Tag: Ski

Top 10 Ski Areas in South America: Nevados de Chillan

Top 10 Ski Areas in South America: Nevados de Chillan

Tucked away in the southern Andes on the slopes of the Chillán volcano, at this ski area you will find plenty of amazing powder, trees and backcountry skiing. After a long day of skiing visitors can look forward to natural outdoor thermal pools to relax and renew tired muscles. Termas stands out from the rest for its fantastic backcountry terrain for advanced and intermediate skiers and snowboarders, but lift service at the top is via drag lifts.

  • Number of Lifts: 9
  • Proximity to Nearest Major City: Chillån is 82km away
  • Skiable terrain: 24700 acres
  • Vert: 870m
  • Terrain Park: Yes
  • Country: Chile

Check out our program in Argentina!


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Best of 2012

 

 The Best of 2012
_______________________________ 

Social

Ski Machine:
Michelle Parker – If you don’t know, I can’t explain it

Best Bar:
Kiosco
 

Best Intsagramer:
KC Deane

Best Song:
My D#@k – Big Pun (what up Burnsy)

Best Dance:
Kate Upton – Cat Daddy

Best Shredder:
David Gonzalez – I know this is a skate part, but he is hitting snowboard sized rails on a skateboard. And doing it well.

Best Person to get a Churro with:
Robin Van Gyn
 

Best Night Out:
Burns’ Birthday @ DUSK – still recovering

Chief Handler:
Tikos – never home before 1:00am and always up and ready to shred
 

Best Attitude:
Michelle Parker – ski, smile, run, smile, eat, smile, ab ripper, smile, hang out, smile, sleep & smile (I assume)

Biggest Bad Ass:
Chirs Coulter – should just name this award after him
 

Mellow Cat:
Piers “Semi-Swiss” Solomon – hola
 

Best Food:
lomoito @ TAGE & anything @ Alberto’s (tie)

SGT Staff

The Garrett Russell Award (words can’t explain this):
Garrett Russell

Best House:
New Hampshire Shanty Crew (Burg, Lucas & Crockett – featuring guest appearances by Burns)
 

Best idea:
Travis Moore – acquiring Rincon Surf School
 

Safe as Heck:
Miguel (off-hill) – don’t try to go in the pool after 11:00pm
Skylar Holgate (on-hill) – bringing everyone home

Best Smile, Hair & Bottom:
Nicki Slectha

Best SGT Staff Member:
David Burg – for handling everything
 

Gnarliest Adventure:
Jon Conway – over 100 hours to get to Bariloche

Biggest Crap Talker:
Fran – in a run away

The Man & Internet Beast:
Skylar Holgate
 

Over shoot the landing:
Ben Girardi – JESUS!!!!!! He went so far past his normal consumption of none. Twice.

Most things engaged in:
The Lucas – Watch a movie, check clients in, g chat, listen to new track from some crappy band, talk (in spanglish to Samuel), correct a mistake by Burg, . . .

Staff MVP:
Tony Pavlantos – for taking every difficult assignment without complaint

SGT Family

Sendiest Camper:
Blaine Galivan & Chris Poe (Tie)

Funniest Name:
Sam Shopland Reid (say with bad british accent)

Most Stoked:
Chelsey Wells

Wisest & Most Impressive:
Evan Axelrad

Biggest Cojones:
Sparky

Most Fun Had:
Wes Mills & Wes Mills jr.

Best Intern:
Oscar Jacob

The Major Awards

Rookie of the year:
Tony Pavlantos
 

Most Improved:
Nicole Harris

Best Edit:
Session Uno – Snowboard (by Jon Conway)
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Best Photo:
Tikos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best Coach/Guide:
Pete Connolly
 

Best Camper:
Chase Josey

______________________________________________________________________

As the foremost authority on all things snow I take the end of the season honors very seriously. When I chosen from the nearly six applicants to attempt to fill the vast chasm left by the departure of the immensely talented Dunfee, I know this would be the most difficult part of the job. It took the last three months of research, opinion gathering, video watching  and the occasionally stress related panic attack to deliver the definitive list for SGT Argentina 2012.

Now that this lomo of a list has been consumed, I must rest in an attempt to muster the courage to once again document Argentina in 2013. For you. . . I will go once again go into the depths of insanity and bottomless powder to overcover the truth behind SGT, the people & Argentina.

Thank you to everybody for being part of the best year in SGT history. We anticipate next year to be even better, so make sure to get down to Argentina so you can make the best of 2013.

-Dr. Crockett

 

Dr. Crockett Interview Hour: “Sneaky” Pete Connolly

This is Dr. Crockett’s interview hour
Where based on the subject’s intelligence, they are asked a series of questions and then scored on how deeply they searched their soul for the proper answers.

