sudamerican adventures & life thereafter

First Day on Skis October 28th

2010-11-07T18:24:00.000-08:00

The first system of the 2010 winter caked the high country of the entire western U.S. So Martin Clay and I drove up to Rabbit Ears Pass outside of Steamboat and lapped the "Toilet Bowl" on the Liberty Helix. How was your first day?

First Day On Skis from Liberty Bamboo Revolution Tour on Vimeo.

Apologies as this crazy effect in the footage was not intentional. I'm having troubles exporting from final cut to the web.

Santiago, An Alpha World City=Lots of Peeps in the Hood

2009-10-12T11:20:00.000-07:00

With a bakers dozen days left in Chile, I took refuge in Santiago's western metropolitan area thanks to a good friend from Valle Nevado who offered the place to me upon learning of my early contract termination. Within walking distance from a metro station, grocery store, and a gym, I have had the most relaxing care-free time any unemployed person could ask for....

I made it up for some of the best views in the city during sunset hours. One evening at the hill of Santa Lucia and the other higher lift access hill with a 60ft. statue of the Virgin Mary, and a 20ft cross.

The days were also filled in with amazing seafood, walking though the bodega, a crazy sushi rolling session, some birthday partying, and lots of time just Chilling Hard with the Chilean peeps in their hood(see photo below). Next it's off to the beach, the longboard promised land, between where the wine grows, the salmon are caught, and the roads flow like the groomers of Steamboat. Nothing like bring back to Vina del Mar to close up a four month full circle.

PEEPS IN THE HOOD!!!

Bluffed

2009-10-04T17:05:00.000-07:00

So after getting back from Pucon, the skies were gray and bad weather was in the forecast. I figured weak spring weather system dropping a few centimeters of warm snow in the mountains. The next days were ones that you don't want to do anything for. Overcast and cold in the city....really, really, cold? Yet not raining a drop. When the mountains get snow, it ALWAYS rains in Santiago, but the storm bluffed us this time.

Using the Valle Nevado webcam and talking to my peeps up there, I found out it was DUMPING cold, dry, POW! Like 30cm. in one night. It snowed all weekend with some breaks of BLUEBIRD for the lucky ones.

So Monday I left the concrete jungle early with skis in hand and hopped on the metro, to get to the bus, that would take me to the hitch hiking spot. So imagine everyone going to work to start the week off, and I'm cruising public transit close to fully geared up. I couldn't follow my normal people watching habits because I was being stared at. It was awkwardly funny.

From the end of public transit I flagged an empty tour transport that got me up the 50 something switchbacks to Valle Nevado for about 10 dollars. All well worth it for some of my best turns of the season through 60+cm of the good stuff....mostly. The snow had gone though some transformation in some places, but I seemed to have the right instincts. I skied alone, as fast, and fun as I could. September 28th was glorious~

I ended up spending the night,catching up with friends, and skiing a good chunk of the next day with the same ticket thanks to no scanners and mostly chill lifties. I finally got plucked though :(

That being my last day of the South American Season, I sold off some gear to the people in need. Pants, goggs, helmet, trekkers.
We, people in the northern industry, take if for granted how easy, cheap, or free things are. I'm very thankful that I have a place in a luxury market. Or that I have a place at all.

Can't imagine anything other than “Success is Destiny”

~Hasta luego Andes~

Volcanic Meca

2009-09-30T16:57:00.000-07:00

Arriving at the only bus stop outside of Pucon at 10pm, I made the call to my contact in Valle Nevado who's brother resides in Pucon. He was working at a dope bar/restaurant call Cypress. All I was told is that its by the center of town, and everyone knows it. So I started pulling my Dakine bag which thankfully has good wheels like 8+ blocks where I was greeted by Roco with two pints of good beer and Empanadas all for around 4 dollars.

There was a group of French kids, old friends of Roco, I cruised the town with on this Friday night. At around 2am I was overtaken by hunger and was surprised to find a restaurant still open where I had the best chicken sandwich of my life. I guess that's why they name this place the best tourism infrastructure south of Costa Rica. From the bazillion eateries, bars, hostels, hotels, to every outdoor activity imaginable, this place is a tourist black hole. You can even spin around the central park in a kiddy go cart....if you're small enough. Careful though, the drivers in Chile are crazy, I did see some fender benders. Or maybe its a good idea to walk this area equipped with shin guards.

