Chile Freeride Progression Camp — Erika Vikander & Niki Salençon

Chile Freeride Progression Camp — Ski & Snowboard

Elevate your freeride skiing or snowboarding across Chile's most iconic mountain terrain. Train with Erika Vikander — pro freeride snowboarder and coach — and Niki Salençon — pro freeskier and Freeride World Tour competitor — during an 8-day progression camp focused on technique, confidence, jumps, and off-piste skills — from the Tres Valles above Santiago to the volcanic sidecountry of Nevados de Chillán. Fixed departure during Chile's Fiestas Patrias week — September 2025.

This camp is built for skiers and snowboarders who want to progress in a friendly, supportive environment. We keep groups small (max 4 guests per coach) and match everyone by ability, discipline, and goals. Guests rotate between both coaches throughout the week — getting hands-on perspective from a pro freeskier and a pro freeride snowboarder. Expect lift-access freeride sessions, sidecountry laps at La Parva, El Colorado, Valle Nevado, and backcountry objectives at Nevados de Chillán. All backcountry and sidecountry departures are led by a dedicated certified mountain guide (ACGM/IFMGA) — the highest international guiding standard — so your coaches can focus entirely on your progression while an expert manages terrain, hazards, and group safety. Daily plans adapt to weather, snowpack, and terrain access. Level: Intermediate to advanced, with basic backcountry experience required.

        
        Max 4 guests per coach
      
        Ski coach + snowboard coach
      
        Technique + confidence + jumps
      
        Ability-matched groups
      
        4 resorts · 2 regions
      
        ACGM/IFMGA guide on all backcountry days

Camp Format

8 days of coached freeride progression across two regions of Chile
4 nights in Farellones — mountain lodge, ski-in/ski-out to the Tres Valles
3 nights in Las Trancas at Roble Viejo Lodge — steps from Nevados de Chillán's volcanic sidecountry
Scenic road trip south on Day 5 with cultural and culinary stops
Daily plan adapts to weather, snowpack, and access

We match skiers and snowboarders by discipline, ability, objectives, and pace — this is about progression and fun, not competition.

Coaching Focus

Technique: stance, edge control, speed management, steeps — adapted to ski or snowboard
Confidence: line choice, terrain reading, decision-making in variable snow
Jumps: takeoff/landing mechanics, safe progression, style
Freeride skills: flow in variable snow, tactics for real terrain
Off-piste & sidecountry: moving efficiently and safely beyond the boundary

Coaching is discipline-specific: Erika focuses on snowboard technique, Niki on ski technique — but the progression framework and objectives are shared.

Your Coaches

Erika Vikander Snowboard

Pro Freeride Snowboarder · Esnativa Coach

Erika is a professional freeride snowboarder and coach with deep experience guiding riders through technique and confidence progression in steep, off-piste terrain. Known for her precise, analytical approach on snow and her ability to break down complex movements into clear, actionable coaching cues — she makes progression feel both structured and genuinely fun. Snowboarders on this camp are in expert hands: Erika coaches from the same board, on the same terrain, with an understanding of what it actually feels like to ride it. She brings an international freeride snowboard perspective to the Chilean Andes.

Niki Salençon Ski

Pro Freeskier · FWT Competitor · Esnativa Co-Founder

Niki is a Freeride World Tour competitor and co-founder of Esnativa, with over a decade of professional freeski experience in the Chilean and Argentine Andes. Born and raised in the mountains of South America, he brings unmatched local knowledge of the terrain — from La Parva's iconic off-piste couloirs to Chillán's volcanic sidecountry lines. His coaching combines competition-level ski technique with a deep respect for mountain conditions and guest safety. Skiers train with someone who competes on the same runs at the highest level of the sport.

Throughout the week, guests rotate between both coaches — getting perspective from a pro skier and a pro snowboarder. Coaching cues, line choices, and feedback vary between disciplines in ways that make everyone progress faster, regardless of what you're riding.

