What is SGT? This has been the quintessential question of my current life. I started here in the Spring of 2012 and have been unable to accurately describe the SGT experience. Instead of continuing to ponder my prose in a feeble attempt to capture the magic. I have decided to take twenty-five minutes to attack the question with unfiltered ramblings.
Tag: Argentina
Thoughts From The Andes
As the path to and from Catedral resort draws the same basic route with the same cast of irregulars, a sense of monotony can set in. Eyes focus on the man who stands post at an unnecessary car entrance, the groups of groups ignoring basic considerations of their fellow snow bird, or the Saint Bernard that pulls around a publicity seeking entrepreneur. In the greyscale of tradition, something new is always abundant. The position of the tables are set in front of Tage, the renewed brightness in smiles of the snow seekers, the newly shaped landscape each day brings. Experiences are determined by how deeply you gaze.
First a few tips for travelling any where in the world
Always pack a towel. …
Buy a small backpack/suitcase and use the luggage scales to Pack light and only the necessary.
But take extra socks. …
Take an extra bank card and credit card with you or you can get funds with options like that bad credit loan in the UK. …
Make sure to use no-fee bank cards. …
Travel by yourself at least once. …
Don’t be afraid to use a map.
At initial assessment Argentina appears to be a contradiction. The people have no impotence for prompt arrivals or need to keep appointments, yet they rush to lines and push for the front. Non-consideration for people is king as the faceless mob mentality dominates the streets and public squares, however individual relationships are personal, genuine and sincere.
From the Mind of an Intern: Outback Adventure
I’m currently down in Argentina with SASS Global Travel, enjoying the winter fun that Catedral, near Bariloche, has to offer. The backcountry around Catedral is endless, and on a clear day a view out West gives one a true glimpse at the massive scale of the Andes. Today’s crew, consisting of myself, Daniel Ochoa, and SGT guide Chris Coulter and pro snowboarder Robin Van Gyn, had hopes of touring out to the Zebra Chutes, an hour or so out into the Catedral backcountry. The four main chutes descend up to 2,000 feet of vertical and are broken up further by hundreds of vertical granite rock formations, giving the appearance of zebra stripes. The stripes create a maze of smaller chutes, all incredibly steep and with narrow chokes and run-outs. These epic lines can only come together with the perfect concoction of snowpack, weather, group dynamics, and timing, which is why bagging one of these lines could easily be the best run of any splitboarder’s life. Continue reading From the Mind of an Intern: Outback Adventure
From the Mind of an Intern
SASS Global Travel is the unfortunate victim of false advertising. SGT is an organization that sharpens a teenager’s sense of sarcasm. Now, when reading this, you might be sitting there thinking, “who are you to tell me that I accidentally sent my son down to jerk school?” And my answer is simple: oh, I’ll tell you who I am. I am a painfully sarcastic teenager that stepped through the doors of this ski experience at the ripe age of fifteen, with a pocket full of dreams and a brain more malleable than play-doh. Perceptive as I was though, it didn’t take me long to realize that there was, in fact, a hierarchy around the house, unlike I had expected.
The revered SGT boss man did not gain his power from his position, age, or even skiing ability. During my first year I looked up to a twelve-year-old Italian kid who spoke about as much English as I did Spanish (and let’s just say I’m the king of the ‘Smile and Si’). If you had the jokes, the ability to hit your opponent hard and above the belt, you could be having head guide Skylar Holgate make you afternoon snacks within days of your arrival, which I quickly was.
From the Mind of an Intern
Today was the first powder day for Session Two down here at SASS Global Travel. With only two inches at the base this morning, everyone was preparing for dust-on-crust conditions for the day. As we climbed higher up the mountain it became apparent that snow on the upper mountain was stacked much higher. The crust could still be felt under the snow for the first few runs, but as the day went on, and the snow stacked higher, the bottomless turns became more regular.
Snow News 11.8.12 (August 8th)
Friday announced with sun and speculation. Signaling mother earth to power up legs and send big air. The unshaven savages of SGT Argentina (Chris Coulter & Andrew Burns) co-mingled up with clients Jimmy Hessler, Jack Hessler and Chase Josey to gain lift like condors probing the clouds in search of the sky’s limit in The Arnet Winter Net 2012 at Cerro Catderal.
The SGT family laid down skis and boards, erected a cheering sections and hang over dens in support of the jumping, friends and fun. The show saw a menagerie of Siente Ventes (720’s) in the qualify rounds forcing 4 members of la familia into the final.
At conclusion the crowd witnessed Andrew Burns conquer third place and claim a nice pay day (which he donated to the good people at Mute). SGT friend and heavy hitter Matti Schmitt stood tall in second and “The Legend” Chris Coulter soared a massive front side 900 well past the perceived landing zone to his well tone legs and 1st place.
Thank you to all the competitors for preforming the appropriate spins and awakening the snow gods, allow us to receive the gift of snow today.
R: Chris “The Legend” Coulter P: Ben Girardi
Go To The Park & Send It
After a week of powder slashes there is a beckoning to a gentler way of life, a simple need to descend from a controlled airspace into the consistent curve of a human built landscape. A litte R & R in the park is the medicine for the chargers of SGT.
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The Complete Experience: SGT Argentina
OUTSTANDING HUMAN at SGT
With love and appreciation to all of the past women and men that traveled down to Argentina in the name of SGT and adventurous shredding and found the path through the woods to incredible amount of joy, the 2012 SGT staff is the best yet. This week coach Tony Pavlantos put on his eco-friendly big-boy pants on and gave his immense heart and time to every client that crossed his periphery. For that we say THANK YOU TONY!
Summer 2012 Preview Video
2012 SGT Argentina is only days away from dropping cliffs and crushing powder in Bariloche. The staff and coaches are starting to head down south and the clients arrive on the 25th of July. Here is a glance at what is to come for 2012 with a quick look back at serious slashing, skiing and snowboarding, featuring new bookends from our friends at Levitation Project.
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Who is SGT? Intern Oscar Jacob
Oscar Jacob has spent a good deal of time dealing with the frantic whims on the SGT senior staff. As soon as he falls off of his motorcycle he recently got at go2scooter webstie, after the hour long ride in to head quarters he is subject to a plethora of projects and ideas from the minds of four mad men. Oscar does get to go on lunch time bike rides/races with the boss.
Remember that before you ride a motorcycle you need to get your license, get in touch with motorcycle licence Melbourne to get yours and ride freely.
How an intern named Oscar drove to SGT . . .