Today’s subject is Pete Connolly. Pete is a guide at SGT Argentina and Silverton Mountain, CO. Pete’s own company Solid Citizen Design handles all of SGT’s graphic design making him the only person on staff that gets to tell Dr. Crockett he is an idiot. Pete is an easy going, tall drink of water from the East coast that snuck into the SGT Family a few years back with a vast skill set and a tireless work ethic. Pete enjoy’s thoughtful conversions, design, music and medium to short brunette ladies.
Mr. Connolly’s questions are:
______________________________________________________________________

View on living in a mountain town?
Wouldn’t live anywhere else. Access to the backcountry without competition is the key. Hence my Silverton residence. Attractive girls can’t be the reason for every decision you make.

Describe SGT Argentina Lodge in one story (not featuring Crockett)?
What happens in the lodge stays in the lodge.

Best x-mas/Kwanza present ever received?
20 pairs of ski socks. There is no such thing as enough ski socks.

Where do you see skiing/snowboarding evolving?
Time will tell. My only hope is that there is further unification between skiing and snowboarding. I am so sick of the unnecessary rift between the two. Old skiers, shut the fuck up. Young snowboarders, who gives a fuck.

Rider of the year:
Anyone that truly fell in love with this sport of ours for the first time. I’m talking that real love though. More that love that makes you push until your heart can’t take it, that love that makes all stress melt away, that love that helps you endure the pain, that love that consumes you and opens your eyes and makes you laugh uncontrollably. Not so much that love that is all, “oh, you’re a skier? Me too… I LOVE skiing… I get out every once in a while… no, I don’t own a beacon… what’s a DIN setting?.. you mean I’m not supposed to carry these with the tips facing behind me?.. do you like spring corn or powder better?.. really, I like corn better…  why are you walking away?”

Video of the year:
Don’t watch many videos due to the fact that they make me insanely jealous to the point of frustration. But just watched Xavier’s White Noise and I dig the particular way he looks at riding and the mountains.

Hottest chick in Snowboarding/Skiing?
Nicki Slechta (damn, that girls has a nice butt)

Dude you want to spend a couple of nights in a tent with?
I’ll sleep next to any dude in a tent as long as it is in Alaska.

Best trend in shredding?
The decreasing rift between skiers and snowboarders.

Last time you crapped your pants?
Less recently than Jon Conway.

Is Travis Moore a kook?
A kook? Not sure. He is one of a kind, that’s for sure. I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.

Marriage, when is that going to happen?
Seeing as my addiction to skiing has been the end to every recent relationship… not any time soon.

What type of facial hair should Garrett Russell grow next?
He’s been rocking’ that stache for so long it has become a part of him and I wouldn’t change a damn thing about the Garrett Russell I know.

Do you feel like a failure because do not know how the “fiscal cliff” will effect the resale value of your properties?
You think I have enough money for a property, let alone multiple properties?

Any advice for the kiddies?
You can make plenty of money doing what you love as long as you commit. Once you do, everyone will tell you how ‘lucky’ you are. Fuck that. You made it happen. Luck had nothing to do with it.

How often do you fall?
A lady never tells.

State the best of the following:
Grab
Method (just wish there was a straight air grab on skis that looked even moderately as awesome as that shit does on a snowboard)

Trick
Anything smooth off of anything natural

Band
Traffic (listen to low spark of high heeled boys and try to tell me otherwise)

Celebrity
Physically couldn’t care any less (but I will take this opportunity to point out that it is in fact, “couldn’t care less,” not “could care less.” If I “could care less” there would be room for less care, whereas if “I couldn’t care less” then I am devoid of care entirely.)

Beer
Long Trail Ale (holding onto those east-coast roots)

SGT Legend
Jay Ragazino (J-Rags)

Headwear
Coal

Outerwear
TREW

Country (there is a right answer)
The United States of America. Not even moderately kidding. Not saying there aren’t some changes I would like to make, but I have been many places and very much choose to live right here where I have the freedom to be poor as hell and still enjoy every second.

Hair Color
brunette (preferably between 5’1″ and 5’4″)

Do your parents hate your snowboard friends?
My parents are the reason I have skier/snowboard friends. They are the ones that fueled this fire, not my fault.

Biggest cliff you have dropped?
Doesn’t matter how big it is. Its all about style and flow.

Claim your best friend:
Sumner Dickenson Widdoes. Whitest name ever, no idea what to do with snow, but a damn good guy nonetheless.

Better movie Top Gun or Art of Flight?
Top Gun. No question. Art of Flight should have been about 15 minutes. Max.

Are the Red Bull contests legit? Who is going to win in 2013 and why?
Red Bull contests couldn’t be more legit. Its one of the only companies pumping money into this industry in the right way. Letting their athletes set the stage and create the atmosphere is helping to propel the industry and push the limits of what we see as possible.

Lucas Moore, great or greatest ever?
I’m going to go with… all right?.

How many nicknames do you have? Please list them and how you got them?
Sneaky-Pete (Travis Moore, due to my ability to show up out of nowhere and work my way into the job I wanted without anyone noticing)

Pedro (good for radio traffic)

Solid Citizen (Rick Means, due to how physically difficult it was to lift me as a child.)

