Snowboard and Skiing

Helicopter Skiing – Extreme Sports to the Max

November 5th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

You’ve probably been fascinated by the footage on movies and TV of skiers or snowboarders flying down a sheer mountain of pristine snow without another person for miles around. Maybe you’ve thought about doing it yourself but wondered how it is done. Well, it’s done by jumping out of a helicopter and is known as helicopter skiing or heli skiing. If you have the skills to take on such a challenge then this form of extreme sport might be for you.

The Basics of Helicopter Skiing

If you stick to the ski lifts and chairs of a resort you are limited to where you can ski. To some extent you can go off piste but for the most part you will be on groomed runs and you will be conscious of other people around you.

For more advanced skiers the desire to get on fresh or powder snow is the ultimate thrill and test of their abilities. One way to get these types of conditions is to go helicopter skiing.

As it suggests, helicopter skiing is taking a helicopter to the top of a mountain and skiing down the freshly fallen, untouched snow. You have to be an advanced and confident skier or snowboarder as you will be going down un-groomed slopes. In many cases you will be picking the run as you go down so you need experience to understand the terrain. You should also be fit and athletic.

Booking Helicopter Skiing

Helicopter skiing is generally booked through a private company devoted to helicopter skiing packages. These companies have the rights to bring skiers to areas that are inaccessible to the general public. In the United States, most helicopter skiing packages are on the Rocky Mountains. Sun Valley helicopter skiing is also possible.

If you want to travel abroad to go skiing, you can book a package in the Alps in Europe. This can be booked in Swiss, French or Italian Resorts. There are more eastern European resorts opening up to the west as Europe becomes politically unified. This includes Bulgaria and Slovenia, however it may be harder to find helicopter skiing service there. Helicopter skiing is also popular in Canada, where you will find Whistler helicopter skiing. New Zealand also has a superb skiing infrastructure and helicopter skiing is available there too.

Most companies offer several day packages. These packages include not only your helicopter transportation from run to run (usually five to ten runs in one day), but lodging and meals for your trip as well. A number of companies also employ a photographer to record your skiing.

What Should I Know Before Booking?

In the US, you should check to see if the company is a member of the US Heli Ski Association. Booking with a member gives you the peace of mind that you are in good hands. For other countries, check that they are recognized by some national skiing body or have some certification.

You should also be an advanced skier and be physically fit. Helicopter skiing is far more technically challenging than skiing down a black run. However the US Heli Ski Association recommends that you should be a solid advanced skier who can make consistent linked turns down a groomed black run.