If you’re interested in kicking off on a heli ski adventure, Pure Powder is here to help. Heli skiing is an exhilarating adventure, combining the thrill of extreme sports with breathtaking landscapes. Its popularity has surged in recent years, making it the ultimate experience for adrenaline seekers. Considered the pinnacle of the skiing world, both in terms of quality of experience and the ferocity of its challenges, going heli skiing is more than your average getaway.
Due to the aforementioned challenges, helicopter skiing shouldn’t be approached casually and without preparation. However, like with all sports, helicopter skiing has a recognisable entry point for beginners, and clear successive steps to take as skill level increases.
As such, while the sport may seem reserved for extreme athletes, anyone who loves skiing can learn how to heli-ski, and there are routes available that suit all skillsets.
In this article, we’ll break down the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels of helicopter skiing, providing an overview of each, looking at the key skill-appropriate destinations, ideal group size and other unique experiences relevant to the category.
Heli Ski: Beginner Standards
As a beginner, first dipping your toes in the thrilling world ahead of you, there are a few important things to keep in mind.
An Overview of Beginner Heli Skiing
First off, in order to make sure that you’re ready to start helicopter skiing, you should already be comfortable skiing or snowboarding on advanced terrain like black diamonds or off-piste runs before making the leap.
You’ll also want to make sure that your body is physically ready for the strain of helicopter skiing. Pure powder offers a full guide, including video tutorials on the best way to build up your fitness and physical endurance for helicopter skiing.
Of course, almost equally important as preparing your body, is preparing your mind. Set realistic goals and don’t expect to conquer the steepest slopes on your first trip. Focus on enjoying yourself and learning, being open to learning from the experts and integrating their tips to improve your performance.
Destinations for Heli Ski Beginners
For beginners, it’s particularly important to choose the right ski destination for your needs. Ideally, you’ll want a destination rife with gentle slopes and open snow bowls, avoiding steep and rugged terrain.
Canada is a classic choice for beginners, unbeatable in terms of its landscape and lodging options, with British Columbia one of the most sought-after skiing destinations in all of the world. As the birthplace of heli skiing, there is a long-established culture surrounding the sport and a very accommodating community, not to mention how experienced the operators are with beginners.
The terrain is varied, full of gentle slopes ideal for beginners. The beauty of going to British Columbia for skiing is the large range of options at your disposal, meaning you can find the perfect route to match your skill set.
In Canada we run specific programmes for first time heli skiers where you will receive additional hand-holding and coaching from our guides. Check out these trips for more info: https://www.purepowder.com/ski-coaching/
Group Sizes for Beginner Heli Skiing
Beginners in particular may enjoy small group or private heli ski excursions. In these setups, there is less pressure to adapt to the pace of a large group. You have plenty of space to experience the adventure at your own speed, taking all the time you need to move at your level of comfort while exploring your surroundings and skills.
Furthermore, heli ski experiences in small or private groups tend to feel tailor-made and intimate. The more hands-on approach from guides makes it ideal for beginners, but even experts prefer the smaller groups when it comes to heli skiing development.
Alternatively, the aforementioned Powder Introduction programmes operate with groups of up to 10 guests and with two guides to the group, provide plenty of support.
Heli Ski Coaching
Pure Powder facilitates a heli ski coaching course situated in British Columbia, where the snow is deep, consistent and excellent for beginner skiers. The course is designed for strong piste skiers with limited powder experience.
The course, also known as the Pure Powder Introduction Program, is run by highly trained professional ski coaches, offering expert advice and tips you need to evolve your skills to the next level and take on off-piste runs. Off-piste skiing is an absolutely foundational skill to helicopter skiing and is a strict prerequisite to the extreme sport.
Fortunately, our superb introductory course will see you prepared in no time, ready to take on the thrills and adventure of helicopter skiing. Everybody starts somewhere, and we’re here to help make taking that first step easier.
Heli Ski: Intermediate Standards
If you’ve covered the basics and have been heli skiing for a while now, you’re effectively an intermediate heli skier.
An Overview of Intermediate Heli Skiing
Of course, preparing for a trip as an intermediate heli skier is just as important as preparation as a beginner or expert. Always ensure that you are confident skiing varied terrains, including powder, trees, and mildly steep slopes.
To give yourself the ultimate edge, you might want to brush up on some of your heli ski technique, as deep powdered snow and tough terrain can be unpredictable, and there’s no such thing as over-preparing.
As an intermediate skier, now is a great time to begin testing your skillset and seeing where you can really begin to integrate advanced skills into your repertoire, and if it’s something you desire in the long run. It’s one of the most exciting stages a skier can find themselves in, as there’s an almost endless possibility for growth and exploration available to you. Plenty of operators run courses specifically tailored to intermediate skiers, helping you to take the next step.
Heli Ski Destinations for Intermediate Heli Skiers
Once again, Canada and Alaska are excellent choices for intermediate skiers, as both offer great variation in terms of skiing terrain. For those seeking to expand their horizons and explore destinations they previously couldn’t as beginners, there’s a myriad of other options.
Combine long and wide open runs with a unique cultural experience in the Chilean Andes, South America. Enjoy the vast spaces, dramatic landscapes and flowing runs down to the brooding Arctic Ocean in frigid Iceland. You could even experience the rugged majesty and incredible slopes of the Turkish Kaçkar Mountains.
