For many avid skiers, envisioning affordable heli skiing conjures up a myriad of images. Yet, this can often feel completely unattainable, reserved only for the ultra-wealthy. The notion that heli skiing is some unattainably financially exclusive sport is, however, an outdated mentality.
Armed with the right knowledge and strategic planning alongside a specialist guide like Pure Powder, your dream of gaining access to untouched powder from the spectacular vantage point of a helicopter can very well be a reality.
Securing a heli skiing trip while not cutting corners just means that you need to make informed choices about the location, timing and the package structure. With the specialist knowledge of our industry experts, the world of untracked powder is within reach, even for the most budget-conscious skiing enthusiast.
The following article will discuss what steps you can take to secure an affordable heli skiing trip without compromising on the quality or enjoyment of the skiing.
Affordable Heli Skiing: Breaking Down The Cost Of The Dream
To better understand the value of a heli skiing trip, let us break down the economics of the sport. The three primary reasons why heli skiing tends to be pricier than other sports are:
1) because it utilises a very specialised vehicle,
2) it requires elite experience for safety (guides) and
3) the logistics of organising remote, all-inclusive accommodation.
One of the biggest impacts on cost variability often depends on how an operator measures your skiing time. This is chiefly categorised into two main models, namely: vertical guarantees or unlimited vertical packages.
Affordable Heli Skiing: Unlimited Packages vs Vertical Guarantees
Many multi-day skiing operators structure their pricing around a “guaranteed” vertical drop. This is generally measured in meters or feet, for example, 70,000 vertical feet for a 5-day trip. This will then form the base price. In the instance of an unforeseen weather incident that prevents the helicopter from flying, you will receive a credit or refund for the guaranteed vertical, which cannot be skied.
People tend to prefer this option as it ensures a more affordable path to heli skiing by ensuring a lower base cost. This is where the catch lies; after the vertical guaranteed ski is met, every additional 1000 meters/feet after that will need to be purchased at an extra cost. This can quickly add up, depending on how much extra time you spend skiing. If you are blessed with perfect weather, the added price of extra vertical payments can escalate quite exponentially.
In contrast to this, there are unlimited vertical packages. The base prices of these packages are significantly higher, but they do remove the per-foot surcharge. If you opt for this option, you will ensure the best value for strong and fast-paced groups that want to ski bell-to-bell every day.
At Pure Powder, we will always advise skiers to assess their fitness levels as well as the typical seasonal conditions in order to determine the best package for optimal value. And for skiers in need of new equipment, head over to our partners at Ellis Brigham and Surefoot.
Understanding Hobbs Hours
When choosing skiing destinations outside of Canada, such as Alaska, for private charters, pricing is often determined based on what is known as “Hobbs Hours.” This is the cumulative time that the helicopter runs. This is less common for a standard package. Yet, it is helpful to understand this metric to account for the transit to the drop zone, as well as the time spent repositioning the helicopter for multiple groups.
By choosing an operator who understands the importance of efficient flight logistics, this will minimise transit time and guarantee timely drop-offs. This translates to increased skiing runs for the money invested.
Pure Powder will ensure that you, as the client, will have a straight line to the best operator who will assist in prioritising the best heli skiing operations and best maximise a return on your investment. You’ll also never have to pay more by going through us instead of directly to an operator, and you’ll have the added bonus of us handling all of the logistics.
An Affordable Heli Skiing Strategy: The Four Pillars
Knowing how to best implement the four pillars of heli skiing can drastically reduce the financial barrier to entry.
Pillar 1: A Single Day Trip (The Entry Point)
Easily the most affordable means of having a heli skiing experience is by booking a single-day package. Here, operators that run in big hubs such as Revelstoke often offer a 3 to 5 run experience, or a full day package.
This single-day trip will offer you a full day of world-class untracked powder without needing to pay for the all-inclusive multi-day experience. This creates an ideal way for you to test out the sport, hone your powder technique and have an exciting skiing experience without the financial burden of a five-figure trip.
When consulting various BC day trip comparisons, you will find that many Canadian operators offer very flexible packages which allow you to customise your day according to budget and energy envelope. The daily price may be quoted at a higher rate than a full week, but the low upfront investment makes it a great option for affordable heliskiing.
CMH’s Purcell area offers day-only heli skiing based out of Golden, British Columbia, making it a perfect addition to any Canadian skiing adventure. Located near Banff, Kicking Horse, Lake Louise and Revelstoke, it’s easy to slot in a day or two of heli skiing during your trip to the skiing resort. This is often the method of choice for those curious about trying heli skiing for the first time.
