most significant rains will be delayed, similar rainfall totals are possible this year.”

That 7% snowfall figure has taken it’s toll on the Andes, forcing the Subaru Freeride Series to cancel their Chile stop scheduled for the end of July.  That is up until this week…

Cerro Catedral’s snow report today is showing 40 cm (~16″) of snow in the last 24 hours, and yesterday that 24 hour number read 30 cm (~12″).  That’s 70 cm in the last 48 hours, plus the big snow they received early in the week that allowed Catedral to open on Tuesday.  Over on the other side of the border, Chile is seeing equally massive snowfall, hitting the areas that us El Niño believers like to see.  Now I don’t want to jinx anything, but the El Niño year we’ve been waiting for might just be upon us.

With more snow in the forecast, the time is now to book your spot for SASS Argentina!  Sessions 1 and 2 are completely sold out, and there is limited space in Sessions 3, 4, and 5.  For more information, fill out an Inquiry Form and we’ll get in touch with you, or head over to the SASS Argentina page to do some homework of your own.  With moisture in the air, all we need are cool temperatures to ensure a banger season.  Today’s snow report even has Catedral’s base temperature below freezing which is unheard of.  Promising signs this week, and fingers crossed for the upcoming months…

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We had planned for the next edition of SASS Jams to be a playlist of smooth hip-hop to cruise to, or maybe some “jah rhythms” to kick back to, but today is Thursday July 2nd and we’re about to dive headfirst into a long weekend of chaos and general debauchery to celebrate the 4th… PLUS Session 1 of SASS Argentina kicks off in less than a month.  Instead, we’re serving up a hard hitting lineup of party jams to keep the drinks flowing and the feet moving all night, so crack a beer and get psyched for a fun weekend.  Be sure to head over to the SASS Argentina page to get in on the fun this summer, only a handful of spots are left!

 

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There’s an old saying from our beloved movie of G.N.A.R., “if you are getting rad and no one is around to see it… are you really getting rad?”  Andy Hays spoke these words in the typical Shane McConkey-esque satirical fashion you see all around Squaw Valley.  Years later, the crew at Hemlock Creative has set out to put Andy’s theory to the test.  Led by Director Ross Reid, ‘Tamashii’ follows the adventures of skiers (Crazy) Karl Fostvedt, Andy Mahre, and Anna Segal, as they send a six week soul-shred mission in oh-so-snowy Japan.  If you haven’t seen their trailer yet, check it out below…

This post might come off as a bit of a rant, but here it goes.  I’ll start by saying that I myself am very frustrated with our dependence on technology in the sense of personal use.  I’ll never forget sitting back in my chair after a dinner out in Vail Village with friends and family, and watching the table pull out their phones simultaneously to feast their eyes and stay entertained as they digested their food.  My personal rule is that at group dinners, everyone puts their phone in the middle of the table.  First one to crack and check their device loses and has to pay the bill.  Even worse is on the chairlift.  Sure, it’s fun to capture the moment with a picture or video and throw it up on your Snapchat story for everyone to see, but technology and social media dependence truly becomes an issue when you disengage yourself from the environment you’re in and give priority to the people you’re communicating with via your device, rather than the people you’re riding the chairlift and in the moment with.

It comes as no surprise that there’s been some controversy over ‘Tamashii’.  The documentary challenges our overuse of technology and reliance on social media, but is being crowdfunded on a platform that thrives off of online marketing (Kickstarter).  Critics complain and troll Facebook’s comment sections on posts about ‘Tamashii’, saying “ooh the irony”, and “well they should’ve advertised only through magazines”.  Problem is you need money to shell out in the first place to buy yourself a blank page in Freeskier…

This too frustrates me as people are missing the point of this project.  It’s completely normal for business ventures and media projects like these to use social media as a means to raise awareness and market a new project or service.  Tamashii’s aim is not to have everyone delete their Facebook and Instagram accounts, rather to challenge our dependence and need to be connected with those not around us while we partake in the sport we love.  When it comes to the ski community, our journeys take us to all corners of the globe, and we’re often cradled by unique surroundings with the people we trust and care about most.  Without the distraction of smartphones alerting us on our newest Tinder matches, we naturally become that more invested in the experience, and in turn, feel a greater sense of fulfillment and reward at the end of the day.

So given my views on the world of social media and skiing, I personally am in favor of this cause.  The Japanese word, ‘Tamashii’ translates to soul or spirit, and I’m excited to see how the essence of skiing is portrayed by this crew upon the flick’s release.  If you feel inclined, head over to their Kickstarter Page and throw them a few bucks.  Hemlock is more than halfway towards their goal and have just 5 more days in the campaign.  If you were drooling over Crazy Karl’s mega pow turn at the 1:52 mark of the trailer, check out our Japan Sessions page for more info on our winter trips, and if you can’t wait until January to ski powder, Click Here to inquire about shredding Argentina this summer, we’ve only got a few spots left.

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With Session 1 kicking off in less than two months, we are getting STOKED for SASS Argentina.  The El Niño year is already in full force down south – as Travis would say, “it’s dumping empanadas”.  So we want YOU to get psyched for Argentina with the first installment of the SASS Jams.  Every week or two, we’ll bring you a fresh set of tracks that we’re loading onto playlists on our phones and iPods to bump whilst bagging tours, crushing bootpacks, and slaying pow in Argentina.  I personally prefer listening to the all-time great playlist, “Sounds of Nature” while I ski, so of course we’ll include a friendly reminder to keep one ear free and to limit the volume to a dull roar when riding technical backcountry terrain.  That said, throw on SASS Jams Vol. 01 as you cruise into your weekend, and for best results, fire it up for a late night dance party, preferably after a wicked powder day in Argentina.

 

 

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