Heliskiing

Heliskiing is all about finding the best snow conditions so that one can have the ultimate experience in alpine skiing.  As the name suggests, it makes use of a helicopter to get the necessary altitude to ski off-piste.  That way, the avid skier can forget about waiting in line at the ski lift and just search for a suitable place by which he can ski.  That means that the skier can have the stating point of his choice instead of having to start at the usual area that is outlined by the ski lifts.  With heliskiing, you can ski in spots that were once inaccessible.  Thus, you can have the freshest snow – the deepest powder that is so pristine there is no single track you can see.

Heliskiing is another version of extreme skiing, although it is more about getting the perfect kind of snow and not about the steepness of the slope.  If you are in luck, you can have both.  And what a thrill this can be!  That is why heliskiing is pursued with passion by avid skiers (and even snowboarders), since you have the freedom to choose your trail and the power to have it all by yourself.  You can have as many runs down a specific spot without having to make the dreary trip by ski lift up the slope.

The ski enthusiast, Hans Gmoser was the one who had the grand idea of providing this service in Canada, at the Bugaboo Range located in British Columbia.  It wasn’t long for the people in the US, Europe, New Zealand and other parts of Canada to catch on and pursue this type of skiing with a passion.

Of course, this pastime is considerably expensive.  It also requires that your skiing skills and physical fitness are up to par with the challenge of skiing in an unmarked trail, with unexpected obstacles cropping up all the time.  This means that you have to have experience in dodging unexpected obstacles and you have to have absolute control over your movements.  Thus, heliskiing is definitely not for beginners.

There are risks to heliskiing.  As an extreme sport, you will be exposing yourself to the danger of avalanche plus the risk of hitting obstacles such as a large rock or a tree.

Usually, helicopters that are used in heliskiing come equipped with a storage area where you can stow away your equipment, such as your skis.  As for how you can avail of this sport, you can contact private companies that offer this service.  When booking in the United States, check to see if the company has a membership with the US Heli Ski Association.  That way, you are assured of quality and dependable service.