Story and Photos by Holly Walker

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree," so the old proverb goes. The expression in Argentina: "De Tal palo tal astilla." Rough translation: "The sliver comes from the stick."

In the case of Argentinean big mountain freeskier, Huere Darquier, it couldn't be truer...

Lia Darquier (goes by Huere, that's Waaay-Raaay if you were wondering) was born in the town of San Carlos de Bariloche in the Patagonia region of Argentina. If you haven't had the chance to visit the 'Switzerland' of South America, you should. It is home to beautiful lakes, forests, awesome skiing, a charming town and lots of tasty chocolates.

The forth of five children, Huere was born into a family of skiers. Every member of her family has worked/works for the local ski resort Catedral Alta Patagonia. Her father, originally a successful graphic artist in Buenos Aires, moved from the big capital city to the countryside of Bariloche to raise his family. After years as a gondola technician during the Argentinean summer in Andorra, Manuel semi-retired. He continues to work at Catedral Alta Patagonia (Alta) in the ski rental shop and can help you pick out the right pair of skis before heading to your lesson with his ski instructor wife Lia. With over 30 years of experience as both a mother and ski instructor, she knows a thing or two about raising ripping skier kids.

Huere's eldest sister Delfina, a retired competitive big mountain skier, teaches skiing in Beaver Creek, Colorado. In 1997 and 1998 she was ranked 9^th on the World Tour and in 2000 she was declared the South American Freeskiing Champion. Huere's eldest brother Joaquin also teaches at Beaver Creek and with Delfina teaches Level 1 and 2 certification courses for the International Ski Instructors Association in Bariloche. 'Joaco' was famous back in 1994 when he was the cover boy for an English publication by the Daily Mail called 'Ski Magazine.'

Huere's elder brother Diego, like the rest of his siblings, was also a ski instructor in Andorra during the off-season before throwing in the name tag to raise his own family of future rippers. Huere's younger sister Lula continues to teach at Alta. Like Huere, during South American summers, she comes to Whistler to teach an array of Spanish speaking clients - from Dominican Republic to Mexico to Spain. Don't get me started on the cousins.

At the end of September this last year I had the opportunity to head down to Bariloche from Las Lenas and finish off an epic season by skiing corn in the sun at Catedral Alta Patagonia. After a 24 hour bus ride and three transfers later, non-other than, you guessed it, Huere Darquier picked me up to take me to her parents home. After 5 days of Argentinean hospitality and too many chocolate shops, I had a belly ache. However, I also discovered the importance of the families, the 'astillas' like the Darquiers, that make up the 'palo' that is Catedral Alta Patagonia.