International Boarders
An All Time Argentinian Adventure
The freedom of riding alone is one I enjoy on the mountain. No plans of where or how to ride, cruising mellow or mobbing hard, the alone time does me well. Now, don’t get me wrong, nothing naturally builds the atmospheric stoke more than snowboarding with the homies, but a solo shred does something different for the soul. It allows for exploration of the mountain, and the mind, in a unique way. In Lonesome Traveler, Jack Kerouac writes, “They say, too, in ancient scripture: - ‘Wisdom can only be obtained from the viewpoint of solitude’”(p. 125).
Combine that idea with a trip to a new country, new continent, where you don’t speak the language, and you might call me crazy. I’d call it an all time adventure. This past September, I had the chance to explore and navigate a new part of the world on my own. Hopefully this edition may persuade you to do the same.
Snowboarding in South America
Since Spring, I had the seedling of an idea to snowboard in South America. I knew the winters down there could be hit or miss, and had been a miss for the last couple, so I thought from the start that any trip would be a last minute decision. Although my Spanish was barely communicable, I did not want that, nor my lack of travel partners, to deter me from this trip. South America had been on mind as it was one of the corners of the Earth I had not yet explored.
Luckily for me, two weeks on DuoLingo were enough to get me through the basics of arriving at my first destination in Bariloche. This included 4 flights, a bus ride across Buenos Aires, rental car pick up, driving Argentinian roads, and navigating grocery stores. And in all honesty, the 27 hours of travel could not have gone any smoother, given the circumstances.
My first day I took to settle in and explore the area before I began my two weeks of snowboarding. I drove along the peninsula outside of Bariloche to find some hiking trails and to see what the area had to offer. Passing people on the trail, I quickly picked up all the formal greetings I would need to know: ‘Hola’, ‘Que tal’, ‘Buenas’, ‘Buen dia’, ‘Buenos dias’. I laughed to myself as I thought, ‘Nobody knows I don’t know how to speak their language’. My ‘Holas’ and ‘Que tal’s’ would get me by just fine.
The ski resort Cerro Catedral was the reason for choosing Bariloche as stop number one. Rising above the lakes, I had driven among the day before, Catedral holds some of the most amazing views I have ever seen at any resort. I couldn’t believe how much rideable terrain the mountain had even as the lower snow had begun to melt with the fast approaching Spring. It somewhat reminded me of a European resort as the majority of the terrain was wide open and above tree line. Throughout the first day riding I came across what felt like every condition of snow possible, except for powder; dusty sprayable snow, chunder, gripping carving snow, slush, and deep slush. To get a better idea of the beginning of this trip, watch the full adventure below.
After getting a lay of the land on my own, I was able to link up with Kevin Pearce from Snowboard Pro Camp. He had already been in the area for a month and joining forces allowed us to have some great days in the backcountry. Stay tuned for our videos with Kevin beginning tomorrow (10.3.24)
How to Travel Solo
If you’re itching to explore some foreign shred lands on your own, it doesn’t need to be that difficult. If you want to be completely immersed learning a new culture, I’d say, ‘Go for it!’ At the worst you might have some awkward experiences that will make for great stories.
But, if traveling alone is keeping you from going to places you want to snowboard, there are other options. Consider booking a guided tour/trip. Companies such as Mint Tours host snowboard trips around the world in places like Canada, Japan, Finland, Austria and more.
For the past few seasons TJ Kern, from Board Archive, has hosted snowboard retreats in Japan. We ran into their group this past January and everyone in their crew was stoked not only for the snowboarding, but also for the entire cultural experience. You can find information on these upcoming trips HERE.
Upcoming Events
This Saturday, October 5th, 2024 find the best deals on snowboard gear at the annual AVSC Ski Swap. We will be there with Radio Boardshop ready to get you dialed with boards, boots, outerwear, or whatever else you need. See you then from 9-1pm at Willits Town Center in Basalt, Colorado.
Later that day Aspen Public Radio will be hosting a free Backcountry Symposium at TACAW (. The following day the fun will continue with a premier of TGR’s latest film “Beyond The Fantasy” at TACAW as well. Find more information about the event HERE.
Stoke of the Week
Eero Ettala never seems to slow down. As this season marks his 40th birthday, Ettala is on a mission to show the streets are not only for the youngsters. Check out the trailer for this latest film project, “Milestone”, where he revisits street spots from his past to test himself once again.
