Heli skiing has been booming in popularity over recent years, and that’s no surprise. This high octane sport offers a wealth of unrivalled thrills as skiers embark on high-speed powdered adventures in some of the world’s most breathtaking winter terrain, facing new challenges and rewards in equal measure. As is with any trip, preparation is key to getting the most out of your time.
As the UK’s leading heli ski specialists, Pure Powder has compiled a short list of key tips to help you prepare for your heli ski trip and maximise your enjoyment, covering everything from practical details such as getting ski-fit, acclimatised and securing all to right equipment, to more holistic advice on optimising relaxation and cultural enrichment.
Get Fit For Heli Skiing
Unlike resort skiing, heli skiing involves deep powder, varying terrain, and long, demanding runs that require exceptional endurance, strength and agility. This makes getting fit for heli skiing a critical step in maximising performance, comfort and safety in the backcountry. An unfit skier won’t just feel absolutely miserable, fatigue may end up cutting the day short as they lag behind the group, making everyone more vulnerable to mistakes, which can quickly turn into something more serious in the snow-mountains.
You can avoid these issues by developing a strong core, powerful legs and a robust level of cardiovascular fitness, all of which empower you to maintain control, reduce fatigue and react quickly to the changing conditions prone to the sport. Pure Powder facilitates a heli skiing fitness program to help prepare for your trip. The fitness program is designed for people who already have a significant level of fitness, so make sure you’re prepared.
On top of building your fitness in the gym, you should spend plenty of time preparing on the slopes, practicing conventional skiing to build up the muscular strength, cardiovascular power and skillset associated with skiing. The fitter you are, the more likely you are to get the most out of your heli skiing trip.
Acclimatise To The Region
Acclimatising for heli skiing isn’t just about making sure you hit your peak performance. It’s about your safety as well as your enjoyment, especially when skiing at high altitudes. Some of the most famous helicopter skiing destinations, such as Canada, Alaska or the Chilean Andes, take place at incredibly high altitudes that can often have a notable impact on people who are not used to it.
While these high altitudes create incredible heli ski conditions such as light, feathery and dry powder snow, oxygen levels are also quite low here. The scarcity of oxygen can cause the onset of altitude sickness, a condition with symptoms that include fatigue, dizziness and shortness of breath. On top of being incredibly unpleasant to experience, altitude sickness can be dangerous, and skiers should take all the necessary precautions.
Your best move is to take a few days to adjust to the elevation, easily done by skiing at a nearby resort, staying hydrated, and getting the proper rest your body needs to help it adapt to reduced oxygen levels. Just a short period of acclimatisation will improve endurance, enhance recovery between runs, and allow skiers to enjoy long, demanding descents in deep powder snow without unnecessary exertion or discomfort, doing wonders for the overall experience of the trip.
Get The Right Gear
Wearing the appropriate clothing and getting the right ski equipment for heli skiing is key to fully enjoying your time on the mountain slopes. Staying warm and ventilated is key, and high-quality ski equipment can only improve your time exploring the snow.
At Pure Powder, we are devoted believers in a good layering system. For example, a moisture-wicking base layer, an insulating mid-layer, and a waterproof but breathable outer shell that can easily be added or removed to adapt to rapidly changing weather conditions. You’ll be able to regulate body temperature and keep moisture out on the fly. Supplement these basics with insulated gloves, a buffer balaclava, and high-quality goggles to protect against the fierce wind, cold snow and freezing temperatures. Pure Powder offers guides on finding the right equipment and clothing for your trip on our website.
Pure Powder relies on a partnership with Ellis Brigham and SureFoot to equip our guests with the best equipment for withstanding the conditions of the snowy and freezing mountains. With outstanding brands like Arc’teryx, Icebreaker and Scott, you’ll be able to fully embrace the thrill of your heli ski adventure without worrying about being insufficiently prepared or equipped.
Find The Right Insurance
Remember that unlike resort skiing, heli skiing takes place in remote and uncontrolled terrain where avalanches, injury and sudden shifts in weather can sometimes occur. As such, standard travel insurance may not cover activities such as off-piste or helicopter skiing, making specialised coverage necessary for handling medical emergencies, helicopter evacuation, trip cancellations, and lost or damaged gear. Without the right kind of insurance, the cost of something like an emergency rescue or medical treatment in these situations can be extremely high.
Even though Pure Powder facilitates heli skiing trips that are led by expert guides and operators that prioritise safety, the nature of the sport means that not everything can be predicted, and securing the right insurance before your trip can save you from the high costs associated with emergencies and lost gear.
