Where North Meets South: The North Crew's Expedition to Patagonia
Issue 19 / Mon 26th Feb, 2024
Bowien van der Linden embarks on a challenging adventure to Patagonia with the North team and shares exciting tales of snowfall, cosy BBQs, wingfoiling, kiteboarding, comforting cups of tea and picturesque views, pushing the boundaries of their comfort zone. The beauty of Patagonia and the bonding the crew experience are showcased in their incredible photos. Read ‘Where North Meets South’ exclusively in Tonic Mag!
I consider myself a full-on summer baby, escaping the winters to the waters of Cape Town. So, making a venture into the wild beauty of Patagonia was a challenging choice for me. But I couldn't be fast enough to say yes when the opportunity arose to join the North team on an adventure to this untamed land. We set out on the trip with six of us: three kiteboarders, Nick Jacobsen, Graham Howes, and Jett Bradshaw, and three wingers, Fabian Muhmenthaler, Chucho Nonnot, and myself, Bowien van der Linden; an odd bunch, to say the least, but the perfect crew for what would become an epic journey.
We started the trip together in Buenos Aires, exploring the city, getting a first glance at the hospitality of the Argentinian people, and ending with a sunset party at Santa Tabla, one of the city's water sports spots. As dawn broke, we took our national flight to Bariloche, Patagonia. The last stretch of the flight revealed the initial breathtaking glimpses of Patagonia's beauty we would enjoy the coming week. The village has a ski-resort feel with many wooden lodges and cosy cabins in the woods. Talking to our local guides, we soon realised nature had a surprise in store for us; what should have been a spring trip turned out to be a never-ending winter this season. The mountaintops were glazed with an enchanting blanket of fresh snow, leading us (un)lucky travellers to a scene of frozen fingers amidst breathtaking scenery we would have otherwise missed.
We drove straight to a spot favoured by the locals; despite the light wind, the foilers hit the water for a 'warm-up session,' getting used to booties in straps and tingling fingers. Fortunately, every Argentinian carries around their mate a cup full of tea herbs with a straw and a large flask, so the tea can seemingly be endlessly refilled. This steamy drink awaited us at the beach after each session.
The following day, while building a campfire by the waterfront with Kyle, my South African kite teammate and one of the videographers who joined us on the trip, our conversation delved into the purpose of our journey. He stated it perfectly: 'This trip is not for training, chasing the best conditions or spending the most time on the water. This trip is an experience, an adventure - nourishment for the soul.' As if the universe agreed, we spotted a boat carrying the rest of the team arriving at the dock, with Nick holding a massive trout. That evening, we cooked the trout to perfection, ending another day in Patagonia family-style around a large dining table in our cabin.
The beach at Lagao Petito Moreno has an onshore wind blowing straight from the mountains. It can be chilly, but the views are some of the best we've ever seen. After learning from our previous session, we began the day with warm-up dancing on the back of the truck.
We switched locations pretty soon, and when we arrived at Dina Haupi, we immediately saw the conditions. We were waiting for 25+ knots and some good wind bumps. I set out on my 2.9, and we had a great freestyle session alternating with riding the big bumps downwind. Bariloche is a perfect place to downwind on the windier days. What made the picture perfect was Jett, the short-line master of the team, throwing low-loops with the new Orbit-pro while Fabi was making stylish back loops on his Mode Pro—the crispy white gear matching perfectly with the snowy mountaintops in the background.
Following this unforgettable day of riding, we embarked on an exhilarating downwinder from our cabin to the islands just in front of Bariloche, including Huemul Island. Setting off from the Peninsula where our cabin is located, we cruised downwind while the kiters went ahead with the boat, looking for a spot to launch their kite. During this session, you can witness the pros and cons of winging, including our ability to launch anywhere, even next to forests. However, once we were all on the water, the kiters enjoyed the scenery from a different vantage point. Their playground spans not only the water but also the land and the rocks, climbing and jumping over the islands, activities that, unfortunately, we will never be able to do! We ended our downwinder at the islands and returned to the cabin by boat. Still, it is worth mentioning that the downwinder could have easily ended at Bariloche town or even Dina Haupi, giving us the best wind swell.
The upcoming adventure veered away from water sports, adding an exciting twist to our water-focused escapade. Even though the snowboarding and skiing season had passed, the fresh snowfall prompted Kite Patagonia's crew to open up Cerro Chapelco's slopes for us. This resort offers magnificent views of a vast lake, snowy mountains, and a volcano. We ascended the lower slopes with our trucks and parked them on the piste, where we found snow scooters higher up in the mountains waiting. As someone who loves the summer, I had never set foot on a snowy mountain or attempted snowboarding down one before.
Luckily, I had been to an indoor snowboarding hall the previous winter, and as we went down the mountain to the Kite Patagonia station, this was certainly noticeable. I was far behind the rest of the crew, spending more time in the snow than riding the snowboard in the first 15 minutes. Upon arriving at the station, the crew had prepared an Argentinian BBQ and some cold beverages for us, so we again enjoyed the Argentinian hospitality in the mountains. I was determined to learn and went up the slope time after time - even hiking up when our local guides enjoyed the braai instead of riding the scooter. I'm thrilled to say that I even got some airtime by the end of the day.
The last spot we visited was a special one - we arrived at a small island called Villa La Angostra, and the locals were already preparing an Argentinian BBQ for us again. We savoured their hospitality and began exploring the surroundings of the little island before getting into the water. Just before entering, I had to duck multiple times to avoid Nick flying into me - he couldn't resist repeatedly jumping over the island and our crew. Once again, we found ourselves in a spot with excellent wind conditions and now acclimatised to the temperatures and full stomachs from warm food. We hit the waters and enjoyed our final session with no one else around, just like every other session we had experienced in this magical place. This location was the best spot and a short boat ride from the beach.
On our last evening, it was time for our final campfire; right by the waterside, the whole team gathered and discussed the highs and lows of the trip and how this special adventure had brought us together. Before embarking on this trip, the whole crew had minimal expectations. I was expecting something epic but had yet to learn in what way. I am still determining the dynamic between the kiters and wingers. However, if I can speak on behalf of the entire team, the beauty of Patagonia has exceeded our expectations; it has been nothing short of an adventure with the most amazing team. With its stunning waters, pristine views, snowy mountains, and warm-hearted locals, Patagonia became the perfect backdrop for an adventure that was not just about wingfoiling. It was an adventure for the soul - filled with countless campfires, braais and gin-tonics on islands, snowboarding, empanadas, horse riding, fishing, and impromptu dances to keep ourselves warm.
Until we meet again, Argentina, Adiós for now, but the memories of Patagonia will remain etched in our hearts forever.
Videos
By Bowien van der Linden