It can also be a great option for adding extra helicopter skiing days before or after a lodge-based CMH heli skiing trip. Purcell day heli skiing can fit seamlessly into your trip’s itinerary.
Pillar 2: Embracing the Shoulder Season
Heli skiing trips usually find the most popularity running from mid-February until mid-March. This allows for the best combination of settled snowpacks and storm cycles, but it is also when prices are highest. Therefore, by opting to plan your trip during the shoulder season, you could secure substantial savings.
This includes periods such as December, late March and April. In December, prices are lower, and while the snowpack is building, you can take advantage of blower powder days.
On the other hand, choosing late March and April offers a big value advantage. At this stage, the snowpack is deep and stable. Weather conditions are sunny and pleasant with extended daylight hours for more skiing time in a day. This is especially prominent in the Northern latitudes like British Columbia and Sweden.
Choosing a late-season package means that you will have the opportunity for more skiing runs at a lower price compared to the mid-season options. This is one of the best ways to secure an affordable heli skiing trip.
Pillar 3: Maximising Your Group Size and Downsizing on Amenities
Various group packages are offered by heli skiing operators. This means that the cost is inversely proportional to how many people share the helicopter’s running time. Generally, the options range from private heli skiing groups to smaller groups and larger/classic groups.
Private heli skiing will ensure a dedicated helicopter will be at your disposal for small groups, usually between 4 and 5 people. This is easily the most luxurious and flexible option, but it’s also the most expensive. Conversely, a small group would generally consist of one or two smaller groups per helicopter, which allows for convenience in flexibility and shorter wait times but does come at a premium.
The classic and large groups option is the most affordable option. These packages are usually supported by a larger helicopter, for example, a Bell 212, which will be shared by 3 – 4 groups. Despite an increase in waiting time, the shared cost of the helicopter means an immediate reduction in the per-person daily rate. In addition, if you choose a large lodge with double occupancy instead of single supplements or a private cabin, you will also be able to minimise accommodation costs.
Pillar 4: Investing in the Protection of Cat Skiing Backup
Any heli skier’s biggest concern when investing in a multi-day trip is that there may be “down days.” This is usually due to weather conditions being poor and preventing a helicopter from flying.
In this event, a significant portion of the trip will be un-skiable and therefore impact your financial investment. To mitigate this, Pure Powder partners with reputable heliskiing operators like the CMH, who offer complimentary cat skiing backup.
This means that when choppers are unable to fly, guests are taken to areas where there is deep powder via a snowcat (a piste-basher outfitted with a passenger cabin). While this is not the same experience as heli skiing, cat skiing does offer a lovely alternative, where fresh and untracked turns can be experienced in the event of poor weather conditions.
With this backup protection, there is a much higher chance that you’ll have the opportunity to ski every day and ensure that you are getting the most bang for your buck.
Affordable Heli Skiing Beyond The Traditional
Although Canada and Alaska are represented as the favoured historical heartland of heli skiing, to achieve better value, you may want to consider looking for up-and-coming, non-traditional destinations. This ordinarily offers lower operational costs and better exchange rates. Specialists like Pure Powder have agreements with operators globally so that we can best advise you on a suitable destination for your budget. Let’s take a look at one of the most popular up-and-coming skiing destinations.
Turkey: An Up-And-Coming Skiing Destination
Nestled near the Black Sea in the Turkish Kaçkar Mountain, there is a rapidly emerging popularity for this location as an affordable heli skiing destination.
A 7-day, all-inclusive package in Turkey with more than 30 000 vertical meters of skiing is available for a base price significantly lower than what it would cost for the equivalent trip in a Canadian lodge, for example. A further advantage of choosing this option is that the logistics are made simpler. Flights in Europe intercontinentally are usually short and simple to navigate. This will cut down considerably on international travel costs occurring due to transit days required in places like North America and Russia.
In terms of how it matches up experience-wise, Turkey produces reliable snowfall and ski runs which stand up beautifully against rival alpine bowls in conventional destinations. Added to this is the rich and vibrant cultural experience, which offers a unique experience outside of what can be expected from a backcountry lodge experience.
Yet, Turkey is not the only lesser-known skiing destination which could benefit your skiing budget. Other affordable heliskiing experiences in Europe include destinations like the Pyrenees in Spain. Added to this, skiing destinations in Europe also offer great heli-assisted skiing tours or the option of off-piste skiing, which utilises local lift systems reaching high alpine areas.
Final Thoughts On Affordable Heli Skiing
While affordable heli skiing may seem unattainable, this couldn’t be further from the truth. At Pure Powder, we’ll find a package to suit your needs and budget, taking care of all the logistics along the way. To learn more about what we do or to book your next heli skiing trip, get in touch today!
