2 months ago
1 note
Coreshot
Volkl Carbon Katana
Verbier
(Written by Francesco)
I was a bit skeptical when I first saw the Volkl Katana vWerks at ISPO. This shocking ski won the ISPO award, but at first sight it seemed to be more a toy than a big mountain ripper. The ultra-thin sidewalls, albeit in sexy carbon, did not inspire a lot of durability confidence. Plus I’ve had previous dull experiences with ultra-light carbon skis which simply had not enough mass to decently manage any sort of hard or complex snow. Buzz at Volkl’s stand was intense, but equally intense was the bottom noise “I will certainly delaminate these in a few turns…”
The ISPO Jury, though, released a strong series of sentences about this CarboKatana:
“The Völkl Katana V-Werks revolutionizes the freeride ski market. The developers of this ski managed to significantly reduce the weight to an unprecedented extent - an incredible achievement when comparing it to other freeride skis of the same length and width. In addition, the completely innovative and very well-engineered 3D construction with super thin carbon flanks that simultaneously reduce the gyrating mass provide a previously unimaginable performance for both ascents and descents. The full carbon jacket with the extremely light woodcore offers the torsional stiffness and precision of freeride skis designed for absolute experts. However, the Katana V-Werks is also a very pleasing and almost forgiving ski due to its very precise rocker construction, its dampening and the woodcore that reaches evenly from tip to tail. The result: exceptional precision and adaptability that supports turns of any speed and offers maximum fun on the mountain.” (quoted from Wolfgang Pohl, DSLV, Garmisch-Partenkirchen - GER).
So… when at the Verbier Xtreme demo days I had the opportunity to spend a couple of hours on a 184 CarboKatana, I simply could not resist. The turf was decent for a demo day: stashes of hard snow, spots with transforming spring corn in sunny faces, hidden pow bowls.. Almost a bit of everything. First, let me tell you that I am an happy user of the regular 184 Katana. I believe this metalized green beauty is - along with the Blizzard Cochise - the perfect Verbier daily driver for any day without new snow. It’s perfectly locked to hard snow, turns in an almost effortless way (remember, it’s NOT the demanding 191!) and once you’re on them a ski day has no crud crust or rotten snow limit. When you look at the carboKatana, it’s pretty hard to believe that they have the same dimensions, shape and camber of the classic green katana: you immediately note the almost non-existant carbon flanks and the impressive sound of the superthin tip and tail when hittin the snow. You click in the bindings, and immediately realize the lack of weight of the extremities. No swing effort at all. OK will these grip dencently hard snow and effectively slice the crud and the corn? I could not believe it, but the answer is pretty simple. Yes.
In spite of being so light, the tip of the carboKatana works perfectly. As in the metalized green version, the minimal front and rear rocker locks the Katana to hard snow, while allowing a very easy turn initiation and design. In spite of being so minimal, front blades slice pretty efficiently pow and corn. If you look at the ski, it’s clear how all of the driving mass is under your foot. What makes a huge difference vs most of previous dull full carbon skis is the torsional stiffness. It might be because of the 3D profile, it might be because of the type of carbon layering and wood core used in central section of the ski… the flanks and edges of the CarboKatana have an amazing resistance to torsion.
Time runs fast when on the CarboKatana, and the two hours I was given expired pretty soon. But I had enough time for a few final considerations:
-The CarboKatana’s are a lot of fun. In regular snow, whatever hard or soft or corn, they roll and slice. And the skier is always happy and asking for more.
-The CarboKatana requires a well tempered leg. It’s easy, but carbon construction transfers all the contact stress to the leg of the driver. It’s demanding.
-The CarboKatana is not fun in bumps when visibility is not perfect. The tails and tips are not made to absorb, and if you do not drive perfectly them you get tired very soon.
-The CarboKatana is a light ski that - as all light skis - will suffer the lack of critical mass in heavy rotten chop. But it’s much better of many other superlight carbon skis I’ve tried.
