Check out this kick ass edit put together by our friends over at Teton Gravity Research featuring the heli ski scene in northern Chugach range of Alaska. SGT head guide Skylar Holgate and our very own mountain operations director Pete Connolly spent the North American winter with Silverton Mountain Guides Alaska bombing these lines that blow the mind. Now they are gearing up to spend the South American winter (North American summer) shredding pow in Argentina! Inquire now and you too could be killing it with these bad mother truckers at SGT Argentina: the best big mountain backcountry ski and snowboard camp happening this summer.
Author: Taran Volckhausen
How to get off the couch and become a backcountry skier and/or snowboarder
Talking to skiers and snowboarders, it is amazing how reticent many of our peers are about getting out the gates of the resorts and into the backcountry. It’s like standing on the top of the high dive where many people refuse to take the plunge even though they know it will be exciting and make them feel alive. Are you one of those people? Than this blog post is for you.
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Many of the folks we talk to say they would love to experience the wonder of the mountain wanderer but they simply do not believe they have the ability. That’s crap. Our potential abilities are limitless, one must only make the choice to realize. Take concrete steps. Get out there and go skiing, go snowboarding, spend time shredding snow and skills will improve. An even better way to improve? Come down to Argentina with SGT where we deliver individual attention to each every one of our campers, clearly laying out the logical steps to improve ability and increase confidence. Ability is confidence and at SGT building confidence is our job.
Other shreddy friends say they don’t go backcountry skiing because they don’t have the gear. While that is a valid point, it is not insurmountable. What kind of gear does the backcountry adventurer need? Well it depends on what they’re trying to do… but here’s a basic list:
- Beacon, shovel and probe (for avalanche safety)
- Telemark, Alpine Touring (AT) or splitboard set up
- Backpack
- First aid kit
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Find good deals on backcountry gear on these websites: backcountry.com backcountryaccess.com geartrade.com. Also, SGT provides rental backcountry gear for those coming down to Argentina.
In our opinion, probably the greatest consideration to be made before taking on the backcountry is risk analysis. The backcountry presents plenty of dangers, such as avalanche, accidental injury and other issues that are not very prevalent in the resort. One does not just walk into the backcountry without doing their homework. SGT offers AIARE Level One avalanche courses as well as an in-house avalanche awareness course for all of our campers so that we have the knowledge about how to approach terrain, minimizing and avoiding high risk situations.
While other limitations exist holding our friends from the backcountry we think we’ve presented a pretty good start here. Take these steps and you too can shred the backcountry:
- Sign up for SGT Argentina 2013
- Take an SGT AIARE Level One Avalanche safety course
- Look at buying or borrowing AT gear
- Get in shape by starting a dynamic daily fitness routine
- Improve your skiing and snowboarding skills
- Gain backcountry experience with solid SGT guides and coaches in Argentina
So there it is folks. Whatever you do and however you do it: have fun, be safe, and never stop exploring the limits of being alive!
Signed, Your friends and fam at SASS Global Travel
Check out our program in Argentina!
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SGT: Reviews of our South American Ski and Snowboard Summer Camp
Testimonials! We’ve always known the first and foremost when it comes to running a backcountry ski and snowboard camp the most important part is creating the best camper experience possible. Without that we have nothing.
While we have always taken careful note of our closing surveys after sessions end, until now we never thought to ask you the camper, “What makes SGT special?”
Luckily, in the past weeks we decided to do just that, collecting testimonial reviews and statements from campers who have experienced our program. And let me say, the results have been amazing! Putting in the seemingly endless hours in the office year after year to make this happen, it is amazing how far a little bit of validation can go. It is because of these experiences that we share together that makes this all worth while!
Check out the testimonials page here. If you recently sent us a testimonial SGT review, but it isn’t up yet, give us a minute we are still working on it. We received A LOT of great testimonials and is taking a little than we expected. If you want to show off your internet fame, click here to share these testimonials on Facebook.
Hey, did I mention? YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!!! Cannot wait to see you all soon! Maybe in Puerto Rico?
Check out a few testimonials below:
Backcountry skier’s best friend stomps Corbet’s Couloir
While you sit waiting in between now and shredding Argentina backcountry with us at SGT this summer, we thought we would share this video posted by Unofficial Networks. Check out this dog stomping Corbet’s Couloir at Jackson Hole. This crazy pooch is certainly a big mountain backcountry skier’s best friend.
NEWS FLASH: It has already started dumping snow at Cerro Catedral!
With less than two months until we start our first session on July 27th, we have received reports that it’s already started snowing at Cerro Catedral! The snow started today and will pick up through Thursday. We thought we’d share the good news because we’re already getting super stoked thinking about shredding backcountry powder lines with all our favorite people this summer! Look at this white washed picture below. It was taken today and shared on Cerro Catedral’s facebook page:
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In addition click here for this week’s weather report:
Steps to Make U More Awesome
Check out our program in Argentina!