The Terrain

La Parva — Farellones, Santiago · iconic off-piste couloirs · long vertical · freeride classic
El Colorado — Farellones, Santiago · diverse terrain · strong off-piste options · wide natural features
Valle Nevado — Farellones, Santiago · Chile's largest resort · high-altitude · interconnected Tres Valles terrain
Nevados de Chillán — Las Trancas, Ñuble · active volcanic terrain · expansive sidecountry · long natural descents · hot springs nearby

Safety on backcountry days: All departures beyond resort boundaries — sidecountry at Tres Valles and Chillán's volcanic terrain — are led by a dedicated certified mountain guide (ACGM/IFMGA) alongside your coaches. They manage terrain selection, avalanche hazard assessment, and group safety so your coaching sessions run without compromise.

Accommodation

Nights 1–4: Mountain lodge in Farellones — ski-in/ski-out access to Tres Valles
Nights 5–7: Roble Viejo Lodge, Las Trancas — steps from Nevados de Chillán
Shared double rooms included as standard
Private room upgrade available on request

Meals

Welcome dinner on arrival night in Farellones
Breakfast and mountain lunch included every day throughout the trip
Dinners in Farellones (Nights 1–4): hosted by your coach team at the lodge
Dinners in Chillán (Nights 5–6): on your own — Las Trancas has great local options and we'll point you in the right direction
Night 7 — Farewell Asado: traditional Chilean asado hosted by Esnativa to close out the camp

A relaxed dinner with drinks in Las Trancas typically runs around $20–$30 USD. We often coordinate groups so no one ends up eating alone.

Included

Coaching & on-mountain hosting with Erika, Niki, and the Esnativa team
Freeride progression sessions — technique, confidence, jumps, terrain reading, line choice
Certified mountain guide (ACGM/IFMGA) on all backcountry and sidecountry departures
7 nights accommodation (4 in Farellones + 3 in Las Trancas)
Breakfast and mountain lunch every day
Hosted dinners in Farellones (Nights 1–4) + welcome dinner
Farewell asado on Night 7 (traditional Chilean grill, hosted by Esnativa)
Airport transfer on arrival (SCL → Farellones)
All ground transport between destinations
24/7 on-trip support

Not Included

International flights to Santiago (SCL)
Optional flight Santiago → Concepción on Day 5 (booked independently)
Daily lift tickets at all resorts
Personal ski or snowboard equipment rental
Backcountry gear (beacon, shovel, probe, touring setup / splitboard setup — rental available with advance notice)
Dinners at Nevados de Chillán on Nights 5 & 6 (on your own — plenty of great options in Las Trancas)
Personal travel insurance

Skill Level & Fitness

Intermediate to advanced skiers and snowboarders with good physical fitness. Basic backcountry experience is required — you should be familiar with beacon use, avalanche rescue basics, and moving in off-piste terrain. You don't need to be an expert, but you need to have been there before.

We'll match you with the right group based on your discipline, level, and goals. Not sure if you qualify? Get in touch and we'll help you figure it out.

Arrivals & Departures

ARRIVAL

SCL — Santiago, Chile
Transfer to Farellones included. Well-connected from North America and Europe.

DEPARTURE

CCP — Concepción, Chile
Transfer from Las Trancas to Concepción airport on Day 8. Onward connections to Santiago and international.

For Day 5, optional direct flight SCL→CCP available (not included, booked independently). Standard route is a scenic road trip south with the group.

🇨🇱 Camp Week: Chile's Fiestas Patrias

This camp runs during Fiestas Patrias — Chile's most beloved national celebration, held every year around September 18th. It's Chile's independence week, and the entire country goes into full party mode for several days straight.

