 Ski South America
I was pleased to learn that our spring issue of Celebrated Living is devoted to the sporting life, as I have always believed that sports and air travel go hand in hand. With more than 250 destinations in 40 countries, the American Airlines network provides a world of opportunity for sports enthusiasts to pursue their passion. Whether you’re into golf, rock climbing, surfing, hiking — or perhaps spectating, one of my favorite pastimes — we’ve got you covered. To many of our customers in the United States, the rites of spring include a trip to Major League Baseball’s spring training and/or a pilgrimage to see their favorite college basketball team participate in the NCAA’s “March Madness.”
Of course, not every sports enthusiast is excited about the onset of spring. As temperatures climb in the northern hemisphere, many of our skiing customers scramble to get in a few last runs. We’re delighted to help, of course, as we offer service to many of the world’s premier ski destinations. But I’d also like to remind you that those destinations are not limited to North America and Europe. Warmer weather in the northern hemisphere coincides with colder weather in the southern hemisphere, and there is excellent skiing to be enjoyed in both Chile and Argentina.
Snow is probably not the first thing that springs to mind when you think of South America. But one of that continent’s defining characteristics is the Andes mountain range, the longest in the world at more than 4,000 miles. Between Chile and Argentina, the Andes affect the climate much like the mountain ranges of the western United States. The mountains form a barrier for moist westerly winds off the Pacific, resulting in powerful storms and clearing high-pressure systems. In other words, lots of snow followed by clear blue skies.
Climate notwithstanding, while skiing has been around for literally thousands of years (rock carvings dating from 2,500 B.C. depict hunters using skis), it is a relatively new phenomenon in South America. It began with the construction of the Trans-Andean railway at the turn of the 20th century. Built by Norwegian and British engineers, the railway ran from Valparaíso — the port city near Santiago, Chile — to Buenos Aires in Argentina. Since no roads accessed Uspallata Pass, near the present-day Chilean resort of Portillo, the engineers were forced to ascend and descend on skis. Before long, recreational skiers joined the workers, using the train as a ski lift.
The sport’s popularity in South America has risen steadily over the years, and today — thanks to major investments in lifts, services, and infrastructure — there is world-class skiing available on both the Chile and Argentina sides of the Andes. So if you didn’t get a chance to ski this past winter, don’t despair. The snow season runs from June to October, and of course, American Airlines is proud to serve both Santiago, Chile, and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
To me, being able to enjoy skiing, surfing, golfing, and many other “seasonal” sporting pursuits year-round is one of the great benefits of air travel. On behalf of everyone at American Airlines, I want to thank you for allowing us to help you follow your passion, whatever it is.
Have a great trip.
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