Heli Skiing Canada - Arguably The Most Thrilling Ski Experience In The World

By Author: Groshan Fabiola
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Often called the ultimate skiing experience by avid skiers in the hardcore winter sports scene, heli skiing is an adrenaline-packed and electrifying adventure designed (almost) exclusively for fearless daredevils of the slopes. Besides the extremely fun part, heli skiing virtually eliminates the inconveniences of regular skiing trips while introducing a spicy ingredient in the mix - breathtaking mountain helicopter rides to the slopes. Not only do the helicopters add to the excitement of the overall adventure, but they also increase the coverage of ski operations and facilitate the access to secluded slopes that would otherwise be intangible.

Thanks to its unique characteristics, heli skiing has rapidly become popular in many corners of the world, and today there are plenty of enticing options to choose from. While in its early days heliskiing was only available in Canada - the country in which this form of skiing was brought into existence about five decades ago - at present you can find competitive trips outside the Canadian borders just as well. However, Canada (specifically the province of British Columbia) is ...
... still the undisputed leader in terms of heliskiing services, as pointed by various sources. According to a number of prominent voices in the skiing industry, almost 95 percent of the world's heli skiing and cat skiing takes place nowhere else but in BC, Canada.

The historically attested pioneer of heli skiing is Hans Gmoser, a mountain guide from Austria who immigrated to Canada more than 50 years ago, setting the grounds for this type of business with Canadian Mountain Holidays, the world's first operation of the kind. His idea proved very successful, and the sport that would be later become known as heli skiing rapidly conquered the hearts of avid skiers in search of thrill and excitement.

At present, heliskiing can be approached in several different ways. For instance, European heli skiing generally involves some mountaineering as well, which means it requires individuals to climb uphill on skis using ropes, ice axes and crampons. Compared to this variation to heli skiing, the Canadian way is less physically demanding, doesn't require skiers to master any special techniques, and reduces the amount of gear needed. However, heli skiers should be comfortable with all types of terrains and be able to handle various snow conditions, regardless of the state of the weather.

Heli skiing Canada is the perfect option for adventurous skiers with a special taste for skiing untracked powder snow. The country welcomes customers with a wide selection of both traditional resorts - such as Whistler/Blackcomb, Revelstoke and Panorama, and heli resorts - such as Heli Village in Blue River BC, each with its own advantages.

Since heli skiing Canada is conditioned by the weather, when planning for a trip of the kind it is advisable to also account for a back up solution just in case the weather turns bad. While most heli skiing operations have shifted their focus towards accommodating expert skiers, several resorts such as Whistler offer trips that are also appropriate for people with less skiing experience.

For more resources about heli skiing or about heliskiing or even about heli skiing Canada, please review these links.