The Saas Fee shoot is wrapped up...good times for sure...headed back to Vermont for a couple of different events happening...I'll post some information the next couple of days...Cheers, Blotto

Photos by Blotto 2010

Once a year the Saas Fee village turns out for the food fare...a mile long festival featuring food, beverages and entertainment. While enjoying your gemüse rosti (think super deluxe hash browns) or raclette (cheese poured over potatoes and vegtables), you're treated to a variety of authentic Swiss music, a European version of country and western and a fine yodel here and there by the party-goers. 

The festival runs morning through evening with very simple instructions...walk up and down the street, sit down and sample a meal, enjoy a beverage, then move onto the next vendor...repeat for six to ten hours with friends...super fun! Cheers, Blotto

All photos by Blotto 2010

Today we took a ride up the Hannig Gondola in Saas Fee to shoot some product photos of Frederik. Once at the top of the 10-minute lift, there's a big patio area for refreshments and food, along with a variety of trails arriving to and leaving from this restaurant. We spent the better part of the early afternoon enjoying the beautiful weather and fantastic scenery, which includes a bird's eye view of Saas Fee, Saas Grund and Saas Balen. Enjoy the shots...Blotto

All photos by Blotto 2010

It was a quick turn-around after landing in Arizona from Argentina as I boarded a flight to Zurich, Switzerland to finish this 2012 Burton Dealer Book. The couple of days in AZ was great…hot temps, cool breeze, swimming in the pool non-stop and family…doesn’t get much better in between shred trips.

Now it’s Saas Fee for the next six days to shoot with Frederik Kalbermatten, Mads Jonsson and Terje Haakonsen. These three shredders will be the final dudes on the checklist to pop on some new gear, get photographed then return to summer mode. Word up.

The mission from the Southwest to central Europe was a no-brainer…Phoenix to Phillie to Zurich. Grab the rental car, hammer down the A4 Highway then peel back on the accelerator to take it slow through Andermatt village and Furka Pass…two radically scenic spots…after that, it was on through Brig, Visp and then Saas.

I’ll report in day by day to let y’all know what’s up…Blotto

All photos © Dean Blotto Gray / Blotto Photto 2010

Most of my working and riding colleagues get a kick out of my modified gloves, so I figured it would make a good post the next time around when I needed to modify some gloves. My kit contains two pairs of warm gloves, usually one AK leather pair and the other a bulkier Burton set (along with two sets of AK Powerstretch Liners aka Shooting Gloves). Temperatures in the mountains change as quickly as team rosters in professional sports, so having a warm pair, a warmer set and shooting gloves is critical.

For the sake of this post, we'll use the Burton set, a brand new pair of 2011 RPM Gloves. When Jeremy Jones isn't available to sew up my gloves while we're on the road, I head over to Hurtis' crib so he can bust them out on the sewing machine.

The process is quite simple really...put hand in glove, cut off excess material on the 5th digit, and take hand out of glove. Flip glove inside out, sew it up, flip it right side out, install on hand. Process complete.

Why do I modify the fifth digit on my snowboarding gloves (and all other gloves covering hands for whatever reason)? Because having that excess material hanging around on the end of the glove just isn't cool...it's not doing anything but getting in the way...so see ya! Blotto

All photos by Blotto. Stitch job by Hurtis. © 2010

We bounced outta Bariloche after saying good-bye to our new friends at South American Snow Sessions, and then caught a ride to the airport with Jorge Belardi. Jorge works with an Argentine television/web company called Gravedad Zero, so Jussi and I did an in-car interview during the 45-minute drive to the departure gates. There were lots of great questions and I really enjoyed hearing Jussi talk about his early days of snowboarding, filming and what his immediate future could hold.

Once at the airport, we met up with the rest of the crew and the check-in luggage and begun what would be a long painful move from the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere. Most international travel is no problem, but the thought of having four flights ahead of you and thirty hours of elapsed travel time is a hard one to swallow. You have to reach deep inside to know the mission was worth the not-so-fun traverse back home. 

Along the way we saw some epic 'Buenos Aires from above' views (including the River Plate futbol stadium, pictured at the top of this post), an amazing taxi-van ride from domestic terminal to international departures (1.5 hours) and at the last moment before boarding the flight back to the states, I scored the Argentine National Futbol Team 'away' Jersey, along with a giant box of Havanna Alfajors (a delicious South American cookie treat).

Once the travel ended I found myself with family in Arizona amid the warm desert air of the Southwest. It's great to be back in summer mode for a few days...Blotto

Photography by Dean Blotto Gray / Blotto Photto 2010

Ten fine days in the Argentine mountains and now it's time to depart...back to summer mode...the photo shoot was filled with everything from jibbing to pow slashing, lots of laughter to seeing old friends and making new ones. Thanks to everybody who helped make our Bariloche experience all time! Cheers, Blotto

All photos by Blotto

The 'rain delay' turned into 'colder temps' and we received 45cm (1.5 feet) of new snow at the base of the mountain. Higher up on the hill they were claiming at least 2 meters (6.5 feet), but avalanche conditions are through the roof, so we were only able to access two of the lower chairs. The rest of the resort is closed until the lifties shovel out the lift stations and patrol deems the slopes safe.