I spent my first day hung over...blaa, and just strolled the city talking to shop workers and the city folk. I also found my fruit store which I would become a daily loyal customer of. Chilean produce is where it's at! Especially eating it with this view~

The next day being a bit cloudy I decided to hold of on the skiing. I made an Empanada stop, rented a hard tail mtn. Bike, and headed for a 40k loop to another one of the 5 lakes in the region, Caburga. It was a pretty diverse ride. Some single track along the river, to a cool bridge, to a rarely traveled dirt road along the country side, ending at an amazing dead end.

The next days I headed for the volcano Viarrica, small ski area, HUGE HUGE HUGE volcano. My days there consisted of hitch hiking in the back of pickups, hiking as high as not having crampons would allow, skiing some off the best spring snow ever, and taking in the majestic views.

The rest of the time there seemed to easily slip away with hot springs, some intense tennis with Roco, and more city gazing. Before I knew it another week had past and I decided to head back to Santiago. Just in time for a last freak storm of the season that would leave over half a meter of cold stuff in the Cordillera of the central region. Good thing I didn't go to Bariloche~

Special thanks goes out to Roco for letting crash at his house and snapping this shot below.

Nevados de Chillan Round II

2009-09-26T08:32:00.000-07:00

So Chillan it was via the train. I rolled in style for a 20 dollar first class train ticket with big seats and a place to plug in.

After getting into Chillan at 11pm I had no plan of what to do...but that's the adventure behind it. I snagged a cab and we went to a hostel with plans of getting back into the same cab in seven hours to make the bus to Las Trancas. The next morning I got the three dollar bus to the best place in Chile. Straight to the best hostel in Trancas, and up to the best ski center in Chile, NO JOKE.

There was a comp going on that week, so for a registration of 80 dollars I got 5 days of skiing and some Chilean barbeque action, although the slopestyle game was not on my mind. I had my eyes set on the summit of Volcan Nevados, a 2000+ vertical peak at about 11,500ft.

At registration I ran in to three Utahers, Julian, Adam, and Jenn.

Us four, Chopo Diaz, Senor Diaz...along with 13 year old shredder Nico explored this amazing mountain from one extreme to the other.

For the next 4 days or so...this was a shred crew. From sunset shooting, to Ziplines (Canopy), to hot springs, to a magestic waterfall, we lived it up.

On our last ski day, Julian, Adam, and myself headed for the sought after summit.

I learned when there are no trees to reference it is hard to gauge how far something is. And damn, these mountains are HUGE! We saw 2 tiny little dots on the side of the last ridge before the face.
Julian said there was now way they could be people cuz that would make that “ridge” enormous. Well they were people, two Irish men moving very slowly.

We made it to the summit and down our lines after taking time for photos in under four hours. The terrain here is endless and even the run back to the resort from our lines was killer.

The next day we headed back to the retro town of Chillan. I made my bus to Pucon thanks to the crew and the car they rented. Which by the way, was a crazy experience of partying with the rental office staff after renting the car. We ended up in a local bar, getting a signed CD of the band, and watching the traditional Quaker dance go down..Wild~

Another late arrival in Pucon in the night with no idea where to go would make for another interesting time for sure...

Old friends, new friends and the Freeskiing World Tour

2009-09-20T19:28:00.000-07:00

So the La Parva stop of the Freeskiing World Tour ended going up in flames, but we had some really good days.

Day one of registration was beautiful and sunny. We checked out the venue, skied some nice fresh little lines, and caught an amazing sunset. The MSI guys where busy scrambling to find a spot for their live feed satellite and uploading edits. It was pretty amazing to see their operations given the fact they were on a skeleton crew over 10,000 miles from home base.

The first day of the comp went off well. Most of the athletes got a sunny yet windy run. And everyone was smart and safe. The Ladies killed it and Chopo Diaz showed everyone how its done in his homeland. He lead the day well deserved. I had the pleasure of sitting with the extended Diaz family and friends as we waited for the Apres party to start. Chopo was still in the zone with thoughts about day two that we would not get to see.

I wish I could have gotten shots of the infamous Cliff Benett. That kid did not stop dancing nor found it necessary to take off his helmet. Way to play it safe Cliff. Dancing in ski boots with a Smirnoff- Ginger in hand is almost as extreme as the line you just double pole planted down~

So our high hopes of weather holding up went up in flames, literally. The owner of this burning house(photo coming) luckily has two restaurants at La Parva to fall back on as well.

Day one's results defaulted to finals and we just partied. Everyone was super happy for Chopo and his win was for sure well deserved. See his helmet cam view of the winning run and the highlight reel at skitownunderground.net/media.

