The judges, all voluntary, did a great job preparing and organizing the event and were Bariloche locals Huere Darquier, Diego Hilaire Yago Najda and Gabriel “Chimango Martinez”. Also a special mention to Lucas Mercado from Ski Club Bariloche that did most of the organizing of the whole event. The coaches, who taught the kids every weekend of the 2008 season, did a great job coaching and helping their kids over the weekend and the clubs were local clubs Ski Club Bariloche, Club Andino Bariloche, and visiting ones Club Andino Villa La Angostura: CAVLA Clun Andino San Martín de los Andes: CASMA and Club Andino Lacar San Martin de Los Andes: LACAR. The kids ages competing ranged from 10 – 17 year olds and were judged based on line, technique, aggressiveness, fluidity and control. This was a pretty big event as it was only the 2nd annual one and there are basically no free skiing comps in Argentina and Chile, let alone kids ones. To also make it a learning and progressive environment and event, especially for the younger kids, you could not get disqualified on the first day and your points and final place were based on both days.


In true Patagonia form the kids had to hike to get to the starting point on both days from the lifts and top of Catedral. As well on the Saturday there was an intro and learning about transceiver use and general backcountry safety for the kids. The first day the kids ripped it up with a lot of opportunities for air over smaller cliff jumps and a few coming out of nowhere with 360’s right over them. The first day also had opportunities for great line selection due to the wide chutes below the Nubes chair. There were definitely a few crashes as many of the kids were a bit nervous on the first day, but of course they all got up right away. On the second day the terrain was more mellow but allowed the kids the chance to show their creativity combining jumps at the start of the run, rocks in the middle and skiing over to a very wide cornice on the far side. While the younger kids who were starting first hit the cornice at its easiest point, the older kids started to put on a show lining up the cornice at its highest point and launching 360's. This brought the younger kids at the bottom waiting and the parents and other spectators to their feet and all the kids from the different clubs begun to cheer each other on. Conditions on both days were great dry spring corn and no one could have asked for better snow for late September. Special mentions were most original Line going to Jose Bonacalza from Club Andino Bariloche (CAB) and best technique to Sofia Vitara from Club Lacar, San Martin de Los Andes. The final standings were

12 and Under

Men
1st Lattanzio Franco SCB
2nd Martin Rossi SCB
3rd Juan Milhas SCB


Women
1st Roncallo Manuela SCB
2nd Josefina Iglesias SCB
3rd Huala Marolt _ Luica Rossi SCB


12-14

Men
1st Sebastian Milhas SCB
2nd Lautaro Alonso CAVLA
3rd Gonzalo Perez SCB


Women
1st Brenda Rinke CASMA
2nd Lena Rendon SCB
3rd Ivana Gresna SCB _ Malena Pel CASMA

14-17

Men
1st Ricardo Lanusse LACAR
2nd Jose Bonacalza CAB
3rd Francisco Benstru CAB

Women
1st Natalia Rebora CAB
2nd Maria Pajarola LACAR
3rd Veronica Torlaschi SCB


Everyone involve with the event wanted to thank the sponsors that donated prizes for the kids who were ecstatic and surprised to find such things as brand new 2009 Oakley goggles and some transceivers as well, almost impossible to find in Argentina and definitely extremely expensive. Southamericaski.com Vacations, Oakley (Matt Swanson and Travis McLain/Radioshop Aspen), Cebe, Freeride Argentina

Liquid Clothing, Rapa Nui, Bonifacio, and Benroth chocolates and of course Catedral Alta Patagonia.


Cerro Catedral is still open until October 13 with mandatory downloading but great spring conditions. The only part of the mountain right now that is open though is the looker’s left part of the mountain with Amancay gondola, silla del bosque and diente de caballo chairlifts open that also still give access to backcountry touring such as Frey and Jackob. There is tons of snow and good weather forecasted this week so get out there! October turns, what could be better? Well I guess the November ones to come that just keep on getting closer and closer…