If I was 20-30 and very rich (cost will gravitate around 1k or more), the CarboKatana would be a go. Being 51, on a diet and on a budget, the advantage of the CarboKatana over a classic metal Katana is likely to be restricted to a few defined spots: skinning (dunno the weight, but likely to be 15-20% less of the metal version), and apres-ski where the carbon must have a clear cut magnetic effect performance.
-Francesco
2 months ago
1 note
Coreshot
Bridger Bowl
Bridger Brigade
(Written by Sam)
The Bridger Brigade has been steadily gaining notoriety over the past several years. Members of their crew have been on assignment with Powder Magazine, stood atop the podium at freeskiing competitions and their video edits have appeared on Discrete TV, as well as the online versions of Bomb Snow and Powder. Recently I caught up with Axel Peterson to get some insight on the past, present and future of the Bridger Brigade.
-Coreshot: Who Are The Bridger Brigade?
-Axel: The Bridger Brigade consists of Axel Peterson, Rob Raymond, Randy Evans, Kyle Taylor, Henry Worobec, Andrew Daigh, Joe Jasper, Ryan Walters, and many friends.
We came up with the name Bridger Brigade as we were sitting around a keg of Fat Tire that we had snuck into the dorms at MSU. We were brainstorming names to put in front of our edits, I came up with the name and it stuck.
-Coreshot: When Did It Start?
-Axel: Bridger Brigade started in the 2008-09 season, when myself (Axel Peterson), Rob Raymond, Andrew Daigh, and Randy Evans all moved to Bozeman to attend MSU. Meeting in the dorms, Randy, Rob, and Andrew quickly became my every day ski partners. Hailing from different ski backgrounds, we pushed each other to ski faster and huck bigger. Since we skied more often than we went to class, I figured I would start to bring my camera up to Bridger to film our stunts. I had a shitty little Sony camcorder that I used to make skate edits growing up. We started bringing it up with us everyday during the first two seasons skiing Bridger Bowl, and we were stoked on some of the shots we were getting. The idea came up that we should strive towards putting out multiple edits per season and try to separate them by location. We started editing together shots, put a rock or punk song to it, and that was our beginning.
After the first two winters of making ski edits, we upgraded to a nicer camera, and we started to focus more energy on the filming and editing side. We learned a lot in the last two years, and will continue to gain more knowledge about filming, editing, and skiing as the years roll on.
-Coreshot: What Projects Are You Currently Working On?
-Axel: This season we are working hard to produce monthly Bomb Snow TV edits. It’s a lot of work to shoot and edit a sweet ski flick every month, so that’s what most of our energy is going towards. I’m super pumped on the shots we’ve been getting this year and stoked on how the BSTV edits are turning out.
Also, we are working on a sweet project that fellow Brigader Henry Worobec is leading charge on, entitled Land of No Use. Land of No Use? is a two year documentary project using backcountry ski touring to explore the value of Montana’s protected public lands. The title comes from an old bumper sticker and slogan for opponents of wilderness designations (i.e. motorized recreation enthusiasts and timber corporations) that reads, “Wilderness = Land of No Use.” The narrative of the land management debate will shadow that of a group of young athletes exploring terrain where humans are mere visitors, in a state named for its mountains.
While BSTV and LONU are our main objectives this season, we are also working on a few side projects with other companies, including filming with the Radbots and entering the TGR COLLAB video contest at the end of the season. We will also release a full-length film this fall, and enter it into the Cold Smoke Awards.
-Coreshot: What Are Your Plans/Visions/Objectives For The Upcoming Season?
-Axel: I hope that we continue to push our skiing and filming, and most importantly, continue to have fun. I would like to upgrade some of our camera gear and concentrate on pumping out edits that have a story line, not just the basic “ski porn” edits. We would love to continue traveling, and take our skiing to new and exciting places while documenting the ups and downs along the way. It is both fun, and challenging to communicate a story using skiing and a camera. Making these edits has become what we do simply because we love doing it.
