Category Archives: Travel

Researching La Parva: Ingrid Backstrom’s Freeski Camp

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Backstrom to host women’s camp in Chile – ESPN Freeskiing Blog

 Every summer since 2004, pro skier Ingrid Backstrom has flown to the southern hemisphere, a place where cold and snow is just a day’s travel away. With her winters spent filming with Matchstick Productions and Sherpas Cinema, her summers have consisted of coaching at Chris Davenport’s Ski With the Superstars camp and exploring the Andes. But this year, for the first time Backstrom is branching out into her own camp, hosting a women’s specific camp in La Parva, Chile, this August.

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There’s a certain level of patience needed to succeed in South America. What advice would you give to first-timers?
There is a different pace in South America, that’s for sure. We are so rushed and pro-active in North America. Down south, they are more reactive, I would say. Once you let go of your preconceived notions of, ‘But it’s my ski vacation, why isn’t the lift open now?’ and adopt the, ‘Have another cafe con leche, go for a walk, and when the lifts do open, it will be just me and a few other people enjoying all of the powder,’ you will really become open to the possibilities and the little miracles that happen down there all the time. Smile a lot and say ‘Por favor,’ and ‘Gracias,’ and try to order your meals at least in Spanish, even if it just means reading off the menu right above the English translation. And for heaven’s sake, carry your ski boots on the plane with you.

Skiing in South America in the summer: skiing luxury or life list must do?
Depends on your level of obsession with skiing. For me, it’s both. It’s definitely a luxury but it’s also a must-do. I mean, if you love winter and if you love travel — how can you not be curious that there is a whole other winter happening somewhere else? Another winter, in such a cool place — it’s mind-blowing.

Ingrid Backstrom is an amazing skier. She also grew up skiing at Crystal Mountain (her parents patrolled with mine for a few years) before moving to Squaw and becoming the top female freeskier. Check out her Athlete Extra from last year’s MSP movie, Attack of La Nina.

Liz and I will be in La Parva the same week as  Ingrid’s camp. I hope we don’t steal all their lines.

Researching La Parva: La Musica

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This is the official La Parva Apres Sounds Mixtape:

Its like face shots for your ears. So listen to it, download it, and enjoy it for free courtesy of La Parva. Whether your sipping pisco sours on the terrace of La Marmita or getting freshies down La Chimenea this mix is sure to keep your ears warm during those cold winter months.

Authentic Chilean rappers Comun, Roberto Base, Grande Tymers, and Kanye Oeste tear it up in this mixtape. La autentica musica.

Researching La Parva, Chile: La Parva Ski Area Facts

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Via PowderQuest.com 

La Parva ski resort quickly climbs to 3,630 meters (11,910 ft.) and in addition to outstanding groomed terrain for beginners, intermediates and experts, La Parva ski area has great access to off piste terrain including steep chutes like La Chiminea, McConkey’s (named after Shane McConkey), deep powder bowls, and cornices. It also provides a clear shot to nearby peaks and world-class backcountry lines like Cerro La Parva, El Plomo, and more.

The views of the Capital of Chile, Santiago on a clear day are amazing!

Ski Resort Location: Village La Parva above Farellones, Central Chile

Ski Resort Elevation: 2,670m (8,759ft) to 3,630m (11,909ft)
Ski Resort Vertical Drop: 960m (3,150ft)
Ski Resort Inbound Terrain:
20 Runs, 15% Beginner, 45% Intermediate, 30% Advanced, 10% Expert
Lifts: 14
Backcountry Access: Excellent
Heliski: yes
Ski La Parva Weather: 80% sunny days with snow storms dropping dry powder due to elevation and aspect.
Annual Snowfall: 300 inches (762 cms)

I Just Won The Trip Of A Lifetime!!!! Thanks Ski Utah and Ski LaParva! (LaParva Trip Day #1)

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Holy Shit!

Three and a half weeks ago while compulsively scanning my Facebook news Feed, I noticed a link from the Ski Utah Yeti regarding some sort of “Endless Winter Sweepstakes.” A sucker for anything related to skiing, I clicked on the link and entered myself in a drawing for a jacket, some skis, and the grand prize, a trip to LaParva, Chile for a week of skiing in the middle of summer (winter there, because the hemisphere thing, or planets, or science or something).