For our final day at Cerro Catedral all this new snow was super fun to enjoy, even though it was only a very small part of the mountain. We slashed some deep powder, shoveled up a couple of jumps and finished off the trip with a lot of high-fives! 

Our Argentine visit is complete and we leave super satisfied with the good times and great riding. I'm off to AZ for a bit of fam time, then I'll prepare for a quick trip to Saas Fee to complete this Burton catalog we're working on. Cheers people! Blotto

All photos © Dean Blotto Gray / Blotto Photto 2010

The heavy rain continues down low as the big snowfall continues up top…after making our way up to Cerro Catedral to wait out a possible lift opening, we cancelled the day’s shred after ‘the lift operations chief’ declared it a wrap.

We hopped back in the car, found some standing water for a few photo opportune splashings, then proceeded to Gilberts for a hearty meal. Once the bellies were full, we hit the loop around Lago Moreno for a bit of sight seeing. Even though the weather was damp (to say the least), we enjoyed every beautiful moment this part of Argentina has to offer.

Once back at the SASS compound, the night was filled with what’s becoming an evening ritual for us…the futbol challenge. Take a small kitchen and an even smaller living room packed with five snowboarder’s bags and set up targets for endless amounts of entertainment and laughter. Yesterday Corey claimed the crown, but today Jeremy came through with some key victories (2 of 3 rounds).

We’re hitting the hay in hopes of one last powder day before we depart on Friday…they’re calling for 5cm (2 inches) of rain at the base, so we’ll see what that means from midway up (a lot of new snow!)…if the lifts can open we’ll shred it…Blotto

All photos © Dean Blotto Gray / Blotto Photto 2010

We hopped in the car today and made the journey to the north side of Nahuel Huapi Lake, destination Cerro Bayo Resort. Since there was plenty of rain and wind at lake elevation, we were hoping the higher elevations would be getting significant accumulation and this would be a good chance at scoring some powder turns.

Jorge Belardi and our crew met up with Bayo locals Andee Barroso and Queque Parodi at the lower lift station and we were on our way up. The rain was really heavy on the first chair, but slowly changed to snow near the second lift. After disembarking the single chair, we started plowing through the heavy pow and hitting some untracked tree runs.

Once the ‘soul runs’ were completed, we spent the rest of the afternoon shaping up a few choice obstacles and snapping a few action photos. We have to thank Jorge, Andee and Queque for showing us the goods in their local zones. Big up fellas! Blotto

All photos by Blotto 2010

Jeremy arrived a couple days after us, but his bags didn't...we managed to piece-meal an entire kit for him so he could join the on-hill madness, he was stoked! After the first day of riding, we got a knock on the door and our main man Luke Shelley carted in his board bag..hyped! Our crew has acheived 'voltron' status...Peace, Blotto

All photos point and shot by Blotto 2010

Heyhey, I'm finally posting some shots from the mountain we're snowboarding...a wonderful shred resort called Cerro Catedral, located on the northern tip of Patagonia, Argentina. The views from the resort are absolutely stunning as you make your way down the mountain and up the chairlifts. The scenics alone make the trip worth it, but once you calculate in the powder and terrain you're dealing with, it's all time.

For today's images I chronicled wake up to sunset, starting with Jussi and coffee in bed, then his breakfast and shot list. Next up is the bus ride with the campers, followed by the drop-off at Tage for everybody's favorite "Tostado con Huevos." These rider approved breakfast sandwiches power the crew up for numerous gondola rides, high-speed quad and t-bar laps...all while enjoying some fresh pow or smooth groomers.

Our mission is to catch some quality action shots so we've been spending a fair bit of time with the shovels prepping snow, climbing trees and jumping over obstacles. Once the lifts close for the day, we hop a ride back down the mountain just in time to catch a beauty of a sunset just around the corner from the SASS compound. 

The SASS program is open to everybody, so this same mission can be pulled off by anyone willing to save the loot and take the time. For this summer they still have spaces open during the September 4 - 12th session...hit 'em up this time around or plan for something next year. Over and out for now...Blotto

All photos by Dean Blotto Gray / Blotto Photto 2010

The last couple of days have been super fun and random, hence the randomness of the photos...we've had some fun adventures around the Bariloche area, finding shred spots on Cerro Catedral Resort and hanging out with the SASS crew. I'll try to get some on-mountain photography posted in the next couple of days. Thanks for check in y'all! Blotto

All photos © Dean Blotto Gray 2010

After a long day of shredding South American powder, it sure is nice to catch some zzz's on the bus ride home...viva siesta! Bloto

All photos captured by Blotto with a point and shoot device 2010