So with the comp over and everyone stuck in the mountains due to crazy life-claiming mudslides down below, we took advantage of the opportunity to ski and had some super good times. Kieth Carlson, long time editor of POWDER mag, had his camera gear and we went on a two day mission of skiing through the ski properties of La Parva, the venue, and other cool zones in the western slope of the Andes. Our buddy AK Abe asked Rodrigo the Marketing Director if we could jump off of roofs. I told him, “Abe! Always better to ask forgiveness than permission.” Next time I guess.

With the road finally open Mike Reff and I took our opportunity to get down to the city for his last few days in Chile. We used my newly developed Spanish and city knowledge to make the best out a couple days in a 6 million person city hitting up markets, sushi, a Fat Cow killer steak house, and a party night. I sent Mr. Reff off feeling confident he saw a good chunk of what Santiago has to offer.

After that it was back to the mountains for me to re-set and get ready for my travels to the south. I skied a sweet sunny day at El Colorado and moved all my stuff to the city to stage for the last part of my Sudamerican Adventures. The plan was Chillan, Pucon, Bariloche bringing me into October and 13 days left to spend saying farewell to Fare, the beach, and Santiago.

Good term in Termas

2009-09-02T07:49:00.000-07:00

So I ended up going to Chillan. I figured when you have a ride in a car with someone who had been there before, it's too good to pass up. Last Wednesday we woke and packed 1 Spaniard, 2 German girls, and myself into that little VW with snowboards, skis, and all the fixens...needless to say, it was a bit ridiculous.

After stopping at an Ethnic restaurant, Applebees for some much need Fajitas we headed for the Alameda Market in search of ridiculously cheap beanies and all the colors of the rainbow and more. So after weaving our way through the crowed market streets and in and out of shops, we found the holy grail. Beanies by the dozen for cheaper than I want to tell you....it was some kind of toboggan heaven~

Now, we could finally head south into the night. After to many 4 dollar toll roads we arrived in Chillan and started the ongoing, never ending search for the famous Empanada. With no luck we settled for the Chilean burger...none the less, it was satisfying. Our last 80k leg of the drive was in front of us and left us arriving around 2am. We parted ways with the Germans and Gabriel and my self proceeded to open doors in a hostel trying to find an open room....Well that didn't work so well. We ended up walking in on people...whoops. So, we headed to plan B, which turned out to be the best thing we could have done. This huge hostel in the woods was basically ours...emptyness.

We stayed here for 6 nights and got laundry for free, internet, a few dinners, Empanada delivery, bikes to use, and some real estate info for my Spanish friend looking to buy a casa here. Each day we woke up really late and drove up to the base this chain of volcanoes and skied for free. Clipped tickets 2 days and just rolled on the lifts with and Hola and a smile. Ate 2 for 1 in the lodge with our charming skills, and made a bunch of good friends in town. The days where also filled with a few parties, BBQs, hotsprings, empanadas, and choosing what color beanie to wear. Which when u have 16 different colors WITH you like Gabriel here....it can take a while. We are leaving today feeling like locals and I will for sure remember the first time I went to Valle de las Trancas. If FOR SURE wont be the last.

Today I am headed back to the city to satisfy a growing addiction for beanies (for friends) and head up to Farellones.
Tomorrow is registration for the Freeski World Tour stop # 1 for the 2010 season. I have a Media Pass and will be writing up a little something on the event. I look forward to a big storm that's missing us :( and shredding with my old friend Mr. Reff at La Parva~~~

CLICK PHOTOs FOR INFOs

International Overnighter

2009-08-24T18:34:00.000-07:00

So the morning after my first night back in the house we woke to a flat light day. Nobody wanted to ride and one of the Spaniards Chapa had been here for almost 90 days and needed to cross to Argentina for a new stamp and thus, 90 more days in Chile. A good friend and transient individual Gabriel was staying at the house on holiday and had a rental car. So 5 of us, 3 Spanards, 1 Catalan(They think its another country but it's really Spain), and myself hopped in a little VW and headed north to Los Andes and west to Portillo which is just short of the border to ARG.

It was a Saturday and we got stuck up here because the Pacos(policia) wouldn't let us go down as there were still people coming up the road. So we found a place to buy some amazing empanadas(meat pies) and bummed around for a bit until we could head down. As we were waiting for the last of the weekend warriors to come up the road, the clouds were breaking and I snapped some good shots of the mountains to the south.