I entered the contest, shared the link on my wall, and continued on checking Facebook, Twitter, Freeskier.com, EarlyUps.com, and other sites for the latest news and stuff. I probably wouldn’t have thought twice about the contest had Ski Utah not posted the contest on their website… which doubles as my browser’s homepage. I entered the contest every time I checked the snow report (read: everyday).

I did.

I knew the contest was ending and tried to enter one last time this afternoon. The contest had closed, but I saw a post saying a winner would be announced this afternoon. I “liked it” and joked to myself (which makes me sound like a crazy person) about updating my Facebook status saying I was holding my breath and not leaving my computer until I was notified that I had won. My buddy Matt (who works for Ski Utah and thus is completely ineligible) even commented that he was definitely going to win.

Good call, Matt

A few minutes later I checked my gmail and opened something titled “Endless Winter Sweepstakes: CONGRATULATIONS.” My advanced internal spam filter told me to disregard the subject line, and honestly, I’m surprised I even opened the email (thanks a lot Nigerean Princes and Viagra scientists). It wasn’t until I was halfway through the email when it dawned on me that I had actually won. I re-read the email looking for the following key phrases: “sorry”, “thanks for entering”, “second prize”, “second chance drawing”, “better luck next season”… nothing. I got instantly lightheaded as my brain figured out that I had one the grand prize. I knew it was good, but honestly, I hadn’t even read the fine print. Needless to say, I was pretty happy when I re-read the fine print:

One GRAND PRIZE (1) winner will receive 2 roundtrip airline tickets to/from any major international airport within the lower 48 United States to Santiago International Airport, 6 nights lodging at La Parva, Chile, lift tickets for two for 6 days, ski/snowboard rentals for two for 6 days, airport transfer (from Santiago to La Parva).  Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”): Eight thousand, five hundred dollars ($8,500).  Grand Prize can only be redeemed for La Parva’s 2012 season which runs from June 1, 2012 – September 10th, 2012.  Grand Prize cannot be redeemed for cash.

I called the contact person at Ski Utah and spent the next ten minutes struggling to find words to express my excitement. Holy shit! was used several times though.

After the call, I immediately hun up and called my girlfriend and asked if she had any interest in skiing in Chile this summer. I wish I would have thought of something clever. But I didn’t. As I write this, I’m still not convinced that she’s convinced I’m not messing with her.

Time to go update Twitter and Facebook.

Pretty Good Post About Floating The Weber River

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WEBER RIVER: UNOFFICIAL SPOT CHECK – Unofficial Snowbird

Everyone need a break now and then from the boredom of work and the rowdiness of summer activities. (Biking, Climbing, ect…) There is nowhere better to spend an afternoon with friends day drinking than on the Weber River. A short one hour drive from the Summer heat of SLC is a sleepy little place called Henefer where the good times roll on down the river every weekend.  The water levels have finally come down and the floating is currently pretty all time!

After hitting the Weber up last Saturday and the Sunday of the previous weekend  I can say with authority that Sunday is the day for floating. It seems that the unofficial time to get to the put in is somewhere around 1:00pm. That makes sense since everyone is shaking off Saturday nights hangover and can’t get their asses in gear until about noon on Sunday. The lot scene on Sunday at 2:00pm looks like a little version of Cancun right in the middle of the cow fields of Morgan County.

Nice write-up about the Weber. We floated the Weber Friday night and are headed back on Tuesday. We had a blast, but broke Daryn Edmunds’ rules number 5 & 6. Oops.

I haven’t been there on the weekends to see how accurate the Cancun comparison is, but it seemed like everyone that came into Park City Bread and Bagel this weekend was heading out to Henefer to put-in. Definitely the popular thing to do in late August in the Wasatch Back.

Biking Day #5

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Liz and I drove to Moab late Saturday night to meet some friends at a party in the desert. We were a little slow when it came to getting on the moutain bikes Sunday morning, but we found our way to the Amassa Back trail. Although it was rated “advanced technical” on most websites, I figured it would be a good spot for Liz’s first ride of the season. I was wrong and we went in search of an easier trail.

We eventually settled on the Bar M loop of the Brand Trail System. We rode some doubletrack and a few fun miles of slickrock. About 10 miles in total. Fun ride. Good warmup. Porcupine Rim will have to wait until next trip.