Tag: Snow

Surf vs. Snow: The Perfect Contrast

Monday // May 18, 2015 // 5:51 am

“HEY SH*T-F*CK, GET OUT OF BED WE’RE GOING SURFING.”

Not the most pleasant way to be woken up by your boss, but when you’re living in his beach house in Puerto Rico for free, you’ve really got no choice but to roll out of bed and get stoked.  Besides, it’s late May and there are still waves hitting PR’s northwest coast… part of the reason for last night’s festivities.  I’m disheveled, still half asleep, pillow lines on my face, and can’t seem to tie the damn drawstring on my board shorts.

sunrise surf

“HURRY UP DUMBASS, TRAINS LEAVING”, I hear from out front.  I sacrifice brushing my teeth to slap on some sunscreen and start running through the mental checklist of things I need… surfboard, um, uuummmmm… Maybe a bar of wax?  My anti-earlybird state of mind is flushed away by happiness and serenity, and I stroll out to our haggard but beautiful ’94 Ford Explorer with a smile on my face. Let’s go surfing.

A few days and about a dozen surf sessions later, I sit in the SASS office discussing what to bring to Argentina with an excited client.  “Will I need to bring an AT setup?” he asks.  “Well that depends”, I respond, “do you have skins cut already?  You’ll definitely be going into the backcountry with that setup, do you plan on bringing a beacon?  Shovel?  Probe?”  The list goes on…

BCA gear

I hang up the phone and look over at the surfboards sitting on the wall, starting to draw comparisons to the two things I’m most passionate about:  skiing and surfing.  On one hand, you’ve got a sport that relies on you carrying anywhere from 10 to 30 (or more) pieces of equipment.  From base layers to inclinometers, there’s no getting around skiing and snowboarding being incredibly gear-heavy.  Then on the other hand, there’s surfing: a sport where in many areas, you grab just your board and head out the door.  Sure, some climates make multi-piece wetsuits a necessity, but with a hooded winter suit, gloves and booties, that’s another three items to throw in the car.  THREE.  I have more than three buckles on each one of my ski boots… Broken cars are worth something to cash for cars Junk Clunkers at 7482 N 56th St #180, Lincoln, NE 68514 (402) 621-8950.

So why do we do it?  Why do us adrenaline junkies run out the door with just our boards and send an all-day surf mission, then succumb to an hour of prep before AND after a day out in the backcountry?  I can think of two reasons.  First, there’s the ritual.  Packing our backpacks and dialing in the micro-adjustments on our ski boots give us time to think about what the day will bring, and more importantly, time to get amped up.  Nothing beats that perfect mix of nervousness and excitement as you leave the house at 5 am to go for a painstaking tour.  Second, there’s the value of the contrast.  Spending so much time preparing for days on snow makes us appreciate the simplicity of a sport like surfing.  And being able to balance two sports that have such drastically different attributes creates a unique dynamic, as sports are really popular now a days and people are playing sports like pickleball so learning the pickleball etiquette while in court is essential for practicing this sport as well.  A dynamic that’s hard to find elsewhere.

latin yellow

So while my early morning wake up calls may not be the most pleasant, I’m still able to start my day with ease, knowing that it’ll be five minutes before I’m in the water, rather than an hour and a half until I’m on the snow.   And the next time you’re struggling to change the batteries for your beacon at 6 am, keep in mind those sports that require next to nothing, and appreciate ritual you’re taking part in.

—

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.

Check out our program in Argentina!

 

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:

  1. Beacon, shovel and probe (for avalanche safety)
  2. Telemark, Alpine Touring (AT) or splitboard set up
  3. Backpack
  4. 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:

  1. Sign up for SGT Argentina 2013
  2. Take an SGT AIARE Level One Avalanche safety course
  3. Look at buying or borrowing AT gear
  4. Get in shape by starting a dynamic daily fitness routine
  5. Improve your skiing and snowboarding skills
  6. 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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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’s Interview Hour: Tony Pavlantos

This is Dr. Crockett’s interview hour
Where based on the subject’s intelligence they are asked a serious of questions and then scored on how deeply they search their soul for the answer.