Think: cuecas blasting from every corner, empanadas and anticuchos on every grill, chicha flowing freely, fondas (traditional outdoor party venues) popping up in every town, and Chilean flags hanging from literally everything. In Las Trancas and the surrounding valleys, locals celebrate with the full tradition — it's one of the most authentic and festive times to be in rural Chile.

Ski hard by day. Celebrate like a Chilean by night. This is not a coincidence — it's the whole point.

Flexible Daily Planning

We prioritize the best daily conditions across the region to maximize ski quality and progression.

All on-mountain decisions are made by your coach team and the certified ACGM/IFMGA guide on backcountry days. Daily briefings cover the plan, weather outlook, snow and avalanche notes, and coaching focus for the session.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if this camp is right for me?

If you love freeride skiing and want to improve your technique, confidence, and flow, this camp is for you. It's not a competition — it's a supportive, small-group environment focused on progression and having a great time in the Chilean Andes. Once you apply, we'll match you with a group based on your skiing level and goals.

Is this camp only for advanced skiers?

No. The camp is built for a wide range of freeride skiers — from intermediate riders building confidence off-piste to advanced skiers refining steeps, line choice, and airtime. Groups are matched so everyone progresses at the right pace.

What ski resorts does this camp visit?

The camp visits four resorts across two Chilean regions: La Parva, El Colorado, and Valle Nevado in the Tres Valles area near Santiago, followed by Nevados de Chillán in the Ñuble region — one of South America's most distinctive ski destinations, with expansive volcanic sidecountry and long natural descents.

How do we get to Nevados de Chillán on Day 5?

The standard route is a scenic road trip south with your coach team — approximately 5–6 hours including cultural and culinary stops along the way. Guests who prefer to save travel time can fly from Santiago (SCL) to Concepción (CCP) and be transferred to Las Trancas. This optional flight is not included and must be booked independently.

Are lift tickets included?

No — daily lift tickets at all four resorts are not included in the base price and are purchased separately. Your coach team will assist with lift ticket logistics at each resort throughout the trip.

Who leads the backcountry sessions — and what certifications do they hold?

All backcountry and sidecountry departures are led by a dedicated certified mountain guide holding ACGM (Asociación de Guías de Montaña de Chile) and/or IFMGA (International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations) certification — the highest internationally recognized standard for mountain guiding. This guide operates alongside your coaches: their role is terrain selection, avalanche risk assessment, route management, and group safety. Your coaches remain focused on your freeride progression. The separation of roles is intentional — it means you get expert guiding and expert coaching simultaneously, without compromise on either.

Do I need backcountry experience?

Yes — basic backcountry experience is required for this camp. You should be familiar with beacon use, avalanche rescue protocol, and moving in off-piste terrain. You don't need to be an expert, but you need to have been there before. All backcountry departures are led by a certified ACGM/IFMGA mountain guide, so you're in professional hands from the moment you leave the resort boundary. Backcountry gear (beacon, shovel, probe, touring setup) is not included — rentals are available with advance notice. If you're not sure whether your experience level qualifies, reach out and we'll help you assess.

What is Fiestas Patrias and why does it matter for this camp?

Fiestas Patrias is Chile's national independence celebration, centered on September 18th. It's the country's biggest holiday — multiple days of national pride, traditional food, music, and dancing. Across Chile, fondas (open-air party venues) fill with people eating empanadas, drinking chicha and terremotos, dancing the cueca, and celebrating with family and friends. In mountain towns like Las Trancas, the festivities are especially authentic — local, festive, and genuinely Chilean. We planned the camp here on purpose. It's the kind of cultural experience you just can't manufacture.

Is this trip suitable for solo travellers?

Yes — this is a small-group camp open to solo travellers, couples, and groups of friends. Groups are kept small (max 4 guests per coach) and matched by ability and objectives. Solo guests are welcome and paired with others of similar level and goals.

Can I upgrade to a private room?

Yes — shared double rooms are standard across both lodges, and private room upgrades are available at an additional cost. Request this at the time of booking or contact us directly.