BARILOCHE 2018 – WEEK 1

Peak Leaders are back with one of the world’s most unique ski instructor courses down in Bariloche, Argentina!

This course is so much more than just a ski instructor programme, it is an amazing cultural experience and adventure too … the incredible skiing terrain in the mountains of Cerro Catedral, the famous nightlife in the lakeside town of Bariloche, learn Spanish to interact and make friends, horse-riding with local gauchos, and learning to tango from the locals … this course has it all!

After a long journey the group all arrived last Saturday at the amazing Refugio del Lago where our team will be living by Lago Guiérrez for the next couple of months. They were in for a local treat on their first night and enjoy an evening Asado which is an Argentinean style BBQ by the lake.

Everyone was excited to meet and get to know each other. On Sunday the team hiked over the mountain from the hotel to explore the resort at Cerro Catedral, before heading into the main town of Bariloche.

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The location of the Refugio is absolutely amazing and everyone was blown away by the beauty of the surrounding area. Everyone was whipping out cameras to try and capture some of the stunning scenery on our orientation day. This photo from Emily is awesome …

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This year we have a lovely group of focussed trainee instructors, primarily from Europe and some Amercians too. Everyone has chosen to come here to gain BASI Alpine Level 1 and 2 qualifications and most are super keen to find employment for fast approaching winter season in the northern hemisphere. Through the course they will be learning how to teach skiing as well as improving their own skills too.

Cerro Catedral is a vast ski area and the runs are in great condition and are piste bashed and prepped for us each day. Both groups have been focusing this week on getting to know their way around and learning more about how they can make positive changes to their skiing. The days are packed full of training in the morning and free skiing in the afternoon. And when the day is finished kicking back and enjoying the epic views.

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The Peak Leaders have fitness training every week on the course which is really important. The stronger and fitter they are on the course will help the trainees get the most from their ski training and make improvements faster. This week we eased into it with a jog to a local waterfall up from the Refugio. Will and Emily wanted to get an even closer look as you can see!

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The first week is so action packed that it flies by, with lots of new people to meet and masses of new terrain to ski. The Peak Leaders have had an awesome start to the course with amazing weather and some new snow. Fingers crossed for some more powder next week too … roll on week two!

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