Feb 15, 2019

Winter Sports in South America

When one thinks of South America, images of hot plains and jungles spring to mind. However, during the winter months, many areas of the continent transform into a winter wonderland, allowing many snowy activities to take place. The Patagonia region of Chile and Argentina is particularly well known for winter sports of all kinds; from skiing to the luge.

Argentina is home to the magnificent Andes mountain range, which have snow capping some peaks for most of the year. These mountains are ingrained into the culture of South America, and actually inspired pampeano’s iconic pampa diamond logo. We produced one of our signature leather polo belts directly inspired by the Andes - the Sierra - with grey and white thread reflecting the snow on the rock face. This belt would make a great accessory on a skiing holiday.

In the southern hemisphere, winter is during the northern hemisphere’s summer. That is, in Argentina, the skiing season runs from mid-June to October. Skiing is very popular worldwide, and in pampeano’s home country Argentina it’s no different. The Mendoza region is home to many popular resorts such as Las Lenas and Los Penitentes; people travel from all across the globe to witness the marvels of the Andes mountains and glide down the slopes. In Patagonia, Caviahue and Cerro Catedral are amongst the favourite resorts of the region. 

There are many locations along the Andes which are favourites for hikers. Hiking is often seen as a more gentle way of enjoying the mountain’s beauty, but particularly in the winter the sheer rock faces and cold conditions can be very perilous for the unprepared. Make sure to do your research if thinking of embarking on a winter hike up a mountain.

For those who seek thrills, a popular winter past time in South America is ice climbing; the art of scaling a wall of ice using ropes, special shoes and ice axes. The Cordillera Real mountain range in Bolivia is very popular for those just starting out, while experts favour the Argentine Andes and the Alpamayo mountains in Peru. 

Most ski resorts don’t limit themselves to skiing; many offer other sports such as snowboarding, tobogganing and snowmobiling. In the UK, many children gather at nearby hills, sledges in hand, at the first sign of snow eager to sledge down over and over until the snow becomes slush. Up the mountains of South America, this thrill will never die, as many resorts also offer sledging for the young and the young-at-heart. 

Despite winter sports being highly popular across Argentina and South America as a whole, and despite qualifying and participating in many winter Olympic games, no South American country has ever won a winter Olympic medal. Argentina itself has participated in every winter games since 1960 in various different events. Over the years, Argentina has qualified for many events, from the biathlon to the skeleton. In 2018, Steven Williams became the first athlete to compete in Snowboard Cross, and made it to the knockout stages; unfortunately, he was beaten by only four centimetres and didn’t make it to the quarter-final. Hopefully, in future games, an Argentine athlete will bring back a medal to the Andes. 

Patagonia is a truly gorgeous part of the world, with soaring mountains and breathtaking lakes. There are fantastic geographical features such as hot springs to enjoy as well. The wildlife is unlike anywhere else in the world; with everything from llamas to penguins roaming free. If you’re considering a trip to the south of South America, pampeano has you covered with a range of travel accessories. From travel bags to passport covers, wash bags to luggage tags, our luxury leather goods will have you prepared for your next adventure. 