Argentina Ski and Snowboard Course Week 1

A group of  trainees arrive at Bariloche domestic airport to begin not just a 9 week ski instructor course, but on an adventure that will change them forever.

To come to Patagonia and not change as a person in some way is almost impossible.  Almost instantly our trainees have been immersed into the famous Argentina culture.  Upon arrival our group gathered around a nice warm fire and had some lovely food and a few glasses of champagne to start the course of with a pop!

A little champagne to celebrate

A little champagne to celebrate

Despite jet lag kicking in, excitement overruled the bodies, and some of the trainees stayed up till the early hours already keen to work on building some new great friendships!

The trainees were briefed very early on as to the extent of how filled the course would be with things to do. An early rise and a hike up to the ski base was on the cards.  A great team bonding exercise as the weather decided to dump a ton of fresh snow overnight.  What should have been an hour walk on a mountain track, turned into an epic winter wonderland adventure.  A warm mountain lunch and hot drinks were provided at the mountain base. The trainees got their first taste of the type of great mountain food which is included on every training course run by Peak Leaders in Bariloche.

The great food did not stop there as the plan for that evening was our first Argentinian Asado. An Asado is like a BBQ, but one you have never seen before.  I have no idea why Australia is so famous for its BBQ culture because the Argentina Asado is like the undiscovered king of grilled food!

It was amazing.  Words can’t describe the food so please just take a glance at out blog photos!  The taste-maybe you will just have to find out for yourself one day!

The first week is very action packed.  Thursday was a powder day and also our first day out on the hill.

The group where thrown right in the deep end with our first few turns of the course being in beautiful deep snow! Do you remember those days during your holiday or season? Now try imagining that on your first few turns!

The snow was just a sample of what was to come.  The group had an amazing 2 days doing avalanche and backcountry training as well as a very practical first aid and personal mountain skills safety session.  Like all good courses, we had some very interesting lectures back at the hotel which helped the group to really get the mountain training locked in!

Off snow training

After each day of training the group comes home to the beautiful El Retorno Hotel, our home for the next 9 weeks and what a place.  It has everything we need; Wi-fi, great rooms, awesome food, super friendly staff, stunning central location right on the lake, and warm fires to come back to after fun southern hemisphere winter mountain days! Perfect.

Kayaking across mercury

You must be logged in to post a comment.