FABIAN MUHMENTHALER
When I think about the Patagonia North trip, it gives me goosebumps. It was a really special and unique trip with a whole bunch of legends, and we got the chance to discover the unknown and see unchartered territories.
After spending some days up in Buenos Aires waiting for the whole team to arrive, we flew down to Bariloche to start our real adventure. We had an amazing house in the forest, surrounded by nothing but raw nature and huge trees. The air was so pure it made you feel clean just by breathing it in, and we were just a hundred meters away from the lake. It was a very magical place.
Nature in Patagonia feels unreal. The place kind of reminds me of Switzerland, but everything is just bigger, wider and more wild, so it really shocks you when you realize how big the distances are and how small you are compared to the vastness of what's around you. We explored the area quite a lot and tried different places and spots, each of them very different from the last, but you kind of always had that same feeling throughout, that of really appreciating the nature and understanding how unique this place is.
We had some light wind sessions, quite strong winds as well, flat water, big wind swell, and we even did a downwinder, so the trip was filled with all types of action. When we did the downwinder we just walked out the front door to the shore, rigged up and started our session right from there. At first it felt quite easy and safe, as we were in between two spits of land, so it felt like a little strait. As soon as we started to ride down towards some deserted islands, everything became wider and broader, soon the land was not so close and suddenly we were just surrounded by deep, icy water. I remember that at one moment, I had to sit on my board to drink some water (which you can drink directly from the lake), and I was just staring at this huge barrier of mountains that surrounded us, looming over us but still very far away. These huge white mountains made a kind of horseshoe shape around us. It really kind of shocked me, it was something I'd never experienced before and I felt like a complete alien, staring at the terrain of a new planet.
Other than that, being able to travel across the lake with your foil and take little pit stops on uninhabited islands – it's really a sick feeling and something you don't get the chance to do very often. Far different to where I usually find myself – no 25ºC heat and no coconuts to eat!
We had a pretty amazing experience in one of the most beautiful places I saw in Patagonia, Villa La Angostura. It consisted of a small village, set in a very beautiful nature reserve, surrounded by stunning islands with really clear, shimmering water. We drove there for a couple hours or so, and then took a little boat to a small island, where we had the tastiest asado (Argentinian BBQ) ever. Then the whole team and local crew went out for a sesh…
So, the wind was on, the sun was out, bellies were full and off we went! All of us, kiters and wingers together, for a midday to sunset session, and it was magical. To be able to ride with all your teammates and riders I've been looking up to for such a long time was so unique. Conditions were firing and everyone was happy and vibing. I remember going around the island with Chucho to find a sweet spot where we could take some shots.
We wrapped up the day by heading back to the shore, watching the sunset from the boat and being happy and grateful about the fact that we are able to enjoy these kinds of experiences together as a team. I’d say we all probably appreciate nature way more than before and are forever impressed by the size of everything there. A humbling little lesson about how insignificant we are when compared with the grandness of nature.