So the caravan commenced and so did the good times. We got into the city and started hassleing any passerby or nearby motorist for directions to get out of the concrete jungle. Listening to Spaniards speak to Chileans is really funny, I feel that they speak more correctly and the faces of the Chileans were priceless.

As we entered Los Andes we had some hunger and the noses were functioning strong. We passed a bread shop and stopped for some grub.

It was close to closing time and we had to pull teeth to get someone to come to the front of the house. In the mean time we were entertained by an orange tree bearing some good fruit.

We passed the towering mountains of Portillo and reached the boarder just in time to return the same night from Argentina...so we thought. As it turned out, we needed to stay a night in order to get the new stamp in the passport. There was a suggestion of going to Mendoza Argentina for the night but it sounded crazy. So we got back into the little car and headed back down the switchbacks...but not for long. The car stopped and the conversation was had about really going to Mendoza, some 170 kilometers. The car made a big U and over the boarder we went....Mendoza bound into the night.

And so extended our international adventure. We passed some of the crazyest terrain in the world through the dark and arrived in Mendoza around 10:30pm with a time change not in our favor. And so continued to questioning of innocent Argentinians for the best cheapest place to stay.

We found “Hostel Su Casa” which was so so cheap. Like 6 dollars each for a clean room with a bathroom and 5 beds. So we got settled in and headed out for a much needed meal of assorted meats, salad, beer, and wine. All for about 8 dollars each, and our waiter went to get us a bottle of whiskey.

With our stomachs full we headed back to the suite to have some drinks, and head out for an Argentinian night. That we did. To the fullest of staying out until 7am. Which is totally normal. It was fun even though the music was 100% Reggeton garbage. If you've never heard it. Go on your favorite online music source and sample some. So we made it back to the room and got a solid 3.5 hours of sleep before it was noon and was time to get out of Argentina.

We hit up a bread shop for some hangover food and headed out, the same way we got there. Asking any and everyone how to get back to Chile... Really funny stuff. As we got to the base of the mountains, there was a CRAZY backup of traffic....all semis. There was some kind of problem with the boarder for trucks and they had been waiting there for as much as 8 days! We stopped and did some investigating...not really sure why...but it was fun all the same.

We reached the snow and got to see all the scenery we missed on the way in the night. Really incredible stuff. Upon arriving to the top, we discovered a string of ski areas. One “real” one Los Penitentes and some really small beginner slops just right off the road. We had to stop and be “weekend warriors” for a day.

As we reached the boarder once again we encountered a very disorganized boarder system with very strong forces of the drug dog. It smelled the Argentinian honey I was trying get into Chile and maybe some crumbs in the coats of our peeps. Luckily we passed hours later with no fines and our dignity.

The way down from Portillo was long, backed up and left us incredibility hungry. So we stopped in Los Andes in search of something perfect....and that was Chorriana. Fries, onions, eggs, meat, sausage piled high. It was like a Herald and Kumar quest. We asked and walked the center of town aimlessly like zombies with hunger for blood.

Finally when hunger almost split friendship in half, we found a place that was open and had our prize meal. We ordered 3 plates that normally feed 6 and demolished them without a problem.

Our last leg back to Fare was dark with the back of my eyelids, what a crazy day and a half. Now I can stay in Chile for another 90 days. A nice loophole around paying 100 bucks for a stupid tourist card extension.

Tomorrow I'm going to head to Vina del Mar, or maybe Chillan...not quite sure yet. Back to the beach for some longboarding and a nice break from the snow until the MSI crew gets here for the South American Freeskiing Championships in La Parva.

A Circle

2009-08-23T23:22:00.000-07:00

Well time flies when you work 12 or more days in a row with a 3 days free. The reason for some morning hour long skins to the top you see above I am writing this on August 21 and I have lived here in Valle Nevado for 6 days short of 2 months and 6 days past getting fired.

That's right, I got the axe. In the little over 1.5 months I worked here, I rattled some cages for sure. Also made a pretty positive impact on the rental and repair shops as well as the people. But the thing is that they just don't understand how the ski resort business is supposed to work. Most people here just go through the motions and don't care if it is “right” or the “wrong way”.

So, long story short, I work the way I was taught was right and when you try to walk in to another world and tell them that things are wrong, or should be another way....they don't like that too much. So after unintentionally making some bad vibes, I was moved to the Dome rental center in the parking lot which was super fun. People who did not stay in the hotel would rent from us who were a lot more real. We had a damn good speaker for bumping music, internet on the rental computers and a ton less customers.

