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How to do a season in South America?

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foolmetwice
Posts: 600 - Karma: 1,008
Thinking about attempting to ski every month for a yr starting now. As a part of this I’d like to spend next summer (about 3 months) in South America. The idea just popped in my head on a mountain bike ride today so I haven’t given it much thought or any research. Any info/experience yall are willing to share would be helpful.
Such as:
-When is the “prime“ of the season? (most consistent snow)
-Where is the best snow?
-Where is the best lift accessed “big mountain” skiing? (Cliffs, chutes, and steeps)
-Where is the best park?
-Which is the best all around mountain? (Park, big mountain, good snow)
-Where can I have good access to skiing and mountain biking?
-Is there any skiing semi close to the ocean?
-Where will I have the best experience off the mountain? (I’m a fluent Spanish speaker, like to eat good food, see the sights, meet new people, play some pick up soccer, etc)
- Do I need a visa? (I have American and Spanish passports and would like to work part time, preferably somewhere that will provide me a ski pass)
-What kind of work might I be able to get?
-Advice on finding a place to stay
-Cost of Living?
-Do I need a car?
-Any cities with large resorts nearby? (Similar to slc)
-Im sure there’s a ton of stuff I’m not thinking of
Thank u!

**This thread was edited on Aug 12th 2021 at 12:45:59am

**This thread was edited on Aug 12th 2021 at 12:47:09am
Aug 12 2021 12:44AM
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junior1derful
Posts: 260 - Karma: 3,094
Unless you can speak fluent Spanish I would look at going to New Zealand or Australia instead. Also it takes a long time to get a work visa so you will need to make a plan well in advance. I'd recommend trying to talk to someone from one of these countries about the process for applying for work visas & setting up a bank account.
Aug 12 2021 7:15AM
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BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 6631 - Karma: 57,101
Miles from snow brains does it every summer for a couple of months (or at least DID before corona). He always stayed in Bariloche and skied Cerro Catedral. I’ve got a few Argentinian friends and friends from there. I’ve heard Cerro Catedral is the best for all around skiing and snow. Snow levels will be a lot lower though, as the Southern Hemisphere overall doesn’t get as much snow. So don’t expect epic powder days. They happen but it’s not a common occurrence. There’s a few resorts around Bariloche too - Cerro Catedral, Chapelco, and Cero bayo we’re just a few my friends would mention. As far park - no idea.

I always wanted to visit and ski Argentina so I’d ask my friends all about it. It looks beautiful down there.


One question though - do you plan to work or just ski? Also, when the borders open up - it might be worth looking at NZ or aus too. Work holiday visas are stupid easy to get if you’re under 30. However, in aus they require that you have higher education and they’re a bit stricter on work rules BUT they do get more snow of the two. So, if you’re young enough, you could ski and bum it all winter then work in the summer to make some money or just head back.
Aug 12 2021 9:31AM
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foolmetwice
Posts: 600 - Karma: 1,008
junior1derfulUnless you can speak fluent Spanish I would look at going to New Zealand or Australia instead. Also it takes a long time to get a work visa so you will need to make a plan well in advance. I'd recommend trying to talk to someone from one of these countries about the process for applying for work visas & setting up a bank account.

I am fluent in spanish and am not considering nz or aus at the moment. Will try to reach out to someone is south america
Aug 12 2021 5:09PM
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foolmetwice
Posts: 600 - Karma: 1,008
BradFiAusNzCoCaMiles from snow brains does it every summer for a couple of months (or at least DID before corona). He always stayed in Bariloche and skied Cerro Catedral. I’ve got a few Argentinian friends and friends from there. I’ve heard Cerro Catedral is the best for all around skiing and snow. Snow levels will be a lot lower though, as the Southern Hemisphere overall doesn’t get as much snow. So don’t expect epic powder days. They happen but it’s not a common occurrence. There’s a few resorts around Bariloche too - Cerro Catedral, Chapelco, and Cero bayo we’re just a few my friends would mention. As far park - no idea.

I always wanted to visit and ski Argentina so I’d ask my friends all about it. It looks beautiful down there.


One question though - do you plan to work or just ski? Also, when the borders open up - it might be worth looking at NZ or aus too. Work holiday visas are stupid easy to get if you’re under 30. However, in aus they require that you have higher education and they’re a bit stricter on work rules BUT they do get more snow of the two. So, if you’re young enough, you could ski and bum it all winter then work in the summer to make some money or just head back.

Ideally I’d like to work a bit to earn a pass and not have to live completely off savings
Aug 12 2021 5:10PM
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foolmetwice
Posts: 600 - Karma: 1,008
Bump
Aug 13 2021 7:04PM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
I have done 9 seasons instructing in Chile, South America is definitely better skiing than NZ and Aus, still very inconsistent snow compared to the northern hemisphere though.

I would say Bariloche/catedral is your best option, I think a work visa would be hard though. Probably the only way to do it is a cash job on the black. The Argy peso is crazy volatile, sometimes living there is really cheap, other times expensive.
Aug 14 2021 5:20AM
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Alvaro
Posts: 323 - Karma: 2,066
When is the “prime“ of the season? (most consistent snow)

august is your best bet

-Where is the best snow?
central chile/ argentina has the best snow (but gets less snow) probably las leñas gets the best quantity/ quality of all resorts
-Where is the best lift accessed “big mountain” skiing? (Cliffs, chutes, and steeps)
las leñas
-Where is the best park?
el colorado (last couple years they didnt even build a park tho)
-Which is the best all around mountain? (Park, big mountain, good snow)
maybe cerro catedral bariloche
-Where can I have good access to skiing and mountain biking?
there are plenty of decent bikeparks that work on winter in santiago (near valle nevado, la parva and el colorado)
-Is there any skiing semi close to the ocean?
any skiing in chile is close to the ocean
-Where will I have the best experience off the mountain? (I’m a fluent Spanish speaker, like to eat good food, see the sights, meet new people, play some pick up soccer, etc)
maybe cerro catedral (never been there tho)
-Any cities with large resorts nearby? (Similar to slc)
santiago
Aug 16 2021 10:34AM
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