Ideally, we will spend a month in Montana, a month in BC, a month in Japan, a month in the Alps, and a month in AK…. someday.
-Coreshot: Thanks For Your Time, Any Sponsor Shout Outs?
-Axel: Big shout out to the rad companies that support the Bridger Brigade as a whole: Mystery Ranch Backpacks, Kalen at Voke Tab, Smith Optics, Bomb Snow Magazine. Thanks for the support, you guys make what we do possible.
Bomb Snow TV: Episode Two “Revelstuck” from Bomb Snow Magazine on Vimeo.
Bomb Snow TV: Episode Three “Oro Y Plata” from Bomb Snow Magazine on Vimeo.
Additional information can be found on their website: BridgerBrigade
-Sam
2 months ago
Coreshot
Casa Tours
Japan
Blower Pow
(Written by Gomez)
I am finally coming to grips with my cultural hangover and return to the U.S. from Japan. A few weeks of 3% sake powder, bountiful sashimi, heated toilet seats and daily hot water baths will change one’s perspective on life.
I started my journey on the island of Honshu and was immediately humbled by the size and complexity of terrain in the Japan Alps. I can see why Nagano was an excellent choice for the winter Olympics, these resorts are big!!!!! Tsugaike Kogen ski area boasts a tram that travels more than 4000 meters in length.
I truly believe some of the best snow I’ve ever skied was on the island of Hokkaido. Big flakes of super fluff seemed to fall daily. Roadside snowbanks towered above. Enchanted forests of white plastered birches and heavily loaded spruces providing the perfect powder haven.
In addition to skiing in some of the lightest, driest snow of my life I was just as mesmerized by the culture of Japan.
-Gomez
M. David Johnson
Owner/Operator CASA Tours
+ 1 406 570 8292
2 months ago
4 notes
Coreshot
Bern Unlimited
Moment Skis
Atomic
Stevens Pass
(Written by Jeff)
February Storming
Skiing around Stevens Pass with Kristin Campbell, Rob Kilcup and Erik Einwalter during a deep storm cycle. Good times were had by all.
-Jeff
3 months ago
Coreshot
Chamonix
Verbier
Alagna
Fred Syversen
Ronny Dahl
(Written by Sam)
An annual ski pilgrimage to Europe has become a focal point in my life. For me, the lift accessed terrain and culture are the driving factors behind this decision. The 2013 version of this trip is similar to previous renditions in most aspects. Geneva was my airport of choice, and I home based out of Vevey thanks to my buddy Fritze Lorch.
After sorting out various details with the SBB and their “Rail to Ride” program, my first ski day was a solo mission to Verbier. I was nursing a DEFCON 3 hangover from the night before (just doing my part to improve International Relations, compliments of a bottle of Crown Royal I picked up at Duty Free), but there was an 8-10” blanket of fresh snow, and literally nobody there.
Following my mellow pow session in the Val de Bagnes, I settled in for the evening and reconfigured my equipment to head to Italy. Alagna promotes their lift system as “Freeride Paradise” so Fritze and I figured we might as well investigate. The snowpack was definitely on the thin end of the spectrum, but up toward the Punta Indren we managed to locate some excellent turns.
After four days of Italian cuisine and a leisurely pace, it was time for me to move on, so I hitched a ride with Fritze through the Mont Blanc tunnel. Over the years, I’ve ventured away from home and spent time skiing in Norway, Sweden, Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Canada and the Western U.S. looking for the perfect location. Slowly and surely, Chamonix is becoming that destination for me.
Ronny Dahl is an old friend of mine, and spends several months each winter in Chamonix. We linked up my first day in town, and spent the next two weeks scouring both sides of the valley, and even over the Italian border into Courmayeur for fresh snow. The Midi was closed frequently due to high winds and severe weather, but we sessioned the low elevation tree skiing and made it up into the alpine as conditions permitted. Successfully fulfilling our civic duty to bolster the local economy was also on our radar. We accomplished this, by posting up at Elevation for a full shift on several occasions.
In addition to the massive expanse of terrain Cham has to offer, the atmosphere is what really draws me in. After lapping bell to bell, skiers from all walks of life litter the streets and après scene. Over time, I’ve been fortunate enough to infiltrate a crew of Norwegians, which has dramatically impacted my experience in a positive fashion. In no particular order, Fred Syversen, Ronny Dahl, Tone Ansnes, Atle Dahl, Pia Gundersen and Karsten Gefle all contribute to why Chamonix is such an amazing locale.
Eventually my time is Europe had to end, and I spent one final night in Vevey sorting out logistics. 30 hours and a series of setbacks later, I arrived home in Bozeman. At least my luggage accompanied me. This adventure absolutely would not have been possible without the assistance of Fritze Lorch, Ronny Dahl and Beni Krampulz, and I would like to express my sincere gratitude to them. See you guys next season.
-Sam
3 months ago
ISPO
Coreshot
Scarpa
Trab
Sportiva
Plake
(Written by Francesco)
Gear geeks like me do not care about Christmas or their birthday. They just care about ISPO (if they live in old Yurp) or SIA if Yanks. The 2013 ISPO was predicted to be the great battle of the AT bindings vs the sidecountry boots… and so it was, but I also got some very interesting details that you might appreciate as well.
You already know everything about the new Dynafit Beast 16, which was widely covered by press releases and pictures, so let me just tell my frank opinion. Too big, too heavy, too pricey. As a small tiny old skier I do not need 16 DIN and more than half a kilo for an AT binding. But of course I am very interested in toe elasticity.. and then it comes the new Trab binding. You Coreshot readers were among the first, two ISPO ago, to see the proto version of the Trab, and now it is finally here: elastic toe and a very intriguing, innovative heel unit which works in the most intuitive (and maybe efficient too..) way. Unfortunately, and here comes the devil, this binding needs a dedicated device in the heel of the boot. Not something you can simply screw like for the Dynafit Beast, but something that should be included when molding the boot. So for the next winter there will be only one Trab binding-compatible boot, an amended version (I believe) of the Scarpa Rush. I would have liked more a Maestrale RS, but only time will tell about this marriage..
The new Fritschi Zenith was on display even though at a very primordial prototype status, likely done with a 3D printer or something like that. This notwithstanding, the project is very exciting: light (half a kilo), elastic in the toe, simple…. and promised to be cheap. Want to try asap, but hey, Fritschi, do not rise me too much over the ski like with your old Freerides… We do not want and need that.
The Italian ATK factory is gaining a lot of momentum in the Southern Alps. I have friends who are thrilled and true believers in them. As they are made near by the Ferrari car factory, their newest 12 DIN release was in an elegant and flamboyant Ferrari red. Very attractive, the only bias being the still ”ouch” front stopper. ATK displayed also a novel and very intriguing new NTN-compatable telemark binding. Every telemarker knows how much we need new blood in the tele arena, so ATK is most welcome.
Walking on ice is always a nightmare. Vibram introduced a new concept sole named Ice Three, and anyone could try it walking over a huge ice cube. Very convincing. Now we need it on ski boot soles, maybe as an aftermarket option…
Apart from bindings and boots, the ISPO 2013 big buzz was the new superlight and superthin Volkl Katana. You cannot believe how thin these sticks are, hope the pic can render it… Of course big boys in the hall were claiming “I can destroy these in a second..” but - again - only time will tell.
And now, the battle of boots. Well, it was a memorable ISPO. Major new concepts, and to be honest all of the boots I am going to present you were among the very best my feet can remember. If you need a new do-it-all boot, it will be a very difficult choice.
New concepts: The two-piece Dalbello Panterra tongue is an engineering masterpiece, no doubt. It works as a tongue where a tongue is most needed, and it works as an overlap where an overlap is most needed. My only concern is why Dalbello is using it in one of their few boots with a large internal last volume and no Intuition liners…
New details: The new Sportiva Spectre is a fireworks of innovative issues that might change the way we think about tongue boots. Kudos to Nicola Viniero and all the Sportiva team. The tongue can be inserted in three different positions, so to serve different feet. The upper tongue has been cut to better serve your bones (BTW, I know many people who is cutting this way their tongues in other types of boots), and some triangular holes have been designed to increase stiffness where needed. The buckles can stay open to better slip into the boot, and the micrometric regulations are among the finest one can imagine… and not surprisingly they were patented. Now the question everyone has in mind: OK they’re the lightest 4 buckle, will have a competitive price, there’s some carbon inside the nylon… but how do they flex and ski? Room temperature at ISPO was too high to grab any decent idea, we need to wait.
A true breakthrough was introduced by K2. They used to have their own boot line (and some were on display), but K2 re-entered the boot market with a sort of Colombo’s egg: Just plug a tech insert into classic alpine soles, you do not need and want swappable AT vs alpine soles. Pros: there is no room for weakness due to screws in the system, and a rockered sole is needed only when walking on flat… something skiers do not look for. Cons: this alpine-ISO certified sole will never have a grip similar to AT solutions.
Another breakthrough is the walk/ski system developed for the Scarpa Freedom: a metal feel and a soundly click that have no rivals. The Freedom comes in a pebax plus carbon and a PU version. Again, the hot ISPO halls are the wrong place to test the pebax flex, but the PU gave me the best “locked foot” feel of the day. And the Freedom has the best walk of this brand new “sidecountry” or “do it all” boot category. Can’t wait to ski the freedom.
Finally, walking through the show catwalks is always exciting. You can meet friends, pros, hot scandinettes, and legends. And sometimes legends have a mohawk…
-Francesco
4 months ago
Coreshot
Rab
Neoshell
Scarpa
Maestrale RS
(Written by Francesco)
I’ve always been waiting for reports about durability and performance of the gear I like most. A 50-day check might make sense: It’s about two winter seasons for some weekend warriors, about one season for a gear geek like me, and half/third of a season for die hard ski bums. I’ve used this stuff in the Alps and in the Tierra del Fuego, and here is how they worked and survived. They’ll certainly work more and maybe will reach a 100-day second check, time will tell. Please consider just one caveat: as any gear geek, I probably take much more daily care of my stuff than the average warrior.
Scarpa Maestrale RS:
I skied the mango pebax maestrale for one winter, and was truly happy with them when skiing sticks up to 2 kilos or - say - 100 in the middle. When I was so lucky to receive exactly one year ago these RS proto from Scarpa I could not imagine, even in my wildest dreams, how good they can be in driving 2.5 kg and/or 120-something sticks (Renegades, Automatics, Sideseth, Shiro, even Katanas on soft snow). Grilamid (+ the other mysterious stuff added by Scarpa) is truly another world compared to pebax. And what about durability? This nylon seems to be more resistant to abrasion than other plastics like polyolephins used by other brands with fantasy names and heavy mesmerizing colours to cover the scratches. I did not feel any significant failure in the flex, buckles and walk/ski devices after 50 days of intense use. My only (minor) issue has been the loose of a spoiler screw, and I was so lucky to find it inside the boot when I realized it. The Vibram sole looks almost like new, with minor consumption in the toe section that is notoriously slim in this new generation of AT boots in order to reduce weight and improve uphill mobility with tech bindings. Notably, the last one has been quite a snowy winter and I did not walk a lot on rocks. The Intuition liner is also still OK, even though I had to use a thicker sock after some 40 or so days of use.