So I got on the schedule of working in the Domo till 1pm, eating lunch, and riding for an hour or more. Then after that I would open the repair shop, turn on more music, and do some casual tuning until the rush came at like 4:30. Work till 7, eat dinner and that was a rap.

In this month and a half I had three sessions of free days. They went as follows:
1st weekend: Ride Monday, sunny, soft snow and fresh turns on old pow. Met some peeps from the east coast with two high school “new schooler” kids. Shredded with them, parents bought me lunch...nice.
Went to the city with my broski Jorge Pavez to deal with Visa paperwork, saw stuff, rode the metro, ate really good cheap sushi. Hitched a ride back to Valle with a rich dude in an A3, he spoke really good English, rode some more.....Back to work for 12 more days.

2nd weekend: POW POW. It dumped like 2 feet or more on my first day Tuesday. Super stormy day, heard some people speaking English in the lift line, got on the chair with them. It was the Burton family~ Jake, the kids, friends, a crew. We killed powder together.
The next two days were bluebird~ I got first lines on every chair in the resort over those days. It was stellar. I met some cool peeps to ride with and ended up changing rooms to live with people who share common interests and had much more space for all my junk.

3rd weekend: After 14 days of straight work....FUNness~ Good sunny conditions, shredding around, went to the other resort La Parva who re-nigged on my job. Got to tell that guy WHATS UP. I crossed between resorts like 5 time that weekend. Stayed with a friend in Farellones and scored invites to a party with open bar and the works. Ended up at a different disco for Reggae night and vibed out till 4am.
Good days.

This brings me to my last days on the clock.

After hearing that people in the point of sale for the repair shop were being suspected for scamming money, I was trusted with a cross check list for repair tickets. OK, of course in any repair shop in the Northern Hemisphere you do free work for important people and friends. But here in Chile, they can't understand that for some reason.

So I got ratted out by my own kind. Some kid with a nick name Pollo “chicken” And it fits so well.
He went and told my original boss who hired me I had some board with no ticket.
I said:
“Oh shit. Well yeah I'm tuning shit for free or tips. This shop is running because of me. When I got here, you didn't know how to use the Stone, or much else properly, and you were not even using coolant! I work more and more effectively than anyone you have ever had.”

Well no matter what happens the day always ends and another begins. This one ended with the start of a storm. It snowed...a lot. And it's still snowing as I write this. I worked the next day and watched it DUMP. Then went out to brave the almost no visibility and slay some pow. After skiing for way too long I got back to the shop at about 3 and was walked down the Human Resources by my little bitch of a boss only for the office lady to tell me why I was fired.
1.no word on my visa.
2.repair of equipment with no ticket.

I called BULL SHIT on both and pointed out they where breaking my contract. AND on top of that my boss was trying to get me kicked out that day with 2 hours of notice in a RAGING snow storm. So we got the director of the mountain involved, who loves me...and gave me 24 hours to stay no problem. That afternoon was a ridiculous amount of work in the shop. I was laughing as I packed all my stuff.

The next day was BLUEBIRD POW sick. I rode all morning and then went to talk with THE LADY. Head of operations. She apologized more than anything. Gave me a few more days to stay here and just re-upped good vibes. So the next day I happened to score a rout with patrol to open the backside. But we had a crazy wind event and everything was bunk. So we sat in one of the lift shacks for an hour or so while one of the patrollers told me all about Pucon's volcano Villarrica. Full detailed drawing of the the mountain to the T bar.

That night...in snowed a lot! And that next day was supposed to be my last day, but it snowed....a lot! And there was an avalanche on the road that luckily did not kill anyone, but 25 cars were stranded on the road. I skied all morning and then volunteered for a backup rescue team. It was getting dark and luckily we did not get called out. That night we built some jumps around the dorms and finally got shut down by security because there were so many stupid kids being loud. But everyone had a great time. It was cool.

The next morning. It was BLUEBIRDPOW again! I felt in the zone after jumping on the foam pad at the gym and fist line off a little cornice I got a front flip~ felt good first time trying it on the snow. So we killed pow all day and the road never really opened. Plus I had an excuse to stay that I was going to help the park crew set up for a women's comp. on Saturday the 22nd of August. So we worked at that yesterday and it was another sunny day. These kids from Tahoe visiting and filming here built a jump pro style. Really nice...My first backflip attempts..under rotated the 1st just a bit, and over a tad on the second. I wish there were pics but not the case. Next time...

So today marks the day of my last legit day living at Valle Nevado. I'd some it up as:
Love my work-hate my job, love skiing here-hate not skiing here, good people- not good people, good food-free food, had no time-on vacations, didn't speak very good Spanish-speak more not very good Spanish. Lived in Farellones-back to Fare.

