How to Choose Companions for a Heli-Skiing Trip

Pick people with equal skiing or boarding ability so you can stick together in the same group. But, more importantly, pick people who like you and are likely to dig fast if you're buried in a tree well.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Powder Skis
• Ski Boots
• Ski Clothing
• Ski Goggles
• Ski Poles
• Snowboard Bag
• Snowboard Boots
• Snowboards

1. Ski or snowboard with your friends at a regular resort. Ask yourself if, at the end of the day, everyone enjoyed themselves.

2. Watch for weak links in your group. If a person is struggling on groomed intermediate slopes, you can bet he or she will struggle in powder.

3. Eat lots of meals and take long car rides with prospective heli-ski buddies. Ask yourself if you want to kill anyone when your dinner or voyage is over.

4. Seek out funny and fun-loving people. Heli-skiing provides plenty of opportunities for self-entertainment.

5. Talk with people about what you want to get out of your trip. Are you looking for maximum vertical footage, big airs, tight trees, wide-open glaciers or relaxing scenery?

Tips & Warnings

• Be brutally selective. On heli trips, you spend all day and all night with people, rubbing elbows in the helicopter and skiing alongside them.
• Use another ski trip for your family vacation, unless you are all good skiers and enjoy constant interaction with one another.
• Significant others hate it when you leave them behind to go on a heli trip.

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