Steps to Make U More Awesome
- Sign up for SGT Argentina 2013
- Follow bad ass guide
- Hike
- Crush pow
- Take Avy Level I
- Learn Spanish
- Take wilderness first aid
- Cut your board in half
- Skin
- Eat steak
- Take Avy Level II
- Drink Wine*
- Make lifelong friends
- Film yourself crushing pow
- Learn to edit your footage
- Build backcountry booter
- Lay out backflip
- Drink fernet*
- Crush more pow
- Have the time of your life
- Come back every year
* Must be 18 or over
SGT Signature Women’s Session Returning to Argentina in 2013
SASS Global Travel (SGT) is proud to announce the return of our Signature Women’s Sessions with guiding and coaching by pro snowboarders Robin van Gyn and Hana Beaman at Cerro Catedral, Argentina this summer.
SGT’s Signature Women’s Session offers a bridge for women riders who want to make the leap into the backcountry by improving their snowboarding skills in deep powder conditions and by expanding their knowledge about avalanche awareness and safety. The vast terrain of these Patagonian mountains offers the perfect setting for adventure fun, and camaraderie by pushing individual limits through big mountain backcountry riding in a supportive team environment.
Year after year, we at SGT find ourselves at the forefront of progression in the women’s big mountain freeride movement and this year we promise to continue along and expand upon the tracks we have already set. “You’ve heard me say it a hundred times, but I just can’t seem to say it enough: SGT Argentina is the highlight of my summer. Family, friends, epic powder and mind-blowing terrain in one of the most interesting cultural settings you can imagine. I’ve been fortunate enough to ride all over the world and I can honestly say there is nothing else like it… anywhere,” said pro snowboarder Robin van Gyn. “Get down here.”
The SGT Argentina Women’s Session runs at the perfect time to experience biggest powder dumps of the Southern Hemisphere season, known as the Santa Rosa. “After the response to this program last season, we couldn’t be more excited right now for 2013,” said SGT Managing Director Travis Moore. “We’re definitely expecting another sell-out season.”
Starting at $2495 for a signature 8-Day program, Women’s Session riders will have access to all of SGT Argentina’s amenities, including lodging just steps from the gondola, daily breakfast, tea and dinner, backcountry education, 24/7 logistics support, local airport transfers, and discounted airfare through LAN Airlines. In addition, SGT Women’s Session coaches will be offering women-specific coaching, guiding and optional apres and evening activities. More details and booking information are available online at sass2016.wpengine.com/argentina/women or by calling 1.800.851.4660.
30 freestyle skiers set the record for largest synchronized backflip in history
Any which way you slice dice and roll it. this constitutes an impressive feat of human ingenuity and athleticism. How many freestyle hours spent on the mountain went into completing something like this…? An unanswerable question, but we surely know it’s substantial. At SASS Global Travel Argentina this summer we will hone your freestyle skills on sick big mountain backcountry runs and killer terrain. Who knows maybe we will work in some synchronized freestyle shots for kicks and skittles – I’m sorry, I clearly mean to say shits and giggles.
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Big mountain backcountry skiing and snowboarding in Argentina this summer? Scientific study proves why the smart decision says “go”
A new scientific study proves that individual mice that explore their surroundings have an increased ability to generate neural connections in the brain. What does that mean? It means that exploring increases the brain’s ability to make connections… Therefore, exploring leads to a stronger brain that finds solutions faster.
Read here for a better description of this study.
What we’re saying here is… want to ace that next test? The solution may mean climbing more snowcapped mountains and bombing fresh powder lines than studying black and white textbooks. Are you nervous about keeping good grades in college? Coming down to Argentina and “exploring” the Patagonian backcountry can actually improve your skills even after you’ve replaced your ski goggles for some reading glasses.
Maybe you already knew that. But tell your parents! This information may help convince them that SGT Argentina this summer is the best way they could possibly be spending money because no other ski/snowboard camp offers such an opportunity to explore!
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Get ready for backcountry skiing in Patagonia this summer : How not to get injured
If done properly, backcountry skiing and snowboarding are not the most vicious of sports on the body. As a result of hiking the hills you ski, legs become stronger, which will help to prevent knee and leg injuries whilst shredding slopes or landing air. However, for those who are climbing (or not) climbing mountains and bombing spring couloirs, take a look at these easy exercises that will keep muscles and connective tissue toned and ready for the upcoming shred behemoth known as SGT Argentina 2013. If you’re joining us, keeping muscles balanced and in shape through the summer is a must. Protect your $hit yo… Watch below for the proper methods to do these 12 easy exercises to complete anytime and anywhere: