By: Fabiola Grosshan
Submitted: 2010-10-13 02:12:55 | Word Count: 562
The region of British Columbia, Canada, has built a worldwide reputation for being the ultimate playground for practicing heli skiing and heli boarding. BC District has been the main destination for sold out fans of heli skiing from all over the world since the mid 60’s, when Canadian Mountain Holidays, Mike Wiegele and RK Heliskiing were establishing themselves as the pioneers behind the modern version of the sport.
Decades later, the industry looks a lot different, partly due to technological advancements, but also thanks to the ongoing advocacy efforts sustained for bringing the wonderful world of heli skiing BC to the attention of the wide public. The recent market demand for heli ski Canada services has managed to surpass all expectations, and many new operators are entering the scene on a constant basis, driven by people’s growing appetite for this form of skiing. As a result, existing heli ski offers have become more diverse, highly competitive, and have gained a lot in terms of quality, but are all united under the same strive and goal - to provide each guest an unforgettable skiing experience.
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Over the last decade, the heli skiing industry in BC as a whole has known sensible growth and expansion, with the advent of 14 new multi-day operators and 4 daily operators covering the western extremity of Canada’s most ski-friendly province, which spreads from the coastal area all the way to the Kootenays. According to statistics, the heli skiing industry in BC, Canada has registered a total estimated growth of 15% over the last three seasons, which is nothing but great news on the premises of the current world financial crisis.
Heli ski Canada multi-day operators generally offer a balanced mix of semi-private and fully private packages. The start and duration of the season vary from one company to another, although the peak period typically ranges from the end of December to mid- April. Lodges are usually remote, and each package involves its distinctive terms and regulations, as well as follows its own program layout.
The most common tourist access ways are the airports of Vancouver, Kelowna, and Calgary. From the moment of their landing, guests can elect from multiple ways of reaching their resort/ operation: rental vehicle, shuttle/ coach transport, or even direct helicopter transfer. The typical heli skiing BC multi-day package includes accommodation, meals, specialized skiing gear, avalanche transceivers, professional mountain guide services, as well as a given number of guaranteed vertical feet of actual skiing/ riding. To minimize the risks of accidents, each operator closely follows existing safety regulations and gets actively involved in the recruitment and training of their pilots and guides.
Unlike common heli skiing BC multi-day packages, daily trips mostly operate by the run, rarely include accommodation and meals, and usually account for a weather contingency day in case the helicopter is unable to take off due to precarious meteorological conditions. In the latter situation, trips can be either postponed or adapted to the state of the weather at that time; for instance, the worst-case scenario may involve having to settle for a regular resort skiing experience, or a form of open terrain skiing that is restricted to only the areas considered safe.
