Archive for the ‘vacation’ Category

Are You Up to The Challenge of Heli Skiing in BC Canada?

Monday, August 16th, 2010

Skiing stands out as one the most popular and highly appreciated winter sports experiences, as it is favored by people of all ages, irrespective of their level of skiing proficiency. Practicing skiing begins with taking on low-inclination slopes that are more forgiving for beginners, and culminates with the unmatched adventures of catskiing and heliskiing, reserved for daredevils in search of an adrenaline rush.

The catskiing – heliskiing tandem involves a lot more danger than regular skiing, and like many other extreme sports, requires a special setting, in this case plenty of powdery snow, steep untouched slopes and various natural obstacles. Reaching such scenery by means of traditional transport options can be difficult, (if not impossible), and hence the need for state-of-the-art deep snow vehicles like snowcats for tackling rough alpine terrain. Yet sometimes even the robust and sturdy snowcats may have trouble reaching secluded extreme skiing slopes, and when that happens, skiers can rely on helicopters to get them to their destination – on that account, the terms of “helicopter skiing” or “heliskiing” have become ubiquitous in the winter sports community.

The locations that are most popular for their heliskiing options include British Columbia, several areas in the US and many other regions scattered all across Europe. Especially when choosing the district of British Columbia as the destination for practicing the sport, Canada heli skiing is unequalled, as it encompasses all the right factors for an outstanding powder skiing experience.

The best time of the year for practicing heliskiing is dictated by the climate of the region you are planning to visit. Concerning heliskiing BC Canada, the season for practicing the sport here starts early January and ends mid April. However, this is merely a guideline, as sometimes the snow may come much earlier than that and maintain its consistency well even outside the regularheli skiing BC Canada season.

Canada heli skiing is a challenging sport which involves a significant degree of risk. That said, to minimize the threat of natural hazards and to reduce the chance of accidents during your heli skiing trip, you need the company of professional, seasoned guides. To stay on the safe side, make sure you only stick with reputable heli skiing BC Canada operations that hire expert mountain guides and pilots capable of keeping danger at bay in virtually any scenario.

As for the costs associated with this ultimate winter sports experience, know that Canada heli skiing surely doesn’t number among the cheapest approaches to mountain skiing. Still, some operations provide cost effective options as well, with the difference of being designed mostly for newcomers to this type of sport. Although they sacrifice some of the thrill and excitement of full throttle Canada heli skiing for the sake of affordability, these options have the plus of being forgiving and less physically challenging for the less experienced.

With the exposure enjoyed by heli skiing BC Canada at present, the offers for holiday packages can range anywhere from single-weekend stays to weekly stays or more. Depending on the size of the budget you are prepared to spend on your trip, you can opt for either all-inclusive formats at a single lodge, impeccable accommodation conditions at a luxury mountain resort, or even the flexibility of the so-called heli ski-safaris.

Tips for Planning a Fun Canada Heliskiing Vacation

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

Skiing is a truly wonderful sport as it combines a truly engaging physical exercise with adrenaline rushes and the most beautiful mountain sceneries in the world. People of all ages can practice this sport as it has various levels of difficulty but traditional mountain resorts only offer thrills up to a point. After you get some experience, chances are that you won’t be as satisfied with your vacations anymore and will be looking for something else, the next step. The answer comes from heliskiing. Although there are numerous countries on Earth where you can go and enjoy this sport, Canada is recognized by enthusiasts from all over the world as the number one destination.

Canada heliskiing gives you thrills that you would not be able to experience in any other sport, except maybe for base jumping. In terms of Heliskiing Canada destinations you will be more than glad to find that there is an immense number of opportunities suitable for a wide variety of people, such as beginners and high level experts. Although heliskiing Canada might not seem all that different from the base sport, there are quite a few notable differences between them. For example, when you are on a heliskiing BC trip you can forget all about slopes that are crowded by kids and people who are just learning to handle themselves on skis, because Canada heliskiing is basically going down an unmarked portion of a mountain.

As you might already suspect, helicopters are used to bring tourists to the starting point and also to retrieve them after their descent. There is of course an increased risk factor just like in other extreme sports and this is why it is very advisable to refrain from planning a Canada heliskiing trip until you have acquired enough experience on traditional ski slopes. In terms of equipment, the only difference is that you are going to need slightly wider skis in order to be able to ride the freshly fallen snow safely.

The safety factor in heliskiing BC is very important and companies that specialize in presenting customers from all over the world with heliskiing Canada services must take extensive measures to protect the safety of tourists. This is why whenever going on a heliskiing Canada vacation you will have to go through safety training where you will receive comprehensive information and instructions on how to avoid provoking avalanches and other potential dangers. Safety equipment is also handed out to all members of the group, and usually contains an avalanche beacon that transmits and receives danger signals, breathing aids and so on.

Helicopter pilots that are hired to get tourists through the beautiful mountain regions also must receive extensive training. Like most other things you may be searching for, finding a heliskiing BC resort is really easy if you start looking on the internet as most of the well established companies that specialize in offering Canada heliskiing service have only websites where they give detailed information about lodging conditions, pricing, vacancies, and so on.

