Snowboarders working hard!
Posted on September 21, 2011 at 4:17 am

On  an ashy late september day on Cerro Catedral, the Peak Leaders’ Snowboarding groups hit the terrain park. The adrenaline inducing rush to hit the kickers was a welcome diversion from the communal stress they feel on this, the second to last day before BASI level II results.

Cheers, war cries and oooooooh snaps could be heard from the lift as the board brothers egged each other on. With each successful salvo of jumps, a visible progression in the level of jumps, grabs and tricks was evident among the group. Despite the jovial atmosphere, there was still an underlying level of tension. The trainers were watching. As always. Some of boys still needed to make the grade. As each boarder hiked up the slope after their jump, board in hand, they would tepidly probe their trainer for some feedback, a glimmer of approval. They took what they got and headed out for more. Upon reaching the kickoff line, puffing and out of breath from there climb, the riders spouted off their intended approach for the next hurdle through the air. “Mute grab, this time,” or “I think I’m gonna do a 180 on this next one,” “yeah, son.”

Two more days. Two….more….days….

(And they said snowboarders couldn’t write)
–

BASI level two
Posted on September 19, 2011 at 10:24 pm

This fortnight is the Argentina team’s BASI level two assessment. There are the three groups of skiers and two boarding groups. Week one was great with all the students teaching two lessons. The skiing groups had one fairly normal lesson, however the second one had some seriously challenging role playing clients in each lesson. We had young farmers, dysfunctional families, arguing wives and husbands, hyper six year old’s and everything in between. Some of the guys got really into character, the lessons were hilarious!

The first week of BASI two has been brilliant with everyone really enjoying the course, everyone has had big breaks in their skiing and riding. With everyone stepping up for the results next week.

Here are some photos from week one!

 Nick in action teaching on week one

The girls conferencing mid lesson

Vom Tom working on his Central Theme

Dougie teaching on week one

Lee while listening in on his guys lessons

Luke over the valley of Cerro Catedral

BASI Level One by Luke B
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 9:00 am

Central Theme Practice

Finally, after a few weeks of relaxed skiing with Tety the mountain goat, the assessment started. It begun with a slightly nervous reception with Dunc, our trainer. Everyone eagerly willing to impress him. However, once on the mountain, Mysterious Matt led the group on our first ever ski run together and needed only two attempts to get to the right lift. With Hal falling on the walk up to the right track, followed closely by a spectacular fall from trainer Dunc, it’s fair to say the ice was broken… Of course he meant it.

The first few days were spent enjoying some of the fresh powder snow, with our group leaving some intense synchronised skiing tracks over the mountain. We then shifted focus onto our balance by trying some one-ski skiing, and worked even harder on our synchronisation by trying to overtake one-another whilst maintaining the same rhythm. It’s fair to say our skiing was challenged and we thought we were in for a rest with the central theme lined up later in the week… we were definitely wrong. A few laps later, skiing without poles, skiing with boots totally unclipped and constantly trying to get to terms with the infamous stretch and bend, we finally learnt to snow plough.

Then, as the final part of the course, we taught a session each. The whole day was a success with a variety of introductory activities including; three-legged skiing, one-ski slaloms and obstacle courses to name a few. Other lesson plans involved pole balancing and slaloms, with everyone becoming totally confused by Dunc’s out-of-a-pound scoring system.

So before we knew it the week was over and everyone was left in Mute, the Apres-ski bar, clenching their professional ski-instructor qualifications and a well earned drink! Pretty successful week I’d say… Bring on level two!

-Luke Barratt

Level one week
Posted on September 5, 2011 at 8:24 pm

The BASI boys are in Argentina and are running the BASI courses at the moment.  Last week was the level one courses and this week is a training week before the level two starts.

The big news is that 100 % of the trainees passed their level one! It’s absolutely fantastic, everyone is really excited and pleased with themselves, quite rightly!

We have the five BASI trainers working with the guys this week to give them the best possible chance for the level two that starts a week today!  We are all really excited to have the BASI guys here, but also because everyone is now a qualified snowsports instructor!

Here are some photos of the groups in action last week.

Alex Leaf working with Grega on the Condor Tbar

Rob Norton’s group on their teaching day

Duncan Adamson’s group working on Central Theme

Pocket Ben teaching his first ever lesson

Duncan Adamson coaching Central Theme

Punter Callum practicing his Snowploughs

Alex Leaf’s group on Friday playing in the powder

Freestyle Course 2011
Posted on August 31, 2011 at 3:36 am

This summer Peak Leaders ran a Snowboard Freestyle course down here in Argentina.  We only had one guy on the course but it was a big success with Chris “The Godfather” Crimp. He was here for four weeks of training. Three weeks with the Argentinean trainers from Club Andino Bariloche and one week with BASI trainer Rob Norton.
Everyone still here in Bariloche is really sad to see Chris leave as he was a great guy to have around. Thanks Chris. Take Care mate.
Team Argentina 2011!!

Here are some photos of Chris from his time down here with us all…

Chris mid front flip!

Chris cruising towards Condor.

Chris planking on a Saturday day off.

Chris and Dany Z on a night out.

A few of the team out in Dusk night club.

Powder day!
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 1:41 am

Today was an odd start to an amazing day. It had been bit damp and grey down at the hotel all of last night and early this morning. The hotel is at about 700m above sea level. However that meant that there was nearly 18 inches of fresh powder at the top of Cerro Catedral which is at 2200m.

This is what it looked like by the end of today!

There was even half a foot of snow at the base, which meant the snowboarders rode all the way down today. And to make things even better, the sky cleared and turned it into a bluebird powder day. It’s even snowing again down here at the hotel again now and we have promises of more clear skies and sunshine this week. What more could we ask for?

Julian chilling in the powder today!

BASI level ones are running this week. We have two snowboard groups and three groups of skiers. Everyone is well trained after a month with the Argentinean trainers and are now fired up for a month of BASI training and courses. Good luck guys.

Just one of the three BASI skiing groups on their level one this week.

Bariloche back in business
Posted on June 16, 2011 at 11:13 am

The whole structure of core services, at base station and mountain, is operational. Ski lifts are operating, ski rental shops have added the latest models, the whole range of lodges and restaurants are all fully set to provide the best service that made Cerro Catedral ski resort your number one choice as ski destination in South America. Bariloche city has resumed normal activities. Children are back to school, supermarkets are well supplied and gas stations have normal fuel supply. Communications and medical services are also fully available and functional. In short, our people have been working hard to make 2011 a good Winter Season as usual.