Course leader Steve hands over the blog for week 7 to Peak Leaders trainee Jenna Maurer. BASI Level 2, cat skiing powder runs and champagne celebrations. Read on to find out all that happened … 

BASI level 2 has started

We kicked off the two week BASI Alpine Level 2 course this week!

BASI level 2 … getting down to business

There was a lot of focus on the hill on Monday and Tuesday – amongst the tail end of last week’s storm which brought an abundance of fresh snow to Cerro Catedral – as we connected the fundamental elements to the Central Theme.

What does this mean?

Snowplough practise in the sun

We worked hard to make our snow ploughs and teaching sessions even better than BASI Alpine Level 1!

BASI trainer Mike gets the team ready above the clouds at Cerro Catedral

Goggle tan time

Our teaching sessions were welcomed by warm and sunny weather on Wednesday.

The El Nino storms cleared leaving sun and perfect snow conditions

The good weather continued throughout the week which has really helped developed those all important goggle tans!

Perfecting ski technique

On Thursday we got to work on our short and long radius turns.

Time to turn it on for BASI level 2

Very detailed on hill feedback and analysis from BASI trainers Mike and Lesley kept us on the right track.

BASI trainer Lesley with some on hill feedback to keep the group focused

The on snow training was followed later by an extensive lecture and video feedback session for further improvement.

Thursdy night was finished off by a much-needed cerveza (beer), classy glass of vino tinto (red wine) and ice cream sundae at the pub nearby to relax before our teaching sessions on Friday.

Friday … and the weekend

It was an action packed week of BASI terminology so Friday afternoon it was decided that the weekend was for turning our brains off a bit and relaxing.

If you can’t relax here where can you?

It was soon clear that everyone was ready to embrace the weekend – demonstrated by an amazing sing-a-long on the bus back from après before the usual Friday night asado!

Chile adventures and cat skiing

This weekend everyone has been embracing their South American adventure in different ways:

Chris, Giuseppe, Sas, Girl George and Alaska rented a car and made their way across the border to Chile for a road trip!

Don’t stop till the border!

Adventuring to Chile

A few of the instructors went skiing at Cerro Catedral … and experienced the quirky live music on show at the base of the resort this weekend.

BASI trainers Mike and Lesley, group leader Steve, and Bertie and I took the opportunity to go cat skiing at Baguales Mountain Reserve.

Cat skiing in paradise

Cat skiing was an absolutely incredible luxury experience, enjoying fresh untouched spring tracks in 16 degree sunshine!

We travelled by pick-up truck through a winding valley, driving across a river before swapping the pick-up for snowmobiles and being taken up to the mountain refuge.

First … a pick up truck …

… then a snowmobile!

Finally there, preparation began for a huge day in the playground that is Baguales.

Private playground – well sort of?!

There were only 12 of us in the whole mountain reserve and we were taken by cat (piste machine) to the top of some huge mountains.

A day to remember forever – cat skiing in the Andes!

Dropping in made for some of the best skiing/snowboarding we’ve ever done!

Arriving at the bottom after each run we got picked up by the cat and taken to the next drop point.

What an incredible way to explore a mountain range!

Anyone for tennis?

We were also lucky enough to meet Argentine tennis legend, Gaston Gaudio, (definitely a hit with the ladies) who was enjoying his day of luxury alongside us at Baguales.

Swapping tennis courts for cat rides – Gaston Gaudio is an ace!

Feasting at Alberto’s

As if we don’t eat enough top class steak throughout the week?

Some of the instructors ventured out into Bariloche for some epic Alberto’s steak and a few more cervezas on Saturday night!

Another asado? Oh … go on then!

One more week to go

Overall it has been a week of concentration, focus and most of all adventure.

That’s what this course does best – combining incredible training with unforgettable experiences!

What a way to end week 7 …

Final week, final exam time

One more week of BASI Alpine Level 2 … we’re ready!

And … happy birthday to George!

George and Ben on top of the world

Inspired for your own gapyear?

Next one starts in just 3 weeks!

Compare our ski gap courses and snowboard gap courses

Or join us in Whistler for a mountain bike gap course

Book today!

Contact us here or call +44 (0) 1337 860 079