Today’s subject is Tony Pavlantos, Tony is a rock climbing, mountaineering, backcountry shredding bad-ass. “Big T” lives in SLC with fellow SGTers’ Chris Coulter & Ben Girardi. Tony is seriously a really good person, probably the best person at SGT. His dark skin and easy on the eyes appearance helps make SGT the best looking company in the industry. Tony is the bees knees, he gets honored by the honored, he shows up on the heros lists of mountain men and true adventurers. Tony is what passion aspires to be. Tony is who Brad Pitt’s dad wishes his son was like. We seriously love this dude (No homo).

It is now time for Tony to sit in the honesty chair and cut open a vain.

Tony’s questions are:

________________________________________________________________

View on SLC? 
It was really good from my bivy camp last week on Mt. Kessler with my Boy Ryan Lehner. We ran out three pitches of mixed climbing to try and sleep in a cave and ride a couloir. Instead, we slept on the summit with 3 million people below, woke up and rode some rocks with snow on them.

Describe SGT Argentina Lodge in one story (not featuring Crockett)?
Well, Soul Max is just that  “Soul to the Max” At 12pm my first night in Bariloche after unwinding the evening ending in a midnight swim in the heated pool I thought I would go hit the hay. Instead the door was locked with the key inside. No roommates answered calls, texts, banging door… 2 am came around and the Roma “coaches apartment” foyer got cold.  So back to Soul Max I went. And who other than Miguel “our night security guard and good friend” greeted me at the door laughing. He preceded to stoke the fire in the grand hotel entrance and brought me a blanket so I could sleep fire side on one of many common room couches where I was awoke four hours later by the smell of sizzling bacon as the kitchen staff prepared breakfast. Not a bad night locked out. Garret got keys made… and my assurances that Soul Max is truly home was justified.

Best x-mas/Kwanza/Hanukkah gift ever received?
My first beacon probe and shovel at fourteen.

Where do see table tennis evolving to?
[embedplusvideo height=”400″ width=”600″ standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/SncapPrTusA?fs=1&hd=1″ vars=”ytid=SncapPrTusA&width=600&height=400&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=1&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=” id=”ep4600″ /]

Vote on the following

Rider of the year:
I think he/she is lurking under the radar somewhere

Video of the year:
Further

Hottest chick in Snowboarding/Skiing:  
The one with the most Down, I think she wears turquoise

Dude you want to spend a couple of nights in a tent with (must answer):
I assume a man…? So… Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Bruce Lee, Mark Twight, Conrad Anker, I will get in trouble if I list the girl I want to spend a couple nights in a tent with.

Best trend in fashion:
Tight Yoga Pants

ROTY (Rookie of the year):
Honestly probably Carly Joseph she has an all around love for and ability to snowboard so great that she dedicates her time to all aspects from park to big mountain and at 17 actually takes the time to learn the technical education side which if she wants would make her a huge asset to the snowboard community… to progress your knowledge and skills so broadly is great because I see her doing more than all the up and coming boys her age..

Last time you cried?
February 16,  2012

Is Travis Moore a kook?
Nope I don’t think he could run a surf and shred camp so well if he was.

Secret crush (can’t say Crockett)?
Natalie Portman

What type of facial hair should Garrett Russell grow next?
I didn’t know there were different types of facial hair. Maybe rabbit fur cuz its soft

What is the longest amount of time you have gone without lady company? 
That question is too broad. but there has been ample distance is both space and time.

Any advice for middle aged people, that have yet to reach their dreams?
Follow them. Dreams are meant to come true or at least die trying to make them.

How often do you lie?
If I don’t lie then I don’t have to remember anything so, I prefer to not lie.

State the best of the following:
  1. Grab
    Switch Method
  2. Trick
    Stale fish grab carve to back 180 to switch backside triple cork 1440
  3. Polka
    dance
  4. Celebrity
    They are unique
  5. Champagne
    Cooks brings back memories of childhood digging at Windells
  6. SGT Staff
    Ya the staff is the best! Irreplaceable if you ask me
  7. Headwear
    Balaklava
  8. Position
    “depends” on what you are trying to accomplish
  9. Hair Color
    Black like Stallion Black

Who are you jealous of?
Trustafrians Mon!

