The Big Q: How Good Do I Have to Be to Heli Ski?

Skiing is a sport; skiing is a hobby; skiing is an art form; skiing is an expression of oneself. It’s one of those imperative, soul enriching things that you have to get out and do when there is snow to be had.

We at Last Frontier Heliskiing understand that it’s difficult to make time with work and life to come heli skiing every year. We hate to hear when people don’t come because of unfortunate scheduling conflicts. But what we really hate to hear is when people don’t come heli-skiing because they aren’t sure that their ability level will work with our ski program.

Whether you charge, taking each turn with aggression and acceleration, or whether you cruise, taking every turn with leisure and laughter, Last Frontier Heliskiing will work to your ability and skiing style. Our program offers small group skiing, so that we truly can tailor it to suit all of your ski holiday wants and needs. Not only does this add to your enjoyment in terms of the skiing style matching your comfort level, it also means that you can have an intimate connection with nature, and can really get to know your guides and group. 

In the same week, we may have a particular individual or group, who will log over 200,000 vertical feet, as well as, groups who put closer to 120,000 vertical feet on the board. This is all met with a judgment-free, “non-competitive” attitude…most of the time…(in jest). Essentially, the amount of skiing and at what pace you ski is entirely up to you and/or your group. On average, a four day trip will ski anywhere from 57,000 vertical feet to 75,000 feet. In five days, you can clock from 72,000 feet up to 95,000 feet. Give yourself a full seven days, and expect to hit 100,000 vertical feet to 140,000 feet. Those numbers err on the cautious side; if you’re “lucky” — for example: over-the-shoulder blower pow, bluebird skies during the day, steady temperatures, dumping every night and filling in all of the right zones, solid stability — then we are looking at the leg-quivering, uncontrollable-excitement-inducing numbers…100,000 feet in four days, 130,000 feet in 5 days, 180,000 feet in seven…

At the same time, this is a holiday. Everybody’s idea of what “holiday” means is different. For one person, it may mean nice, leisurely turns during the day, a hot tub in the afternoon and a delicious meal paired with local wine to top it all off. For another guest, it may mean hot-lapping deep, light, fluffy powder, followed by a deep-tissue massage to work out the kinks of the day (with the idea that you can get up to do the same thing the next).  

In the Last Frontier Heliskiing Hall of Fame records, there are (and will continue to be) groups that ski over 300,000 vertical feet in one week. Avid skiers, control yourselves; cautious skiers, do not be deterred. The entire point of you coming to ski with us is for you to be satisfied with what you have skied by the end of the week (conditions dependent). Every guide on our team is different and as a result, we have a range of skiing styles that we can offer our guests. Our guides work together to ensure that every individual at our lodges are paired with skiers and groups that are best suited to one another. It often happens quite naturally; groups will create themselves easily and the guide best matched to them will become obvious without too much trial. We apologize in advance for the inevitable attachment that will grow between you, your guide(s) and group members, and the feeling that you will (understandably) be left with upon parting from the lodge.  

Yes, it hurts. But then there’s always the following winter.