OPEN DOORS

2009-07-18T20:16:00.001-07:00

Wow, my last entry was on the 20^th of June and I am writing this on the 8^th of July. A lot has happened.

I finished out my time by the beach courtesy of the very hospitable Fernadez family. Longboarding almost every day, running on the beach, eating good food, and good people. On the tuesday following I loaded up and headed to the bus station.

Met my bud Tomas at the station in Santiago where we crammed all my stuff into his 4dr civic. PLUS his stuff and food as we were headed to the mountains. I was so ready to get up there and out of the concrete jungle.

As we started up the road the sun was setting and tunes were bumping. After the checkpoint for chains I twisted one and we started up the 40 some switchbacks on the way to Farellones.

A funny note about climate: I was all plugged up with sinus junk but when we hit like 5000ft, the air dried out, along with my greenery, and I was clear headed. My body loves the elevation, to be high.

We arrived in Farellones in the dark with no problems except for dragging by bags down a snowpacked hill to the old school A-frame which would be my home. Amazing view of the city in the distance and tons of beds. I think this place could sleep 14-16 people bunked up in each room. Big deck, fireplace in the middle of the living room with a hanging chimney hood by chains which we made a barbeque on my first night. Vino, Chori-pan, and live music from Vale and Tomasito who are very talented. It was a cold house in Celcius, but not in life. Now that I'm not there, I am missing it.

The next day I woke early naturally and did my rookie cleaning job as I felt fit. It was a blubird day and happened to be a promotion at the closest mountain El Colorado. 500 pesos for a ticket with a Bank of Chile card. Thats less than a dollar!

It took a while to get a pass but we managed to get 2.5 hrs of blubird fresh pow runs~ YEAH it was at that time that I re-visited my excitement and reason for coming to the Andes. I love the mountains and being in them, up and down, all around good vibes.

So my time in Farellones after that consisted of walking the town from the bottom up as our place was at the lowest point, and a friend and internet access where at the top. So many different dwellings...it's a very unique place. I also managed to get some work done at the restaurant. Office with a view.

On my third or fourth day I hitched ride to Valle Nevado which is about 20 min. away and 15 or so more switchbacks. As I was walking out of the house I saw a VW golf stuck in just a bit of snow and its solo driver struggling to get it out. He was in my path so I helped him out. Turns out he was one of the off duty forest service officers. In exchange for my efforts he started driving me up to Valle until we came across a tour bus group stopped to take pics. He spoke with the drivers for me and for about 10 dollars I scored a ride up and back down at the end of the day!

The bus was filled with Brazilians who make up 80% of the tourists to the resort. They were elated by the snow and somehow owned some of the raddest One-pieces I've ever seen. The Brazilians here are def. The SUPER GAPERS. But its these people who keep our resorts alive. So we must respect them, hopefully from afar.

We arrived at the resort and I started to scope out the market. There was a dome/yurt type building for ski rentals in the parking lot. I went in and asked about the ski shops. There are only 2 rental locations. I started for the main hotel area and found very small shops with 240 dollar Crowbars and only one store that sold skis, BlackDaimond. I talked with the shop folk who were very helpful, but not much work appeared to be avail. I spoke with Juan Carlos in the main rental shop which was fully computerized. Something that Christy Sports has not managed to jump on board with. Juan Carlos review my resume and was excited to hire me! BUT he had to speak with the boss about hiring a foreigner.

The answer was NO. I was bumed. I went up by the pool to get a WIFI signal and took care of some internet stuff and it was time to get back to my transport. I returned to Farellones and went back up to the internet at the one restaurant/bar in town. I sat and worked on my websites and managed to meet the bother of Powderchile.com who is my target market for getting Liberty Skis here. And the owner of the best Hostle in town who offered some co-marketing. My doors of opportunity seem to be automatic for me on this trip. Everything has been laid forth so easily. I feel like the forces of the universe are on my side.

The next morning I was woken up by my phone....ringing. It was Juan Carlos from the rental shop. I GOT THE JOB! He asked me to come up at 8:30 the next day to sign my contract and start work. Well, the starting work part I didn't catch. I rolled up by hitch hike at 7:30 am and the first truck stopped. It was an older instructor dude. 50s. Driving a 4dr Toyota Pickup that looked all too familiar. It was a 1986 22r. Same year as my 4runner almost exact same interior. Crazy.

