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Corridor Los Lagos > Province: Neuquén > San Martín de los Andes

Tetrathlon at Chapelco

Karina Jozami

Santiago Gaudio

With Argentinian and foreign sportsmen, the Chapelco tetrathlon is a challenging competition consisting of ski, mountain biking, kayaking and running.

Every season, the Chapelco tetrathlon is held on the first week of September. This is one of the most important combined national competitions that summons sportsmen both from Argentina and from abroad. In addition to representing a sport challenge, it is a real celebration enjoyed all through San Martín de los Andes.

The Chapelco Mountain Range, the native forests and Lake Lácar are part of the impressive scenery of the trial that includes 4 disciplines: ski, mountain biking, kayaking and running.

Just like other similar competitions, the Chapelco “tetra” presents several categories: females under and over 30, males under 30, from 30 to 40, veterans from 40 to 50 and master for participants over 50 years old.

A Demanding Challenge

Everything starts at the top of Mount Teta, one of the peaks of Chapelco, where some of the most difficult ski trails are located. The competitors have to ski along a distance of 8.5 kilometers through slopes, cross-country and uphill until they reach the closed park located at the base. In this area, they change their skies for the bicycle and the second stretch of the tetra follows.

The 42-kilometer-long track across the mountain is one of the strategic points in the race, as it is in this spot where the technique of the good cyclists makes a difference.

The coast of Lake Lácar is the spot chosen to leave the bicycle and start paddling. At this point of the race, the group that will take the lead will be identified. The kayak tour consists in going to Catritre Beach and back, which makes up a total distance of 8 kilometers.

When they leave the kayak in the same spot from where they left, the competitors go out on the last part of the tetra: a 16-kilometer marathon in a circuit that crosses the city and ends up downtown.

A real challenge for sportsmen, who are accompanied by the local crowd during the entire race thus making this event into a great festival in the mountain range city.