If you were going to commit murder in a movie, what song would be playing?
Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata

Claim your BFF:
Zach Meisner

Best song to dance naked to?
Never Danced naked but I would like too Really soon and I will be sure to let you know what song.

Rocking climbing, you do that?
Try too.

Lucas Moore, great or greatest ever?
Greatest Lucas Moore the world has to offer.

How weird is Ben Girardi?
He is a unique individual that has an incomprehensible work ethic and creative talent with motivation to produce any thing he wants.  I am enjoying being his roommate this winter. But he is probably pretty weird if he lives with someone as crazy as me.

Best Coulter story
All my Coulter stories are so crazy I would ruin their gnarliness by trying to tell one. Lets just say he is good at life! Real Real Good! He also dropped into hang fire after I got caught in an avalanche just to come help me out. That shows a dedicated mountain partner more than I can describe.

Party story, go
Mine are really bad like teenage mischief bad. other than that I don’t remember.

Last time you clipped for a lift ticket? Where?

I clipped peoples lift tickets at Brighton in 2004

Most drinks you have had bought for you?
My last shipment of Amy and Brians Coconut Water was 96 – 20 oz cans so probably that many.

Favorite type of energy bar?
ProBar

What is your greatest accomplishment in life?
Peeing in my doctor’s face when I was born. Or tanning elk hides to make gore-tex leather guide gloves. Eeww.

Do you think I (Crockett) would look good in a zoot suit, like 1920’s style?
Yes

Beer, shots or coffee?
Its all water based

You make a lot of split boards, do you wish that you were a skier?
I am a skier the whole way up!

Who is the secret boss of the company?
David Burg

How mad are you at Dr. Crockett (me) for kicking you out of the pool when you “lost” your suit?
Really glad u did. Except you could have handed me my shorts first.

One thing you would take back if you could? 
Not telling Cornelius to just hold on to the back of the truck with me as we waited for the light to turn green. And instead watched him speed wobble on his short board as he let go of the truck at 35 miles an hour and crushed his torso under the rear wheel. I tried to bring him back but he only made it to the hospital. Speak Out!  If you think you should say something please say something it could make a difference.

What are you looking for in a lady or man?
One who does more for everyone else than her self, but still knows what she needs to be happy and healthy.

Solve for x:     x + 16 = 6x – 9  

X = 5

Final Score and Rating:
After careful observation and a couple of vinos I have decided that Tony P. was honest and handsome. However, I often feel that his kind heart makes him a better person then me. So he gets a score of 8.

Dr. Crockett’s Interview Hour: Andrew Burns

This is Dr. Crockett’s interview hour
Where based on the subject’s intelligence they are asked a serious of questions and then scored on how deeply they search their soul for the answer.

Today’s subject is Andrew Burns. Andrew is one of the talented coaches at SGT Argentina and in his spare time he snowboarders professionally. Ol’ Burnsy claims to be a real Canadian, even though he is part AMERICAN (The good part). He status at the top of  the medical miracle charts is unquestioned. This kid (well he is old, but younger than Dr. C, so that makes him kid) has been through more crap then a toilet in a Wisconsin truck stop, yet he brings it ever day and any night you want. Burns and his meat flavored breath have a way of challenging Dr. Crockett on almost everything. But now he is in the chair of honesty and must yield to the most suffificanted mental barrage of craium cracking questions ever posed.
Mr. Burns’ questions are:

_____________________________________________________________________

View on rocker vs. camber vs. mustache boards?
I like camber with a little rocker at the nose and tail. So there.

Describe SGT Argentina Lodge in one story (not featuring Crockett)?
Wake up, shred, pow, epic, après, pool, dinner, Jacksons, fernet, and repeat. The details are unimportant, everything is pretty rad to the max after you wake up.

Bets x-mas/Kwanza present ever received?
Lift pass one year when I was super hurting. That was top notch.

Where do see snowboarding evolving to?
Wherever people want to take it, whatever they want to do with it

Vote on the following:
  1. Rider of the year
    Mikey Rencz
  2. Video of the year
    DOPE 3
  3. Hottest chick in Snowboarding/Skiing?
    There’s a lot of them.
  4. Dude you want to spend a couple of nights in a tent with?
    I don’t, plus I live in a trailer anyways.
  5. Best trend in shredding?
    Trends
  6. ROTY (Rookie of the year)?
    Layne Treeter

Last time you crapped your pants?
Never have believe it or not.

