August 5, 2009

Latin America | Argentina | Patagonia

Patagonia’s Cool New Piste

By Christie Pashby

Find out where the smart set are headed this season for southern-hemisphere skiing.

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Hardcore skiers itching for summer turns have already crossed Argentina’s Bariloche and Las Leñas off their lists. But it’s still worth heading to Patagonia this year to check out the buzz on the revamped and off-the-radar Cerro Bayo — whose stellar ski season lasts through to the end of September. The self-styled “boutique ski resort” is angling to be the region’s most exclusive, intimate, and personalized yet. But that shouldn’t come as a surprise: the high rollers behind Bayo’s makeover already have a polo ranch outside Buenos Aires, an art-deco inn in San Telmo and a wine lodge in Mendoza. Think bespoke lifties — may I carry those Völkls to your LandRover for you, señor?

Less than an hour from the Bariloche airport, cozy little Bayo is set right above Villa la Angostura, a mountain hide-away for Argentina’s A-list, and has marvelous views across Nahuel Huapi Lake. For 2007, they’ve hired some of the top names in the Andean ski scene and 25 resort concierges who’ll help you find the freshest tracks, tune up your freeriders, point you to the best bife de lomo and locate your lost kids via GPS. There’s also a new slopeside bistro run by Martín Zorreguieta (brother of Holland’s Princess Maxima), three new terrain parks, live Bossa Jazz, and free wireless. You just have to keep your tips pointed down.