My Negative Experience with South America Snow Sessions

[nickwm21]

I was about to travel with SASS last summer.. then people on this board convinced me that I could travel for far less cash and have more fun.

I spent about $1000 in two weeks in Bari, compared to $3k for one week with SASS. Met great people in the hostel, skied my legs off, and had a blast.

One of the best times was hiking up La Laguna at Catedral on a pow day, passing all the SASS guys at the top while they were organizing the camera crew and waiting for stragglers. I dropped in before them and got the entire bowl to myself, untracked. That removed all doubt I had about not going with an organized trip.

SASS is a bad deal. They ripped off the OP, and their service is in itself a ripoff. I will suggest to all going down south to go on their own, without an organized group, and stay at Hostel 41 Below in Bariloche, best place in town!

[altaski85]

what sucks is that these clowns are in the highest rent district of NH...meaning they have the money to pay this kid. F'n Sea Rd! Christ, Dan Brown (the author) lived on that street. He recently moved around the corner into his new place.

I know the house and some of the guys, including Ryan and Jack. It was a cheap winter rental that served as company offices and housing for six people. They've since moved out, to cheaper digs in a Hampton warehouse.

I rode with them a few times last season in New England and they were never anything but upstanding, generous, funny, and yes, loud, guys. It's too bad the finances went haywire, and it seems to me both sides are telling the truth on this one.

Oh, and Brown never lived on Sea Rd.

[Alexander1310]

Dude that avy video was brutal. He definitely got taken for a ride, short albeit, but if he got pushed through those rocks, shit he's lucky to be alive.

[strawjack]

I know the house and some of the guys, including Ryan and Jack. It was a cheap winter rental that served as company offices and housing for six people. They've since moved out, to cheaper digs in a Hampton warehouse.

I rode with them a few times last season in New England and they were never anything but upstanding, generous, funny, and yes, loud, guys. It's too bad the finances went haywire, and it seems to me both sides are telling the truth on this one.

Oh, and Brown never lived on Sea Rd.

ya, whatever...there are no cheap rentals on Sea Rd in Rye. they f'd up their business by overspending and living large...obviously. hampton has cheap(er) winter rentals.

Brown...next street over. yup, you're right. he's on south rd now next to the16th green.

[lynchdogger]

what sucks is that these clowns are in the highest rent district of NH...meaning they have the money to pay this kid. F'n Sea Rd! Christ, Dan Brown (the author) lived on that street. He recently moved around the corner into his new place.

My thoughts exactly . . .

All of it . . .

[My Pet Powder Goat]

Hi everyone,

Ryan here (yes, that's my real name) from SASS Global Travel. I had the pleasure of working side-by-side with Jack this past year and am sorry that this has happened to him. We are doing our best to get through our current predictament, with Jack's payment being one of the priorities on our list. South America Snow Sessions had operational issues this year and now SASS Global Travel, under new management and separate from South America Snow Sessions, is trying to move forward; South America Snow Sessions' owner quit the company and left us with unpaid debt to our employees and no money. Not to mention that the current employees of SASS Global Travel are suffering from the same wrong-doings as Jack, including ME, both for commissions owed like Jack and also expenses incurred developing environmental and community projects in Argentina this summer. We are all working extremely hard to resolve the situation, but must respectfully state that employee-employer grievances are not the kind of fodder for internet
forums, and that this kind of activity also lays blame on lots of people, including myself, who don't deserve it and are in fact working to create solutions themselves. This is clearly a serious matter and one that should be handled professionally, and we are doing our best effort with the small resources we have at the moment to resolve the very difficult situation we have been left with.

You are all completely entitled to your own opinions and we will not spread any nonsense about any of you for having negative views of our company. We are going through quite a serious transition period and our main goal is to restore faith in our operations and our people now that both of those have been seriously re-examined and reset. We are decent, dedicated skiers and snowboarders like all of you and strive above all to provide a great service to our clients. If you have further things you'd like to discuss, please feel free to call us at our New Hampshire office at 1.800.851.4660 - we'd be happy to talk to you.

Best of luck to everyone this winter and happy shredding.

Sucks, sounds like the previous owner railroaded you guys, and I hope you end up in a better place financially once this is over but a reminder that it is illegal to with hold wages from an employee after termination, and the state takes it very seriously. I'm sure you will be able to squirm out from the commissions ,depending on what jacks contract says, but his salary should be paid in full ASAP.

[AdironRider]

To imply that Hampton Beach rentals are only "cheaper" than Rye leads me to believe you are on crack.

Hampton Beach is a dump year round, but it is a deserted dump in the wintertime. Most of the wastecases from the seacoast post up down there for cheap all winter, then disperse come summer time.

Sea Rd however, nice digs. I thought Dan Brown just owned the place and let his mom post up there. At least that was the rumor at the time when I was still a landscape jockey.

[strawjack]

To imply that Hampton Beach rentals are only "cheaper" than Rye leads me to believe you are on crack.

big difference between 'hampton' and 'hampton beach precinct'. hamton beach is the armpit of hampton and when the big fire happened last year everyone wished more of it had burned down.

a lot of winter rentals in the plaice cove area...of hampton.

who's on crack?

[japollner]

Woah. That was scary shit. Pretty big slide. OP, what's up with the deletions?

For the Record, I have not deleted any posts in this thread. Don't know whats up with that...though I have an idea.

[japollner]

South America Snow Sessions had operational issues this year and now SASS Global Travel, under new management and separate from South America Snow Sessions, is trying to move forward;

Ryan, like I mentioned in the Newschoolers thread, Travis, self described (in the past) co-owner of SASS is the sole owner of the newly incorporated SASS Global Travel in NH.