Is Travis Moore a kook?
No but he’s a little nuts!

Marriage, when is that going to happen?
hahahahaha

What type of facial hair should Garrett Russell grow next?
Mustaches under his eyes.

Do you feel like a failure because do not know how the “fiscal cliff” will effect the resale value of your properties?
I don’t have properties, so no.

Any advice for the kiddies?
Be awesome.

Have you ever fallen on a snowboard?
Obviously not.

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 State the best of the following:
  1. Grab
    method
  2. Trick
    fs 3
  3. Band
    Slayer
  4. Celebrity
    Bruce Willis
  5. Beer
    PBR
  6. SGT Legend
    The Dunf
  7. Headwear
    Toques
  8. Country (there is a right answer)
    Wrong, it’s Canada
  9. Hair Color
    That’s just stupid

Do your parents hate your snowboard friends?
Only you pal!

Biggest cliff you have dropped?
Big…

Claim your sponsors:
Capita, 32, The Levitation Project, Union, Dragon, Etnies, SEABA, MyPakage

Better movie Top Gun or Art of Flight?
Top Gun.

Are the Red Bull contests legit? Who is going to win in 2013 and why?
They  seem pretty cool. Who knows, pow’s like that.

Murder, Make-out, Marry (Kim Kardashian, Katie Holmes, Katie Perry)?
I have no real preference. Maybe I’d start with a game of Russian roulette, then see who annoyes me the least out of those two, then bang the other I guess.

Lucas Moore, great or greatest ever?
There is no word yet properly describing the Lucas.

How many nicknames do you have? Please list them and how you got them?
Shit I don’t know… I have lots, don’t you think the nickname question is pretty played out? Call me Burns. Or Andrew. Please don’t call me Andy. Thanks.

Party story, go.
It was crazy! On my way to the club in centro and then… wait I blacked out, you’ll have to ask someone else my best party story haha.

Last time you were in jail? Why?
No comment.

How many double corks do you have?
Some. Less than 23.

Best way to pick up a chick hanging out in front of Tage?
That’s not where you want to pick up chicks.

What is your greatest accomplishment in life?
Surviving? haha

Any advice on how to hook up free drinks at Mute?
Be awesome. For reference, see me (Andrew Burns), Skylar (Holgate), Nicki (Slechta), and (Chris) Coulter.

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?
I don’t have a bike, I like machines better. 

Final Score and Rating: 

Even though Mr. Burns feels that he deserves a prefect score and will probably attack me (& lose) he will not receive one. The standards and traditions of Dr. Crockett’s Interview Hour have long been a pillar of journalistic excellence, and will not be bullied. In conclusion, Andrew answers were honest and thought provoking. He challenged his inner Dr. Phil and combined it with the sensibility of a Hallmark movie of the week. In consideration of this – 43 points are awarded.

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

The 2012 Photo Annual

Climbing towards 2013

The 2012 South American winter had the SGT media office fielding calls all July and August. The question, “How do you guys have so much snow when no one else does?” This was not only a honor to our unbelievable button clickers Jon Conway, Ben Girardi and Thomas Tikos-Kadji, but a testament to our coaches and guides. Why? .  Because our Patagonia treasure chest was not  overflowing with white gold this year, but we did know where to find the snow that made it to the ground. Apparently at a much higher frequency than the rest. Essentially this is what SGT is all about:  knowledge and family.

The 2012 campaign was all about fun and SGT was holding all the cards and played every single one. Snow, steak, simple living, the olympics, hiking, sleeping-in, going to town, not coming home from town, Albertos and everything in between. However, the most incredible part of the summer was the people. The secret of SGT is very simple, our people are the best people to hangout and ride with. This year our family, friends and clients added a considerable boost to the experience. Those people are experienced veterans of the education, who breathed a sophistication into camp with reflective dialogue and an inviting smile to anyone lucky enough to make eye contact. Young ladies learning how to get their necks above their heads and bruises on their heels. A sure-fire crew of snowboarding stars from Jackson Hole that tenderized their soft tissue into a cut of  meat that rivals the finest veals. Our new British friends that found smiles in every adventure. Some good old boys from Colorado that took in every experience that they could find. These are just a fragment of the powerful personalities that made 2012 the best year in SGT history.

