Deirdre Campbell isn’t your typical heli-skier. And that’s the point, because the “typical” heli-skier, once labeled a "triple black gonzo with a death wish", isn’t really who drives the heli-ski industry. Campbell, president of Victoria B.C.’s Tartan Group PR, considers herself a strong intermediate skier who splits her slopes between blues and blacks. She wasn’t entirely comfortable taking off with Snowwater Heli-Skiing for a day of big snow in thin air, but her attitude adjusted the instant she started floating upon her fat skis over all that untracked powder. “I was mostly worried I would hold up my group,” admits Campbell, who has skied all her life. “But nobody in my group wanted to rush his experience. In fact, guys in my group were most frustrated with their female partners who’d refused to come because they feared being too slow.”
Scott Larson, Founder of Vashon Partners, a venture capitalist group, agrees. “My apprehension about being “dropped” in unfamiliar territory (or feeling overwhelmed by a lack of heli-skiing experience) was quickly assuaged when I saw the level of detail in the preparations (and options) provided by the operator.” Larson skied in the Selkirk Mountains out of Revelstoke, B.C. with Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH), the oldest heli-ski operator in North America. “The skiers were all at different levels (in terms of skills), and the tour operator was very accommodating, which made a huge difference,” he says.
A first time heli-skier is often saddled with the fear that he or she will no doubt be the weakest skier in a group, explains Chugach Powder Guides general manager, Chris Owens. Owens, who states the Alaskan landscape’s intimidating physical reputation is the biggest barrier his operation faces, believes there’s a simple way to bypass the slowpoke dilemma. “Our groups consist of just four skiers,” Owens explains, “so just find three other friends or family, agree on the terrain you want to ski and go for it. We can put you on any other level of terrain including five-mile long glacial rollers all day.”
Size matters to the heli-virgin, who is naturally knocked out of a comfort zone when comparing the vast void of thousands of skiable acres to tackle alone with the neatly roped package from lift line to offload shared with thousands of others. Free of these artificial boundaries, a slope appears steeper than it actually is, the horizon spreads infinitely and parties of six, or less, replace the hordes. Scott Desserault, business manager of Sun Valley Heli-Ski, explains eliminating the “go big or go home” heli image isn’t easy, due to “vert heads” who boast of every descended foot within an inch of its measurement, and more significantly, because of “ski porn,” endless videos that showcase fearless daredevils in crazy situations, as made infamous by Warren Miller and others.
“Sun Valley is a great place to have your first heli-ski experience,” Desserault says, “Because the weather is generally very nice and the terrain in the Sawtooth Range and other mountains is not as intimidating as in other places.”“Another game changer is the fat ski,” continues Desserault, who sees more family groups skiing in the choppers every season. “We can’t stress enough how these big skis make the terrain so much more acceptable for the intermediate skier, who traditionally might have struggled with the deeper snow.”
Like several operations within tucking distance of a ski resort, Sun Valley Heli-Ski now offers an innovative “Intro to Heli” Program. Students spend the first day skiing with their heli guide at Sun Valley Resort. They receive orientation, deep powder instruction and even wear a beacon so that the first time they ski with a beacon isn’t in the backcountry. “We talk with them about what to expect in the backcountry,” says Desserault, “So their fear of the unknown is mostly eliminated.”
No one would consider the Teton Mountains intermediate terrain, including Jon Shick, owner of High Mountain Heli-Skiing in Jackson Hole, who advertises exclusively to expert skiers. Still, when the Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole approached Shick about collaborating to offer a 3-day, 4-night “How-To-Heli” Camp, he liked the idea.
“The camp is a perfect place to learn how to heli-ski,” claims Shick. “The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Apline Guides will work with the skiers on the mountain and then at least two instructors will join my guides and accompany the group heli-skiing.” “How to Heli” Camp at Four Seasons Jackson Hole will take place February 3-7, 2010 and is open to advanced intermediate to expert skiers.
Even when “glamping” at the Four Seasons for “How to Heli” Camp, the importance of good fitness can’t be understated, as skiing 4,000-foot runs in thin air through deep powder requires plenty of stamina. “You should really prepare physically before you go,” recalls Deirdre Campbell, “Because the effort to get up should you fall is pretty intense, though I learned later my guides were having so much fun watching me get right myself they waited awhile to show me an easier technique.” What good’s a day of snow play without a few tumbles anyway? Campbell, who says she’ll jump at her next heli opportunity, believes every capable skier should try heli-skiing. “There may be some challenges,” she says, “but the runs last forever.”
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Article Details:
Snowater Heli Skiing
866.722.7650
www.snowwater.com
Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH)
800.661.0252
www.canadianmountainholidays.com
Chugach Powder Guides
907.783.4354
www.chugachpowderguides.com
Sun Valley Heli Ski
888.983.3742
www.epicquest.com
High Mountain Heli-Skiing
307.733.3274
www.heliskijackson.com
Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole
307.732.5000
www.fourseasons.com/jacksonhole
