The Loop Guide to Clubbing, Drinking, plus West Essex and East London living.

If you are like me and have enjoyed the odd ski holiday pottering around on the slope moving from your snow plough turns into your parallels and eventually trying your luck on the moguls then you probably need some new horizons. Sure, we have all dabbled in a bit of snow boarding and spent hours sitting in the snow clipping up or standing in uncomfortable lift queues packed with Europeans talking about DJ Otzi!

So what’s left? The most exhilarating thrill of all … Heli Skiing.

Yes, if you are a competent skier and can deal with a terrain of off piste fluffy snow then you may want to step into the next world of extreme skiing. The helicopter will drop you at a remote point, usually the peak of a mountain ready for you to ‘cut’ some untouched snow and carve your way through what has been described as the ultimate freedom!

Extreme skiing is skiing performed on long, steep (typically from 45 to 60+ degrees, or grades of 100 to 170 percent) slopes in dangerous terrain. The sport is performed offpiste. Because of the extremely long, steep slopes and dangerous terrain, a single mistake at the wrong moment by some extreme skiers have led to their deaths. This distinguishes true extreme skiing from the spectacular and dangerous but not usually deadly.

Where to Heli Ski: Glaciers, open bowls and gladed tree skiing. Runs are selected by the guides who take into account the weather and snow conditions, as well as the skiing ability of the group.

Elevations: Skiing usually takes place between 3,000 and 11,000 feet, well within the comfort zone for exercising at altitude.

Skiing Ability: If you already have experience skiing off-piste in deep snow conditions, you will have no problems heli-skiing. Special powder or ‘fat’ skis will also enable strong, intermediate skiers, even those with limited off-piste skiing experience, to adapt to deep snow skiing.

Grouping: On arrival, your skiing ability will be assessed and you will be placed in a group compatible with your skiing ability and preferences. Any necessary adjustments to the groups will be made by the guides after the first morning’s skiing.

Fitness: The fitter you are the more enjoyable your heli-skiing will be and the less likely you’ll be to injure yourself.

Equipment: Powder skis are either provided or available for hire from the heli-ski operators. You should bring your own ski boots and carry them as hand luggage if possible, to avoid loss in transit.

Clothing:

• Your outer clothing should be windproof and waterproof.
• Several removable layers underneath are recommended in order to be able to adjust to different weather conditions.
• Long gauntlet type gloves are recommended and good goggles and a hat are essential.

Equipment for Heli-Skiing: Alpine skis, telemark skis, or snowboards are all welcome. Slide on whatever you are most comfortable with. The new wide body powder skis are great for all abilities. They allow you to ski a wide range of snow conditions, faster, easier and with more stability. Heli boarding is growing every season - Snowboards have a wide base and this allows you to perform well in off piste and deep powder snow.

Demand from all around the world for heli-skiing is very high. This is the ultimate form of skiing and consequently many book their heli-ski trips months in advance. Finding available space can be a key to planning your trip. Each heli-ski operator is granted an exclusive licence to a 1,000 square miles or more of mountain terrain that will include alpine skiing on glaciers and in open bowls plus steeper runs through the trees. The feature that will most affect the nature of your skiing experience will be the actual weather and snow conditions during your week.

The best Heli-Skiing to be found is in the likes of Canada, Alaska and the US. Whistler in Canada is a firm favourite as it combines a great town atmosphere for the intermediate skier and extreme skier alike. Blackcomb is a great glacier and offers tree line skiing too. Telluride in the US offers Heli-skiing in the remote southwest corner of the state of Colorado in the spectacular San Juan range of the Rocky Mountains. This is one of the highest helicopter-accessed terrains in the North America.

Unfortunately, Heli-skiing and tourist flights are banned in France for the reason that they disturb the environment and cause a great deal of noise in relation to the number of people who can benefit from this activity. However there are certain resorts in Italy and Switzerland that will offer Heli-Skiing. This is if you can drag yourself away from the gluvine and awful dance routines of Europop during après-ski… you know you love it!