Unofficial Andes

A look at some of the differences between skiing in North America and South America.

Terrain
South America is home to some of the best terrain on the planet. The Andes is a burly mountain range with chutes and steeps on par with anything you will find in North America. Often the best terrain is left untouched for days and weeks after a storm. On the flip side, beginner and intermediate terrain is not as well maintained as most North American resorts.

Facilities/Resorts
Facilities in South America, like in North America, vary widely from resort to resort. Places like Portillo and Valle Nevado are quite nice and are fit to host even the most persistent of guest. Other resorts are nothing more then a rundown lodge and a few slow lifts. Across the board, South American resorts are improving their resort experience by buying new grooming cats and installing high-speed chairs. Still, the bulk of lifts in South America are hand-me-downs from North America and Europe and the cats they use are tired machines that can not buff out the slopes the way newer ones can.

Cost
The general cost of skiing in South America is far less then it is in the states. For example, a lift ticket in South America generally runs about half of what a lift ticket would cost you in the US. Within South America Argentina is often cheaper then Chile. The big factor to consider in the cost of skiing in South America is the flight. Flights from the US run between $600 and $3000.

The Skiers
Skiing is an expensive sport. No matter where you go in the world it is generally the more affluent members of society who are out on the slopes. Don’t think that because you are in South America that the people skiing along side of you are not wealthy. It’s true that most ski gear in South America is not on par with what you will find in the States, but don’t be surprised when you see BMW’s, Porches and Rang Rovers in the parking lots. But what about their skiing ability? To be honest I must say that the average skier in South America is not a skilled as their North American counter part. This is largely due to the fact that there are more accessible ski resorts in North America. However, many of the best skiers from around the world come to South America to extend there endless winters.

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