Patagonia is one of those idealized locations that most people know very little about. Most of you probably think about the clothing brand when the name comes into conversation. While Yvon Chouinard and crew have done a dashing job at showcasing the nature and untouched beauty of this wonder of the world, that is not all there is to it.
In the middle of the southern South America continent, at the foot of the Andes mountains, lies an area so high above sea level that it is better known as an alpine destination with fantastic ski and snowboarding conditions during the winter months. With the help of some locals, we learned about the possibility of kiting here during the spring, and we went to investigate for ourselves. Traveling to an area where we know very little about the conditions always poses the question – what kind of riding can we expect? Add into the mix that we combined this trip with an assortment of kiters and wingers; we certainly were an odd bunch!
What we ended up finding was an ice-cold, water-logged wonderland. Rivers pour into the giant lake from all directions, with the winter snow melting away. There were breathtaking landscapes in every direction you looked, and to our surprise, the spots to ride and the wind quality were excellent.
For this trip to make sense, we must rewind to the beginning. The trip started for most of us in Saint Tropez, yes, the yachting hub, an unusual place for a kite trip to start. There was a DEFI wind kite race and exhibition in
