A Chilean Family’s Journey to Valdez, Alaska

Valdez is a place where mountains rise straight from the sea, their rugged faces glistening with powder snow and the promise of adventure. For those who chase the thrill of untouched slopes, this remote outpost at the edge of Prince William Sound is a kind of whispered legend—a place that lives in ski films and free-rider dreams. For the Goñi family of Chile, that dream began more than a decade ago, with a single trip that planted a seed.

“I came here about ten years ago,” recalls Sebastián Goñi, a lifelong snowboarder and mountain guide from Viña del Mar. “I wanted to professionalize myself as a freerider, to explore these free mountains. Valdez gave me knowledge, confidence, and the sense of community that I wanted to bring back to the Andes.” He returned to Chile with lessons about avalanche safety, mountain protocols, and the ethos of sharing knowledge—lessons that would shape not only his career but also the legacy he hoped to pass on to his children.

Sebastián Goñi hanging out at the beach next to Dock Point Trail, Valdez, AK

In the spring, Sebastián returned to Valdez, but this time he wasn’t alone. His 23-year-old daughter, Saga, a professional freeride skier and North Face athlete, and his nine-year-old son, Thor, joined him on the long journey north. Alongside their family friend and videographer Chavi, they arrived to film and ski the Chugach Mountains—a pilgrimage for anyone who loves steep lines, deep powder, and the raw beauty of Alaska.

Where the Mountains Meet the Sea

“We realized that it’s not just about the snow,” Saga says, her voice tinged with awe. “It has beautiful landscapes with the sea right next to it, which makes it even more wonderful… the mountains are far from the sea [in Chile], and here you have everything together.”

From their temporary base near Thompson Pass—a mecca for backcountry skiers and snowmobilers—the Goñi family watched as the weather played its Alaskan games. “The weather has been challenging,” Saga admits with a grin, “but that’s part of Alaska. When the sun comes out, and you’re standing on top of these rugged peaks, it’s all worth it. Skiing here feels like floating—you become one with the mountain.”

Thor, wide-eyed and brimming with youthful energy, noticed something else: the sheer scale of it all. “The mountains are very big and imposing,” he says, choosing his words carefully. “I felt nervous before my first big run… but when I reached the bottom, I felt really happy. It was a lot of fun.” His honesty reflects the truth of Valdez: it’s a place that humbles even the most confident skiers, while gifting moments of unforgettable joy.

A Culture of Adventure and Community

For Sebastián, Valdez is not just a collection of dramatic peaks; it’s a living classroom and a warm, if unconventional, village. “Valdez has epic mountains, but it’s the community that attracts me,” he explains. “People welcome you with open arms. They share knowledge, they share their snowmobiles, their stories, even their food. That generosity is part of the magic here.”

Saga, who grew up chasing lines with her father across Chile and North America, was struck by the mountain culture she found in Thompson Pass. “Arriving and seeing the pass full of people camping, staying all night in the cold, making bonfires… everyone wants to share,” she says. “They invite you to try their food, their snowmobiles. It’s very beautiful.”

Legacy in Motion

The trip to Valdez was more than a family vacation; it was a living chapter in a story about legacy. Sebastián speaks of it with quiet pride, his words echoing the patience and reverence of a life spent in the mountains. “Part of the non-ego is to transmit,” he says. “When you give everything you know to others, you are filled with joy. My daughter received this knowledge at twenty-three. My son at nine. And one day, they will pass it on.”

Saga understands her role in that lineage. Her career as a free ride skier has already carried her to podiums and film projects, but traveling with her father and little brother to the far edge of Alaska carried a different weight. “This is the first trip where the three of us traveled so far together,” she says. “Seeing Thor laugh at the simple things, being out there with my dad… it reminds me why I fell in love with the mountains in the first place.”

Thor, still at the start of his journey, summed it up with the clarity only a child can offer: “When I have kids, I would love to pass on this legacy,” he says. “To come to Alaska with my family.”

By Alex Long, Seed Media