Rab Stretch Neoshell:
Yes I sweat like a pig. Any sort of 3L membrane jacket makes me soaked as soon as I walk or ski uphill for more than a few minutes. When I read of the Neoshell concept (which trades a bit of waterproof in favor of a huge step forward in breathability), I was immediately interested and decided to get the first Neoshell jacket on the market in Fall 2011. I never had before anything from Rab. The jacket is tight, but fits well on me even when I wear my big PIEPS beacon on the chest. I immediately realized that Rab is a strong Neoshell believer when noticed the absence of ventilation zips. The first test was easy and sort of shocking. If I keep a mobile phone in the membrane pocket of a classic 3L jacket, walk and sweat, the phone gets covered by humidity in minutes. This is why serious 3L jackets must have a net pocket for mobile phones. Keep the mobile in the membrane pocket of the Neoshell, and it’s never covered by humid. Wow. Said simple, Neoshell works, I sweat much less. What about the tradeoffs? I’ve got rain and snow in these 50 days of use, and the membrane worked well, never a serious leakage. I’ve got some strong wind too, and the Neoshell did not protect as a Windstopper or 3L would have been, but I have never been seriously suffering of wind chill so far. As you see from the pics, the jacket is still fully waterproof, zips are OK and I haven’t seen any delamination. Finger crossed, I’d like to report another positive report after 50 more days of use.
-Francesco
4 months ago
Coreshot
Backcountry Skiing
(Written by Sam)
As 2012 draws to a close, I find myself with ample time to reflect upon a random assortment of topics. Granted, my mind usually doesn’t wander too far, before skiing powder surfaces and becomes my focal point. I quickly realize, December has been a good month.
In the last 31 days, I’ve been fortunate enough to make turns at Big Sky, Bridger Bowl, Alta, Snowbird and last but certainly not least, touring in Little Cottonwood Canyon and on Teton Pass. Consistent pulses of moisture have frequented the Intermountain West, and mellow pow skiing has been on the menu.
My life is divided into distinct segments based upon seasonality, and consequently so are my acquaintances. Being on the road during ski season affords me the opportunity to spend time with old friends, new friends and a cast of characters I only know is passing. None of my travels during December would have been a success without the graciousness of several key individuals. I would like to express my gratitude to Kenny and Jenn Atkin, Drew Stern, Dave and Sara Wilkins and Luke Driessen. I’m hopeful the last month is a positive indicator of what the remainder of the ski season holds, but only time will tell.
-Sam
7 months ago
1 note
Coreshot
Panda Poles
Oakley White-Allen
Tanner Rosenthal
(Written by Sam)
At Coreshot, we’re always on the lookout for new products and innovative ideas. Recently Panda Poles attracted our attention, so we caught up with their chief motivator, Tanner Rosenthal.
CORESHOT: The first time I noticed Panda Poles was during the middle of the 2012 season. Can you give us some insight about the history and driving force behind the brand?
PANDA POLES: Panda Poles were dreamed up by TanSnowMan (Tanner Rosenthal) in the spring of 2008 at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon in Salt Lake City. Over the following two seasons, he teamed up with his best friend Oakley White-Allen and manufacturing partner Johnny Anetsberger to create and test the product. The design was finalized in the fall of 2010 and the company’s official launch was January 18, 2011. The core ideals behind the product, were dreamed up as a result of TanSnowMan’s dedication to eco sustainability, fascination with simplicity, attraction to fun, and has continued to evolve into a platform for humor oriented social expression.
CORESHOT: Little Cottonwood Canyon is a unique location for a corporate headquarters. I’m hoping you guys find enough time to get out of the office, and indulge in some real world R&D at Snowbird?
PANDA POLES: Skiing always comes first. Skiing is the reason we are involved with this project in the first place and without it, this would just be another job. The fact that we must be in the mountains to promote our brand keeps ourselves and the project true to its core values.
CORESHOT: Why bamboo?