I was early which always feels nice and after my talk with the boss on Salary and how I was responsible for my visa, I was thrown into the busyness of the rental shop. Something very familiar to me, but not the language. Lunch came, dinner thereafter and it there was no way I felt like getting back to retrieve my bags. Not all bad because now I had 3 meals a day and a place to stay. But that night....It snowed. The next day, it snowed, that next night, it snowed. The roads were closed.

When they finally opened I was faced with a challenge, get down and back for work the next morning. I stood on the road for a while with my finger out and even money in my hand....nobody stopped. The stream of cars was slowing and day light was soon set. I saw a single dude taking off his boots in a department store bag next to his newer Audi wagon. I approached him and asked if I could get a ride to Farellones. He said no problem and didn't accept the 4 dollars I had in my hand. The sunset was killer and we talked about his passion for skiing and life in the city.

As we approached the turn for Farellones there were 3 buses with no people waiting to head up to Valle. I got out and asked about getting a ride the same night. The said “sure you have only a bit more that an hour”.

OK so I hiked it up to the house maybe 1//3^rd of a mile which was surrounded in knee deep snow. Then started the packing frenzy. Said my farewells to the peeps and met some new kids from Spain that took my spot.

So I had all my stuff by the door and realized this was going to be the biggest challenge of my trip so far. Coming to the conclusion that I needed help, I remembered I had offered my new Spanish bro a free binding mount on his ARGs. I asked for immediate payment of the favor and he was down with it no questions asked. We drug my bags post-hulling through the snow 100 yards to the road....made it. Then down the hill to the crossroad. This whole time not looking at my time limit, just knowing that I had to get there. And we did, I made it. I was going back in the same night, and even could make it to the first employee party. What came next was the sketchyest one lane, 2 car driving I've ever seen.

Not a scratch on an auto. We made it and I realized that the 11,000 pesos I thought I gave my skilled driver was only 2,000 in the confusion of the night.

I had the key to the repair shop for my tools and skis, and was able to drop most of my load before returning to the sardine can that will be my home for the next few months. All good though, I had my clothes and we partied, danced and I felt super lucky for my open doors I encountered to get me where I needed to be.

Out for a Chilean Friday night

2009-06-20T20:42:00.001-07:00

Standard stuff really. Bars open till 5am. Food open till then or later, had the best burger in a while. And had to snap this for DareBare and the other Oakley lovers out there. It was on the sidewalk and I'm certain was not intended to be "the O face.....
Here ya go~

30hrs in Santiago... "Not all who wonder are lost."

2009-06-20T19:36:00.000-07:00

Thursday, after a sweet Wednesday night longboard shredd sesh, I hopped an hour.5 long bus to Santiago. It was for a 9am interview and of course we woke late to get to the bus station. So I was really late and decided to head 7 or 8 stops down the metro to the offices anyway. So they said I had to come back the next day to catch the Friday group interview for Valle Nevado. They host these interviews daily with 5 to 15 applicants in the same room. Wierd.

So I decided to make the best of the day. Had some food and tea, then set out for a walk in what ever direction looked good. I found a nice plaza with some flea market tents, and random businesses....really random. It was about5

blocks long with a park at the end, good place to kill some hours~

When I got sick of wondering I found the internet and hopped on facebook to grab a friends #. Got in contact with the peeps, and they where nice enough to scoop me up at the end of the metro rail~

We went to a mate's house, Fabian. This standared chill hard moment ended with a suprising event. Fabian is the exclusive producer of www.anded.cl to www.chilenieve.com. Which for those of you who don't know or haven't yet seen, is the Sudamerican version of skitownunderground.net~ This path crossing is yet another rare moment in this adventure. We exchanged cards and I said that we are "international peeps" Or as Mike Kelly would say, "World Citizens". Good things are coming...good things

The mountains were on the virge of a low pressure anomily as we caught some lunch with the Santander family. After, the plan was to head back to Vina. This turned into some Pool, which by the way is crazy here because the pockets are half the size you've seen. In result, 3 games takes a long time. I learned something about Santaigo afteer this....Don't be there after 6pm, traveling that is. Rush hour is no joke! We went back to the casa for the eve, and I caught a cab to the metro in the morning for the 9am group interview.

First one there, filled out my paperwork, crutched my way through a 95% Spanish entrevista. The competition was not up for the challenge luckely so I think I had some good stride. 2 weeks for a response though...

Not wanting to wait for a hypothetical response I have decided to rent a place that Mario is hooking up in the mountains. Farellones will be home for only a quarter of a G USD per month.