If you’re unsure where to find the right ski insurance, take a look through the options on our website and make an informed decision from there. With insurance, you’ll also feel that added level of security and comfort while on your trip.
Choose The Right Group Size
Choosing the correct group size for heli skiing is an important part of maximising both your safety and enjoyment during helicopter skiing trips. The appropriate group size depends on personal preference and experience levels. Larger heli ski groups tend to be more social but have the drawback of longer wait times between runs and a greater level of compromise on terrain selection. Smaller groups, typically made up of four to five skiers, offer faster turnaround times, greater flexibility, and a generally more personalised experience. The best way to choose the right group is to match your skill level and skiing style with a group of similar ability and desire, which helps guarantee a smoother flow, increasing enjoyment while reducing the risk of delays or accidents.
Pure Powder offers a wide range of trip styles to balance adventure, efficiency and safety in deep powder conditions. A few of our most popular trips include classic heli skiing, relaxed pace trips, small-group trips and even private excursions.
Relax And Unwind
On your heli skiing trip, you’ll be facing many thrills and challenges, including steep slopes, varied terrain, freezing cold, and long runs through the mountain wilderness. These are a welcome part of the sport, making helicopter skiing the adventure it is, but taking the time to unwind is just as key. Embracing the more luxurious side of life in between your time on the slopes, taking time to relax and indulging in creature comforts, both simple and complex, can be a great way to re-energise yourself in between runs. Pure Powder embraces this philosophy and is dedicated to connecting our clients to some of the world’s finest ski resorts, where skiers can embrace the delights of the high life in between the thrills and chills.
Pure Powder is connected with some of the best and most relaxing helicopter skiing lodges and accommodation spots in the world. You’ll have access to amenities of unrivalled quality and can spend your days lounging in front of roaring fireplaces, steaming in hot tubs or hot saunas, unwinding at spas or enjoying world-class cuisine from accomplished chefs.
While these experiences themselves are a pleasure, the act of consciously relaxing and recovering in between ski days can have an incredible restorative and bolstering effect upon both the mind and the body, helping skiers put out greater performance on the slopes and reducing the risk of mistakes and injury.
Cultural Enrichment
Heli skiing is, of course, a great way to embrace the adventures of the mountain, as you experience the excitement of undertaking and conquering the challenges of the thick powdered slopes, but there’s a lot more to enjoy on your trip. Learning and embracing the culture of the locals and surrounding regions can add that much more to your experience.
As heli skiing has grown in popularity over the years, the sport has expanded, and operators have cropped up all over the world. Many of the destinations are found in culturally rich and fascinating locations previously strange to the skiing world. Pure Powder offers trips to a range of incredible and culturally rich regions such as British Columbia, the Chilean Andes, the Black Sea region of Turkey, and more.
At these superb destinations, you can take time between your adventures on the slopes to explore and learn more about rich local cultures and enhance your overall experience of the trip. You are bound to find a deep appreciation for different cultures and traditions, a fulfilling feeling overall.
Why Choose Pure Powder?
We are the largest and leading heli ski specialists in the UK, organising more heli ski trips than anyone else in the nation. We’ve been at it since 1978, now almost marking half a century of experience in the industry. As a result, we’ve perfected the art of planning your heli skiing trip. You receive the utmost level of care and attention before, during and after your heli ski trip. From the broad strokes to the fine details, we’ve got it all covered, allowing you to focus fully on the enjoyment of your trip while we handle the logistics.
We offer a broad spectrum of heli ski trips suited to every kind of adventurer, from large group trips to private excursions. Furthermore, we’re connected to world-class operators all around the globe, boasting a selection of destinations that suit every level of experience and personal taste, including stellar locations such as Canada, Iceland, Chile, Turkey and much more.
We are also proud to say that planning your trip through us will never cost you more than directly working with an operator and can even cost less in some instances. For anyone interested in taking on helicopter skiing, Pure Powder has you covered.
Preparing For Helicopter Skiing With Pure Powder
The most unforgettable heli skiing adventures involve a combination of careful preparation and a balanced approach to skiing and relaxing. By honing your fitness, acclimatising properly, investing in the right equipment and insurance, taking time to enjoy the luxuries of your ski lodge and embracing a culturally rich experience, your trip is guaranteed to be a rich and multi-dimensional experience that will stay with you forever.
With over five decades of expertise, Pure Powder is dedicated to guiding you through every step of this exhilarating journey, matching you with the perfect helicopter skiing trip based on your needs. To learn more, give us a call at +44 (0)20 7736 8191 or browse through our destinations and trip options on our website!