Last time you were in jail? Why?
19 years old. Thought the justice system would be just and that the judge would be a rational person to whom I could explain the absurdity of the situation. I was just a bit naive to say the least.

Best way to pick up a chick hanging out in front of Tage?
Lean more forward, be more confident, be more aggressive.

What is your greatest accomplishment in life
Getting to where I am today… Multiple jobs doing multiple things that I love while still having the time to push that love even further.

Any advice on how to hook up free drinks at Mute?
Fuck Mute. CHIMANGO’S 2013.

If T-Rice rules big mountain and Terje is the legend of legends then how many miles do you have to ride on your bike to be a man?
No idea how many miles of bike-riding, but you would certainly have to put up some serious vertical in order to compete with those two.

 

Final Score and Rating:

I thank Sneaky for his candor and honesty. In grading Pete I had to explore my soul and react to the knowledge that he maybe better looking then me. After a long look in the mirror and renewed self confidence, I believe that Pete has it. It being height. He is tall and that is his most striking feature. He towers over others imposing his superior high-angle optical skills while simultaneously brandishing his opinions of the world unapologetically.  In the end Pete is a worth adversary and someone to take seriously. With that in mind – 38 Points have been awarded to Pete Connolly.

Waiting for an Answer: Southern Smiles

Daniel Ochoa came down to SGT in the summer of 2012 with a knowledge of the world and a good understanding of travel. Ochoa had also caught my eye by producing some very nice photos on his blog – http://www.fotochoa.com. I decided to ask him for his view of SGT Argentina to help us get more feed back on the program. He is what Daniel had to say:

There is something so addicting about southern hemisphere snow. Walking through Cancun International Airport with a bag full of snowboards is surreal and stepping off a jetway right into winter with your flip-flops and board shorts on is magical. The chill on your toes, a cool you haven’t felt in months, means that the promise of pow in the summer has just turned from a day dream to a reality. If you’ve already had a good summer shred you know what I’m talking about and if you are reading this you and I are already on the same page. You don’t need me to tell you how good the snow can be or how great the terrain is, you already know. What I can tell you is that while the powder turns, big lines, and promises of untouched backcountry can leave you speechless, the people you’ll meet and the cultures you will experience leave are guaranteed to leave the longest lasting impressions. My two weeks with SGT Argentina were no different.

When I scooped up the last spot for SGT Argentina’s 2012 session three weeks before departure, all I knew is that I would be snowboarding in beautiful Bariloche, Argentina with campers, clients, world-renowned guides and some stoked pro coaches, and really, that’s all I needed to know. I couldn’t wait and I’ll just tell you right now, the experience didn’t disappoint. The mountains are as advertised, SGT staff is even better than advertised, and one of the most memorable days I had with SGT Argentina wasn’t advertised at all.

I almost missed out on Burg’s brewery tour. David and I talked about it the night before at Jacksons and I was definitely into it but my number one priority was to ride and ride I did that next day. I barely made the “cambi” bus pick up at 5pm after a great day on the hill with the crew. I’m glad I did because Barilcohe has some of the best craft beer breweries south of the equator.

Stop 1, Cerveceria Blest: I could have sworn we were in Germany and actually, David informed me that the German immigrant population was well represented in Bariloche. This was our first stop and it felt like we were gearing up for Oktoberfest. Try the Frambuesa Lambic for something different. A cross between a beer and a raspberry cider, this was a mellow way to get the tour started. The amgios agreed.

Stop 2, Cerveceria Berlina: The rustic yet warm confines of Berlina were perfect for a sunset beer. The brewery sits on a duck pond beneath the Andean peaks and the locale combined with the beers made this place memorable. Try the IPA or the Stout. In my experience a beer in Latin America generally amounts to little more than a homogeneous lager from a nationalized brewery but my first Berlina brew surprised me with something different. Argentines actually appreciate a good, hearty, well-crafted beer.

Stop 3, Cerveceria La Cruz: If you are a local, this is where you come for an Après Ski beer and pizza after a day in the mountains. The vibe is family and the beers are good. No messing around here, the brewery knows what its doing and the locals appreciate it. If I lived down the street from La Cruz, the bartender and I would be on a first name basis regardless of my Spanish comprehension. Try the Double IPA if you are a hophead.

The brewery tour was a great, unexpected, evening with new friends and SGT staff. The kind of experience you have when you decide to drink up as much life as you can. As always though, the best part about going out late night in a mountain town is that you are almost guaranteed a fresh dump of white when the sun rises. 7 am arrived early the next day but with it came the white stuff and another deep day on the Cerro. Salud!

Words & Photos: Daniel Ochoa

Thoughts From The Andes: What is SGT

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.

Continue reading Thoughts From The Andes: What is SGT

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.

Continue reading From the Mind of an Intern

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.

Continue reading From the Mind of an Intern

The Complete Experience: SGT Argentina

Tony Pavlontos aka The Man

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!

Continue reading The Complete Experience: SGT Argentina

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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