It was August and Argentina had no idea what was about to slap it in the face. Psych! Countries can't think you silly goose. Well, Cerro Catedral in Bariloche, Argentina was about to be shredded in ways not yet even heard of. Random road gaps of doom, switch snake runs, blinding powder slashes, mega close follow cams, and three crazy hombres burning turns, and lookin' handsome as heck while doing it.

Words: Ricky Hower / Photos: Ed Herbold

B-E-A-UTIFUL.

The A Team arrived in Bariloche after 16 hours of flying and a 20 hour bus ride. Awesome. The A Team? I almost forgot the A Team was made up of three airblastin' amigos who departed from the beautiful U.S.Of A. Jonas Lea, the senior member of the team, quite possibly the most handsome, and the plan man. Ben Lynch, super mega extreme shred hooligan, expert in randomness, and the Swany King of South America and maybe the World. Last there was me, Ricky Hower, comedic relief, powder pin-up, and compliment man extraordinaire.

That's how we do handsome at Airblaster. It sets standards.

It was game on, Sass Hotel hijinks including but not limited to cold buckets of water in the shower, roof walking to spook neighbors, and just general craziness. Alas we didn't fly all that way for shenanigans, we came to board and that we did. The first day of boarding was mindboggling, we received three feet of snow overnight and boy, was it was light and dry. The day was awesome, after getting our tickets we hopped on the six pack and it was board time. Tree runs, tree rides, bamboo bonks, and bottomless pow filled or day. As the days went on we got crazy off cat tracks and Jonas launched into a deep hole after laying claim to a short but gnarly pillow line.

Jonas getting crazy off a cat track. Niiiice.

Jonas in his hole. He planned it that way.

As the days went on the powder became slightly harder to find, but we still made things happen. For example one colossus road gap. It wasn't your run of the mill road gap, it was a mid-mountain, narrow landing having, jump of doom. So we built a small platform for Ben to Launch off and he started hiking up to check speed. After one practice run in, Ben decided to hike up a bit higher for that little extra “oomf!”. Long story short: too much jump, not enough speed and a hard smack on the soft part of the cat track. Ben Survived but decided to take the rest of the day off. Ben Still wanted to jump his arch nemesis gap so we went back to do it but were shut down by Ski Patrol. Ben's Death Gap, if you're reading this we are coming for you sooner or later.

Now even though at times we had to do a little hunting and jump off the beaten path do get some fresh snow later on in the trip we still got it and was good. Bluebird face shot are something that are, here in the Northwest, hard to come by, so by being able to get them was just fabulous for me. Ben, Jonas, and I laid waste to some pretty pristine snow and it was a beautiful thing. We were “Powder Pirates” and we plundered until we couldn't see.

That's me Ricky Hower just having some fun. FOR BREAKFAST!!!

Ricky Hower

All in all, it was a fun trip full of many more mini adventures (say that ten times fast) that would take a book to fill. We accomplished our goal of boarding to the extreme and having a blast. We ate steak, drank good wine, we blasted air below the equator, made good friends and, and smiled a lot.

Yeah Jonas is blastin' and we are thrashin'.

We would like to thank Ed Herbold for taking all these fantastic pictures, having that creative eye of the tiger, and joining in on our pranks, shenanagins, highjinks, and crazy ideas. Without Ed this article would not be possible. Thanks Ed, You rule. Visit Edherbold.com

We'd also like to thank John and everybody from South American Snow Sessions for giving us a roof over our heads and helping us out in every which way.

Raul, get better soon man!

Jonas and Ben, my boys, you guys made this trip unforgettable and I would go on any trip with you guys without thinking twice... if I had the money. XOXOXOX

Ed Herbold, he is the coolest!

Eva, part of the Airblaster Family

Ben “Launch” Lynch, Q.T. Pie!

Jonas Lea. See I told you he was THAT Handsome.

Ricky Hower, “He's an Animal”.

Is that a plane? A condor? No its Ben Lynch the Swany King.

Jonas being Extreme as usual.

They say riding a mechanical bull is harder than a real one. Whatever.

Indy Nose Bone Kangaroo Board Slap!

Ben getting his Norman Bates on, creeper walkin the roof.

It was good for me.

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