Translation by Zoe Baillargeon

 

The thrills and chills were hard and fast this past weekend at the opening events of the 2nd Patagonia Winter Games. Held at the Cerro Castillo National Reserve in the Aysén Region, the main competition was the Ice Fest Patagonico ice climbing competition.

 

In the male expert category, seven competitors were tested, measuring speed on the Bombacha ice fall, and skill level at the La Cortina sector. Paolo Costa won first place, while Andrés Montoya and Christopher Bizzarri placed second and third, respectively. In the intermediate category, Matías Espinoza, Matías Cabrera and Norman Triviño took home first, second, and third place.

 

The ice climbing competition also featured a womens category, with similar tests of speed and skill. First place was won by Anais Puig, followed by Karin Mullendorff and Paulina Retamal.

 

 

 

 

In addition to ice climbing, Chilean and Argentinean teams faced off for a rugby sevens game in the snow, held at the Los Mallines sector of the Cerro Castillo reserve next to the Carrtera Austral (Ruta 7), located 78 kms south of Coyhaique.

 

The games continue this weekend, starting with ski mountaineering in all categories starting at 10:00 am on Friday. The expert category will have its turn on Saturday at the same time.

 

For what is sure to be a grand finale, Sunday will feature the Freeride World Tournament (FWT) qualifiers in freeride skiing and freeride snowboarding. The Chilean ambassadors for the sport, Fernando Diaz and Vicente Sutil, will be among the participants, competing on an slope that features a vertical 250 meter drop and sharp inclines of 40-45 degrees angles.

 

If weather conditions permit, the traditional family sledding competition will also be held, judging participants' sleds on both design and speed.