PANDA POLES: Not only is bamboo a lot easier to grown than carbon fiber or aluminum, it’s a lot simpler to work with. We don’t have to pull aluminum ore out of the ground, smelt it, roll it into rounds, or anything like that. We just take the bamboo—which is naturally a pole shape—and attach any of our 3 styles of “Zero Drag” baskets, 3 styles of grips, and 3 styles of straps. There are also two choices of bamboo. Bamboo poles are nothing new and were the norm for skiing during the majority of the 20th century. Panda Poles fuse the simplicity of tradition with a technologically futuristic element. The poles are hand crafted by free skiers and mountain mystics and are the most durable intergalactic ski poles in the Universe, each pair coming with a “Single-Season” 180 day warranty.
CORESHOT: I know you have several riders on the freeskiing scene using your products?
PANDA POLES: Yeah, we’ve got a pretty solid tribe of dedicated athletes already. Some of the more notable names would be Oakley White-Allen (Panda Poles co-founder and Team Captain), Mark Abma, Julian Carr, Drew Tabke, Chopo Diaz, Sole Diaz, Chuck Mumford, Angel Collinson, Kasha Rigby, and the list goes on and on. All the athletes have been such a huge support and haven’t asked for much more than a pair of poles and a shirt. These athletes are part of the tribe because they want to represent a more intentional consumer market and worldly mindset.
CORESHOT: Where do you see the brand 10 years from now?
PANDA POLES: We plan to be growing our own bamboo in the Southern U.S. and manufacturing everything from ski poles, to organic bamboo and recycled apparel, bamboo skis (made with eco epoxy), and whatever else can be made efficiently in a more sustainable process. We also plan on teaming up with The Solar Saucer Cosmonauts to do a tour showcasing action sports, music, art, health and sustainability practices, and eco friendly products. Just really bring it all together to help expose such concepts to a broader audience.
CORESHOT: Thanks for your time, and closing thoughts?
PANDA POLES: When you go out and vote during this election time, remember, Vote Panda for Ski Poles. Every vote counts towards a healthier tomorrow.
For additional info about Panda, check out their website: Panda Poles
-Sam
8 months ago
4 notes
Ushuaia
Coreshot
(Written by Francesco)
The year after hitting the Arctic Polar Circle in the north of Iceland, Marco and I felt the call of the deep south. We’ve never been to South America before, and being lovers of the extremities, we decided upon the last civilized spot in the Austral world.
Day by day, we were consumed with love for Ushuaia, a little and fierce version of San Francisco facing the Beagle Channel and, down there, Antarctica.
Looks like people move here to stay away from something and contemplate the big empty. The large windows in our Hostaria were made for this, and every morning we could not leave our eyes from the first rays of light coming from the Atlantic Ocean.
Yes, we were there to ski. On our very first day, we had the gift of powder and the road to the Cerro Castor left us breathless.
The lift system at the Cerro Castor is pretty new, but so far seems to attract only racers training for the new World Cup series and beginners who want to stay on the marked lifts. In other words, no competition or pressure for tracking.
The way back to the lower lift included intense tree skiing. The Austral Beech is an elegant, tall tree that we’ll remember for a long while, along with the millions of mistletoe.
Being side by side with extremo World Cup racers has some funny facets. The new generation of GS and Super G skis they must use next winter, might (maybe) save their knees (as claimed by regulators), but look someway dumb.
And hey, who said that Dynafit bindings are not made to be used in icy slalom slopes? Marco ruled the waves.
In addition to Cerro Castor, also the Glaciar Martial above Ushuaia had an old, tweeky chairlift. We skied it on a hot day and the snow was like sopa and polenta, but hey, who cares.
No doubt that Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego deserve to be visited in winter. The light is low and this is the season when you really feel to be at the end of the World.
Tierra del Fuego topo is almost non existent, but climbing/touring/skiing possibilities are limitless. A young Mountain Guide should spend here a couple of winters and make what John Falkiner and others have made in Verbier years ago.
And yes, there were other reasons to leave our hearts in Ushuaia. Centolla, Cordero, Malbec, Quilmes. The best food, wine and beer you can dream of. By the way we’re Italian, so we know a bit about good…
-Francesco