He was aware of the past finances, spending a large sum on flights for clients without John's knowledge. Travis has been the one trying to distance himself legally, while knowing this whole time what the right thing to do for myself and all the coaches.

[brutah]

look up the labor laws in New hampshire, if they are anything like those in utah, you should be entitled to more money than what you made. In utah if an employer fails to pay you wages owed within 24 hours of termination (whether you quit or were fired), you can collect your wage for up to 60 days. usually informing a company of this law, gets you paid promptly.

Shit, I'm sure you don't even have to file in small claims court.... there is probably a new hampshire department of workforce services that will do all the legal work for you including a lawyer. report this to them and file with them to recieve unpaid wages. but I would start the legal ball rolling whether through a New Hampshire department or small claims court.......

[PNWbrit]

I'm sure lawyers all over New Hampshire are just lineing up to take 30% of this massive case.

[powder11]

I'm sure lawyers all over New Hampshire are just lineing up to take 30% of this massive case.

no shit. Lawyers bill rate:

$400 to pick up the phone, another $400 to dial and a $500 min if someone actually answers. Good luck, I'm sure you are on a long list of people getting fucked!

[My Pet Powder Goat]

look up the labor laws in New hampshire, if they are anything like those in utah, you should be entitled to more money than what you made. In utah if an employer fails to pay you wages owed within 24 hours of termination (whether you quit or were fired), you can collect your wage for up to 60 days. usually informing a company of this law, gets you paid promptly.

Shit, I'm sure you don't even have to file in small claims court.... there is probably a new hampshire department of workforce services that will do all the legal work for you including a lawyer. report this to them and file with them to recieve unpaid wages. but I would start the legal ball rolling whether through a New Hampshire department or small claims court.......

+1. Contact NH work force services.

[Dhelihiker]

Time rolls on and I am brought on board to go to Argentina with the crew. Now, I am aware that I am not under contract with the company anymore, but my salary continued to be deposited into my account every other Friday.

That whole story sounds messy to to me. If I was working for someone and my contract lapsed, I wouldn't lift a finger until I had another contract in place that I agreed on. Im not trying to be the devils advocate but you really have to take some responsibility for not speaking up on the day your contract lapsed. It doesn't justify what they did but it does make them able to do so.

either way good luck and Im sure you will be smarter next time around. $2400 is chump change, it could be a lot worse.

[BFD]

yea you got off easy you could of actualy paid money to ski with these avie pros.
That video was as eye opener and the comments amazed me. Good reading there.

[japollner]

Hey Everyone,

Update. Ryan from SASS/SGT (because in practice, it is the same company, just a new name and LLC) sent me a text asking me to call him. I responded, and he was asking me to see it from his point of view, that my public outcry (if you will) is hurting him too. I told him that I had no issue with him, but that if he really wanted to make this right, he wouldn't be selling trips for SGT right now without knowing that some of that money was going to pay off the coaches that are owed.

A friend that was in Boston this weekend for the Expo that knew Travis said he had to ignore Travis' recount of the story and ignore the shit talking that was going on.

Thanks to those who offered support. Those who told me I should have been more careful, I know where you are coming from. Guess I just expected SASS and SGT would have been more stand up in this situation.

I'll bump this if anything new comes up.

[ex-powderbroker]

Sounds like you got hosed, mang.

Sass should just pay up to make this go away... This thing will get a lot of views and no one is going to use their shitty service again.

[Hugh Conway]

Welcome to "the industry"

[jskierpx]

I just logged on to look at the Cali weather report, saw there were 4,100 people viewing the "ski/Snowboard" section, and then saw this thread pop up.

I'm no business owner, but it blows my mind why SASS isnt doing anything they can (ie paying him the $2,400 and then some), to get this employee happy and delete this thread. With ~4,000 people reading these forums at any moment you have to think the revenue they are losing is more that a measly couple G's

[DasBlunt]

Yep, I had a big trip planned for this next summer with some rich kids and there is no way I am using this outfit. Was seriously considering them too. That is like 5k a person lost on a party of about 8-10.

[bklyn]

If you are an adult and planning to ski resorts in SA...

You do not need a tour company.
Repeat after me:
You do not need a tour company.

This is not Everest. Qualified guides can be found. Quality ski partners can be found.
As questions, ask around. Do some research.

So they speak Spanish and you may not be fluent. So what? Por Favor & Gracias go a long way with international travel. Don't be the "Ugly American Tourist", approach people with humility and respect and you will meet great people despite language barriers.

These tour companies play on the fears that you won't be able to do this on your own and the lazy who just want to purchase a package and not think about it. This business model is not based on giving the customer value, it's making money on ignorance. People who do this to their clients will not care about the employees. Open your eyes, if your employer is ripping off the customer... you are next. Count on it.

Parents of minors - watch that avalanche footage and ask yourself if you would entrust your kids to this operation. No Way. Poor decision making on their part that could have cost the kid his life.

[DasBlunt]

So true bklyn.

I speak fluent Spanish. One of the main donors/fathers in our group of kids wanted to look at this company. I saw this thread and he killed that plan.

I can most likely do it myself, but i guess we needed this to happen, thanks!!

[rdennhs]

big difference between 'hampton' and 'hampton beach precinct'. hamton beach is the armpit of hampton and when the big fire happened last year everyone wished more of it had burned down.

a lot of winter rentals in the plaice cove area...of hampton.

who's on crack?

we must live near eachother

[old goat]

So someone from the company says the company is in a tight spot financially and can't pay. Whether they're dishonest, bad businessmen, or just unlucky, why would anyone book a trip with a company that can't pay its people?

So the old company and the new one are different. Really? Sounds like the same company just reincorporating to avoid paying its debts.

One doesn't have to believe the OP to avoid these guys--you just have to read what the company rep has to say.