As an intermediate skier, now is a great time to begin exploring exciting new options that offer not only more advanced ski terrain but also fascinating cultural experiences, the perfect combination for creating life-long memories.
Group Sizes for Intermediate Heli Skiing
As an intermediate skier, you’re more than capable of fully enjoying a classic heli ski experience, conquering the slopes alongside roughly 9-10 other guests. However, with these experiences, you’ll always run the risk of waiting some time between runs, as the group waits for the slowest members to catch up.
If you want to be absolutely certain that your group is matched to the same skill level as yourself, minimising waiting time in between runs, choosing the small group or private helicopter skiing options is your best bet. These small groups result in fast turnarounds in between runs, owing to both their minimal size and the tendency for intermediate to advanced skiers to prefer these trips.
The Beauty Of Relaxed Pace Heli Skiing
Getting the most out of heli-skiing isn’t all about the fastest turnarounds. The relaxed-pace heli ski option is the ideal choice for those who prefer quality over quantity. Intermediate skiers who have spent a great deal focusing on the technical aspects of this sport may prefer this approach, which is more focused on absorbing the incredible environments that surround you.
Operators are closely tuned in to the desires of these more laid-back skiers and they specifically select terrain well-suited to slower-paced skiing over excellent and deep powder snow. These trips offer an experience to be savoured, a privilege more easily enjoyed by those who are deeply familiar with the basics of helicopter skiing.
Heli Ski: Advanced Standards
The pinnacle of thrills is within the grasp of advanced heli skiers. If steep slopes and challenging pillow drops are your thing, you’re probably an advanced heli-skier.
An Overview of Advanced Heli Skiing
Once you’ve hit that advanced standard, it’s the perfect time to embark on the ultimate helicopter skiing trip, pushing skill boundaries and seeking out world-class and extreme terrain.
For advanced skiers, careful planning is key to getting the most out of your trip, as you’ll want to find terrain that both challenges and thrills you. There is a huge amount of worth in opting for a trip where every detail has been curated to ensure maximum adventure and enjoyment, this can also mean staying in luxury accommodation, fully embracing unique culturally rich experiences, taking up offers of vibrant regional cuisine, and prioritising decadent relaxation in between runs with saunas and spas.
Destinations for Advanced Heli-Skiers
We’ve mentioned why Alaska may appeal to intermediate skiers, but its true claim to fame as a heli ski destination is the range of daring, steep, and exciting terrain for the world’s best heli-skiers. Advanced skiers should head over to the incredible powder-laden locations such as the Todrillo Mountains, where you can test your mettle against insanely steep slopes and super rugged terrain, full of exciting challenges.
If you’re looking to combine luxury with a challenge, you can explore the Chilean Andes in the most exciting way possible with Patagonia yachts. Aboard a super luxurious sea vessel sporting world-class comforts and amenities, you’ll be ready to embark on adventure at any time. Patagonia yachts are equipped with a helicopter landing platform, meaning you’ll be leaving for the mountaintop directly from the luxury yacht you call a holiday home.
Group Sizes for Advanced Skiers
Now more than ever, advanced skiers appreciate the incredible value of private, tailor-made excursions. Assembling a close-knit team of other expert friends and having your own helicopter at your beck and call gives you the freedom to curate your runs as you please and get the most out of your heli ski trip.
The operator is there to see to your every helicopter skiing need, ensuring that you’re able to experience the best extreme terrain your destination has available. Downtime between runs will be virtually non-existent, and you’ll have most of the day open to enjoy the slopes.
Steep Shots And Pillow Drops
If you’re the kind of skier that’s all about skill growth, but you’re concerned that there are no more challenges left for you to conquer, look no further than the Steep Shots and Pillow Drops helicopter skiing programme.
This CMH programme running from British Columbia is all about sharp verticals and deep skiing, taking you into some of the most challenging environments in order to teach you how to helicopter ski the very steepest lines and biggest bowls and pillows. This is a bespoke program for advanced skiers who want to truly push themselves and develop new skills.
Two expert guides and one guest athlete will guide and coach you through honing your free-riding prowess, helping you find the best lines for developing your steep skiing skills. You’ll be trying out tough landscapes alongside eight other guests who are just as dedicated to the sport as you are, a truly unforgettable experience.
Conclusion
Heli skiing is a challenge full of unparalleled thrills and a connection to nature’s most breath-taking landscapes. It’s a journey to be taken slowly and steadily as your skills evolve to meet and overcome the obstacles ahead of you. Fortunately, this extreme sport offers a clear path of progression for those at all experience levels. At Pure Powder, we help facilitate heli skiing trips across the world for all levels of heli skiers.
Group sizes and course types provide great flexibility, adapting to solo adventurers or tight-knit teams alike. Whether you’re savouring relaxed runs, pushing past your limits in challenging terrains, or indulging in utter luxury on a Patagonia yacht, heli skiing is more than a sport, it’s a grand adventure.
As leading heli skiing specialists who have facilitated thousands of successful heli skiing trips, Pure Powder is here to organise the perfect skiing trip for you. Reach out today to start planning your next powdered voyage.