The other part of the people puzzle I previously alluded to is the staff.  Six and a half weeks of no sleep (especially Tony P.), constant hiking, late-night entertainment and more red meat than a Wisconsin dairy farm, left only smiles and plans for next season on the staff’s lips. Skylar Holgate, SGT’s answer to James Bond, again led our skilled guides and coaches up Catedral and into the fray. Literally,  as there were several trips to the backcountry huts that took place this year, setting the tone of the contrasting styles of master photographers Ben “Condor” Girardi and Thomas “Gypsy” Tikos-Kadji. The pictures below maybe worth a thousand words, but I only come up with one: “Wow”.

Thank you to every client, sponsor, friend,  onlooker that made 2012 possible. A special thank you to our staff – Travis “T” Moore, Skylar “Skywalker” Holgate, Michelle “Black Panther” Parker, Lucas “El Mas Blanco” Moore, Garrett “G” Russell, Mauri Cambilla, “Sneaky” Pete Connolly, Nicki “Guerilla” Slechta, Big Fran, David “MVP” Burg, Andrew “Burnsy” Burns, Chris “Bad Ass” Coulter, Tony “Big T” Pavlantos, Ben G., Thomas “Gyspy” Tikos-Kadji, Piers “Semi-Swiss” Solomon, Jon “fats” Conway, Samuel, Miguel, Bonnie, Pachie and everyone else I forgot.

Reflect with your favorite beverage and take a escape break back to the year that was, or a preview into 2013 and your next adventure.

 

Photos Tikos,Girardi & Crockett
Words Crockett

Waiting for an Answer: Creativity

As I was breezing through the endless flow of online edits to see if anything was worth posting, again disappointed . I was transformed back to my youth for a brief second when I realized I had just received a new SNOWBOARDER magazine that I had not yet perused. Once I thumbed passed a bunch of ads, I could not care less about, I land on a sweet little piece  about creativity in snowboarding featuring a trip to Quebec with the Quicksilver team. Since I love poutine and french accents I started reading and judging post haste.

The article featured a bunch of youngsters that were having a group chat about getting shots and creativity in snowboarding. One of the points young buck Ted Borland made was in relation to people being “artsy” and how you can do it without being a “pussy”. Mr. Borland was contenting that you can do all the new school “moves” and do them on big features and make it look good.

As I am want to do, I started thinking, and had the following thought:

If you are unfamiliar with “artsy”, then maybe a class at the local learning annex, taught by your favorite over dramatic thespian is in order. If you have seen or participate in the movement, please start explaining yourself. To an outsider like myself, it just seems like snowboarding has gotten so big that people can get sponsored for “looking at things differently”. Which in raw form is awesome. I have witnessed many events where people went at a gap, rail, jump or line and rode it in a way I did not consider. That is art. The pure form of snowboarding (& skiing) is to do it your way. No coach necessary, no pep talks at half time, no wins or losses, just you and whomever else you choose to explore the terrain and world in front of you. I dig it man.

However, I feel like a lot of young pups today do not send the gap bigger or ride a line differently (some do and they are sick) but mostly many copy what others before them have done and claim it to be their style. You see it everyday, “look at that fake Bradshaw” or “he is the new Tanner Hall”. Even worse, is that this sub-sect of shredding simply is not very good. They have watched all the films (but claim they haven’t, because the are too cool) and realize they do not have the moves of a serious rider. So instead of getting better through time and experience they just do really small tricks on stupid features and claim that they are artists.

Let me clear this up for you, all of the world’s renowned artists mastered their art form before they tried something different. Picasso, Beethoven and even Nicolas Muller who rode and won contests, learned all the tricks and handled all the big lines in Europe before he put on that stupid animal fur hat and destroyed powder in Japan. The message here is own your craft, study it and be able to perform your master stroke, then you can be over it and just do duck unders with a cool scarf and pack of menthols.

 

 
-Dr. Crockett