Finnally I headed back to the bus stop North east bound into the storm front we were awating. And it came....BIG. Downpour in Vina walking to the 602 bus up to Con Con. 5+ inches of water in the low areas of town. This turned into 55cm of snow at the base of the mountains. Much needed for the season opener this Thursday. And my Wednesday arrival~

my first....

2009-06-17T17:23:00.000-07:00

I've had some firsts the last 24 hours. Last night was my first green purchasing experience in another country. It was shady as usual. But we got to taste the goods first....the goods where of the earth "son natural" ...in other words, quality mids. As we set out to buy a new longboard, the night of Chilean Barbeque and pacalolo set forth gave an early precursor of what was to come. I had to snap this...
Today, Wednesday, I went to College in Chile for the first time. I had to get some printing done so I went to school with Nacho. Typical college day, I had some free periods in the morning where I did some future job planning, checked out some chicas, did some net working, smoked a bone at the footboll field.

Then my last period was English 5. Thats right I went to Engish class. The Profesora was nice in every way...from Tennesee. I def. was an educational stimulus to a nomally boaring forgein language class. I'm welcome back anytime, and I would say we all learned some good stuff~

I didn't get a great angle of the main bulding, but they are all like concrete compounds. With no heat. Not bad though. They had a super efficient print shop that you email yer documents to.
I would go there, its very similar to CMC-alpine.

~Longboard Promised Land~

2009-06-17T16:57:00.000-07:00

Yes where the wine flows like the long roads of Vina del mar, so clean, fresh and smooth. No potholes and lit like our minds. Why drink and drive when you can get high and roll?

My host and good friend just baught a new deck. I dailed in these kids trucks and am showing them the ropes as best as I can. We are headed out again tonight for some late night laps. Aimed for getting some good footy to approach Loaded with. I think that once they see what the asphault Gods hath layed before us...Loaded will be sold in Chile via nosotros~

Shredd sesh

2009-06-16T10:18:00.000-07:00

Nacho hooked it up today with some of his friends that are getting started longboarding. They are doing pretty well...all padded up. We hit up tons of new roads just a short jaunt from where I'm staying. It was good to be back on a board after not having much time to do so in the Boat...the daily afternoon showers didn't help either. Our plan is to try and bring Loaded down here. I emailed Derik yesterday and Loaded today. We are going to push a lot of US brands here actually. It could be a profitable season. We are gonna HUSTLE it~

2009-06-15T19:47:00.000-07:00

This is the view out the dining room window on Sunday. Today it was sunny and mild. I went for a run up and down the coast. Sucking salt water air at 0 altitude was a bit foreign but felt good. Along the way one of the many stray dogs started to run with me. It was some nice company for the latter part of the run. He stopped by people along the way looking for attention and food I had to tell them "No es mi perro! Odd dog though...did not like the water.

This beach time is well received as the ski season is planned to open Friday. I am believing in the expected moisture moving in throughout the week. Wednesday I will go to Santiago for a job interview. Then it's up to Valle~

Life in Vina

2009-06-15T14:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday after a much to expensive cab ride to Vina del Mar that my friend told me not to take, which i did anyways. I was dropped off at one of the only places open in town. A few days prior I was visiting with a good friend Katy Gary and she was telling me about her sister who live in Chile teaching English. We looked at a map to see where, she didn't remember so we said oh well to that. I was sitting in the window at a bar using the convenient wifi when two women who were obviously american walked in looking to buy an umbrella. I said hey i'm from the states, they said where, and this went so on untill we came to the conclusion that Hanna, standing in front of me, was Katy's sister! If I had not taken that cab against my instructions, at the presice time, to the presice place. This path crossing never would have occured. The world consists of many paths that sometimes fold over on each other creating extraordinary events like this one.

Stuff in TRANSIT

2009-06-13T15:50:00.000-07:00

Just over 200lbs worth of STUFF. I sometimes wonder why we need so much stuff. Well we can start from the root of the needs. Food. to eat food you either need to grow, kill, or buy it. to do any of these things you need stuff. I most cases one buys it. How do you get money? at a job using lots of stuff, or selling stuff or services. In my case my ski bag was packed with skis to sell for money. Plus one extra travel bag packed with stuff to provide boot fitting and ski tuning services that will return money to buy food, water, shelter. It is a vicious cycle~

In TRANSIT

2009-06-13T15:38:00.000-07:00

"From my corner of the globe lets probe lets go, gonna take you on a ride, but give it breath slow."
The Grouch, Show You the World