Heliskiing - top tips and what to expect
Oliver Evans •
Heli-skiing trips are truly unforgettable experiences. Whether it’s your first time or a return trip, you want to make the most of every day and give yourself the best possible chance of success
In the final instalment of his journal from his three-week epic last winter, Olly covers what to expect when you arrive on your much-anticipated heliskiing trip and shares his top tips for success.
What to Expect on a Heliskiing Trip
There is a saying in heliskiing – “slow is fast”, meaning if you want to go fast, don’t rush.
Start your trip by giving yourself time and rest. Almost every heliskiing destination takes a bit of effort to get to, and connecting flights, transfers and jet lag mean you are unlikely to be at your best on day 1.
Arrival at the start of your heli skiing tour will be followed by signing waivers, attending safety briefings and transceiver training, and ski fitting or snowboard fitting. Day 1 can be a slightly slower start if these didn’t all get done the previous evening, but don’t stress – you’ll have more than enough opportunity to give your legs a workout.
The key to success is listening carefully, being organised and getting your gear ready. The last thing you want is to spend your first day cold, on the wrong skis, struggling with a dark lens in flat light, getting sunburnt or being admonished by your guide for not following instructions.
Don’t rush to arrive at the helicopter each day, but also, don’t be late! Everyone is raring to go and nobody likes a faffer, so lay out your gear the night before, give yourself time to get ready and get to the ski room early in case you do forget something.
Take plenty of layers with you and start with them on. You can always stash them in your pack, but there are no toasty mountain restaurants in heliskiing, and you won’t be in the helicopter for long, so dress for a full day outside.
Our Top Tips for a Heliskiing Trip
Along with what you should expect on your trip, we’ve put together the key things to keep in mind if you want to make the most out of your heli ski trip.
Keep it Steady
Don’t risk injury by going too hard too soon. Ending any ski holiday early is hard to swallow, but being unable to ski on a dream helisking trip is unthinkable.
If your legs are burning on a run, stop in a safe spot to catch your breath. You’ll enjoy your turns all the way down and be less likely to fall, waste time, energy and risk injury.
Self-Coach
An important thing to keep in mind is to self-coach as you ski. Many strong skiers who ski mainly in European resorts have limited powder experience, but can improve very quickly on a heli trip if they think about technique.
As you descend, think about varying your turns, adjusting edge pressure, applying weight to both skis and moving your weight back and forth to see how your skis respond.
Speak Up About Speed
If the speed of your group wasn’t right for you, speak to your guide about it and ask them nicely (but a little firmly if needed) what they can do to address this. Heliskiing tour groups can and should be rebalanced to ensure that everyone is skiing at a pace that is neither too fast nor too slow for them.
Don’t Be Put Off By Down Days
Down days when helicopters can’t fly are one of the inherent risks of heliskiing and you should go expecting some down time. If you can't fly, good operators have plenty of imagination when it comes to stopping you from getting bored.
However, “down days” can be a misnomer - on many occasions, it is possible to get out for part of the day and I was surprised how small a gap in the cloud was needed to fly . Rather like skiing itself, if you can see the trees, you can see where you are going and it’s ON!
Avoid Hangovers
Another heliskiing cliché is “drinking it blue”. By all means, have a drink or two at the bar, but keep in mind that you are here to ski and some of the best days can be had in the trees when snow is dumping, so even if a forecast isn’t looking promising, our advice is to ensure you wake up fresh, just in case.
Stay on Track
You don’t have to lay your track down perfectly parallel to the last one – it’s nice to give yourself a bit of space to choose your own turns – but don’t stray too far from the heli skiing guide’s track (they pick their lines to keep everyone safe from avalanches, rocks and drops), and leave space untracked for those behind you.
Ignore the Forecast
Don’t obsess over weather forecasts in the lead up to your heliskiing tour. In fact, don’t even worry about them! They are often wrong in the mountains.
The weather will be what it will be, and heli ski guides are very good at finding the best skiing available, whatever the weather throws at you.
Final Thoughts
Every day will be different on a heliskiing tour. Some runs will be better than others, and the best day might be the first or the last, so don’t hold too much back waiting for a grand finale.
Here are some final things to remember:
- Do as your guides say – mountains and helicopters are potentially dangerous, and their job is to keep everyone safe. It gets awkward when they have to tell clients off.
- Maintain gaps between skiers as instructed – if you are faster, slow down or even stop if needed. Slower skiers won’t appreciate being rushed, but if you are a slower skier constantly getting caught, let faster skiers pass or ski ahead and take your own time.
- Don’t pee at the pickup or drop-off points – it makes the place look untidy and nobody wants yellow snow flying around when the helicopter lands. Find a discreet, safe spot (without going far off-course) and if in doubt, check where to go with the guide.
- Leave your ego at home. You may think you’re a great skier, but you are likely to be in exalted (but modest) company.
- Don’t hog the first position behind the guide - take turns to ski first and last.
Ready to book a heliskiing trip? Take a look at our collection of heli-skiing experiences and discover what’s on offer. You can also get in touch with our team directly to discuss your options.
Make the best of whatever each day brings, and you'll have a trip to remember.
