THIS WINTER, LIVE YOUR OWN STORY

For over 70 years, Cerro Catedral has been the star of the winter, not only in San Carlos de Bariloche and the region, where it contributed to the growth of winter tourism, but throughout Argentina, becoming renowned as South America’s most highly developed mountain activity centre. Today it continues to enjoy this recognition thanks to its ongoing technological development, quality and quantity of services and magnificent natural surroundings.

But this season poses a special challenge – ensuring that the real stars of the winter will be each and every one of the hundreds of thousands of visitors who choose Catedral every year to live their own story. So this year, the theme at Catedral Alta Patagonia is “Stories”: countless situations at over 120 kilometres (75 miles) of ski runs, 20 mountain stopping places, 38 ski lifts…where everyone will be able to turn the magic of snow into a personal story.

And, of course, there will be major innovations for the new season, such as the Online Ski Pass, which will enable skiers to purchase ski passes online and pay by credit card. Available during this first stage for weekly ski passes, the Online Ski Pass option will be extended to other products, making it much easier for skiers to access ski lifts comfortably by using their proximity card or KeyCard and the contactless data reading system at the turnstiles.

In addition to the winter resort’s 600 hectares (1500 acres) of pistes and trails, there are another 600 hectares (1500 acres) of woods, canyons and off-piste areas which are the most attractive for free-ride enthusiasts. Skiers and snowboarders can use the Terrain Park, an area specially prepared for practicing tricks and trying out summersaults and jumps before putting them to the test in the off-piste areas. With its jumps, big air and many obstacles (boxes and rails), the Terrain Park has a section for beginners with a small jump, 2 rails and 1 pvc barrel, an intermediate zone with a medium jump, house rail and pvc barrel, and an advanced zone equipped with a 4-meter box, an 8-meter S-rail and a multiple module with rails, boxes and stairways, which was a great attraction in winter 2008. Like every winter, attractive events such as Big Air Reef, Rip Curl Winter Search, Girls Only and Gorilla Day will be held here.

But Alpine skiers are not the only ones who will be in their glory this winter. There will also be a cross-country ski trail near the Upper Station of the Amancay Cable Car. About 4 kilometres long, and framed by a forest of "lenga" trees (austral beech), it stands at 1650 to 1550 metres ( 5400 to 5085 ft.) above sea level, with good snow cover and easy access for skiers, both beginners or advanced.