How to Adjust Your Technique for a Smoother Powder Cat Skiing Experience

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

To make the most out of your powder cat skiing rides, you should consider making a few minor adjustments to your regular skiing style on the go. Since powder skiing involves sinking your skis deeper into the layer of powdery soft snow, the recommended skiing technique is in this case somewhat different from the one you would normally use when taking on smooth, groomed trails. In case you have no previous experience with powder cat skiing, it is advisable to do a few practice runs on groomed intermediate-level trails focusing primarily on the way you turn.

If you are an experienced mountain skier, you probably know that finding deep, fresh powder for practicing skiing and snowboarding can sometimes be a challenge, as the snow doesn’t maintain this consistency for long. With cat skiing, however, you get the opportunity to explore more snowy ground in less time, which significantly improves your chances of finding the perfect powder skiing playground. To maximize your chances at finding quality powder skiing trails, get up early and board the snow cat as soon as possible, to catch the first few runs of the day.

Since snow cat skiing rides bring you close to lots of fresh powder, choosing such a dedicated operation will help you start your powder skiing experience on the right foot. If possible, start out with a forgiving slope that allows you to warm up properly before riding terrains that are more challenging. Consider doing a test run by gliding straight down the trail through the soft powder at moderate speed and for optimum steering control, try to avoid sinking to deep into the layer of snow.

In case you are riding a snowboard, for extra balance you should try to distribute your weight evenly over the entire surface of the board. Especially when you are riding a deeper layer of snow, leave most of your body weight on your rear foot for a smoother run and consider mounting your bindings a little more to the back on your board for extra comfort.

To ensure that you get a full warm-up, consider doing a few short bouncing movements to test how well you can maintain control as the skiing equipment sinks deeper into the powder. Additionally, attempt pulling your lower body up from underneath to create momentum and lift the skis/board to the surface. This gives you an idea of the snow’s consistency and depth, and allows for a smoother and more accurate turning.

With powder cat skiing, the trick is to avoid being caught in areas with lower inclination by planning ahead and trying to maintain a constant speed throughout the whole downhill ride. If you experience problems maintaining a good speed and keeping pace with the group, try riding in the tracks made by other skiers for reduced resistance.

Since the snow is deep, slowing down and stopping should raise no difficulties at all to intermediate-level practitioners of powder cat skiing. To come to a full stop quickly, all it takes is to ride into an area where the powder is deepest and make a rough turn. However, in case you do have trouble maintaining control or sticking close the group, you can rely on experienced snow cat skiing guides to assist you and keep you safe from accidents.

Cat Skiing – An Unforgettable Experience

Saturday, July 31st, 2010

Skill and experience are everything that is needed to take your passion for skiing to the next level. Some say that powder catskiing, which basically means riding down an unmarked portion of a mountain, also requires a small dose of insanity but in my own personal opinion courage is everything you will ever need. Cat skiing does require you to purchase a new pair of skis because the snow is much softer and regular skis are way too narrow and would sink right in. If you do not want to spend a few hundred or a few thousand dollars for a new pair of skis then don’t worry because the vast majority of cat ski resorts from all over the world welcome their customers with a wide selection to choose from for the entire period of their stay.

Apart from the great adrenaline rushes you get each time you make your way down the mountain you will also be pleased to experience a sense of complete freedom that lacks completely in regular skiing vacations when you have to ride down slopes filled with complete beginners and kids. Going on a powder catskiing trip means that you are ready to take your passion for this sport into your own hands and be responsible for your experience. The companies that specialize in offering cat skiing services to customers from every corner of the world provide exhaustive safety training meant to get everyone back home. Since the portions of the mountain used by tourists during powder catskiing trips are covered in freshly fallen snow the risks for avalanches are slightly increased so aside from the numerous safety tips, the instructors also hand out specialized safety gear.

If there is one constant variable to all cat skiing trips then it is certainly the fact that they are all memorable. In regards to the price, you do not have to worry about it one bit because the sheer amount of possibilities and resorts available in countries around the world make it impossible for you not to find the absolute perfect destination. Cat skiing uses two main means of transportation to bring tourists to the top of the mountain, or more precisely to the point of departure, and these are helicopters and snowcats.

As you may probably already suspect there is a significant price difference between the two options, but the final price is based on the amount of time you spend using the vehicle and also the level of luxury you demand from the service operator. People might not think it but even though you will go to the most remote regions of Canada for your cat ski trip you can sit as comfortable as you would in a 4 or 5 star hotel. You can of course entrust your entire powder catskiing vacation to a tour operator in return for a fee or you can take matters into your own hands and start planning the cat skiing trip for you and your friends.

Going Heli Skiing Canada?

Saturday, July 31st, 2010

Being long considered as a great past time for the rich and famous, Heliskiing is now accessible to anyone interested to testing their limits of their skiing skills and experience. It is definitely not the cheapest vacation you can choose but the reality is that there are no other alternatives to heliskiing that could offer you the same thrills and unforgettable experience. There are currently numerous countries that welcome visitors from all over the world with great heliskiing service packages. The best idea is of course to do a little research and find the most suitable option for you and your group. The rates are generally somewhere around $1000 for each day of your heliskiing trip.

Canada is definitely one of the top international destinations for those interested in this sport and considering that this country probably has the largest variety of heliskiing opportunities then you really can’t go anywhere else. Apart from the thrills you get from a heli skiing Canada vacation you can also expect a great deal of security that is meant to keep everyone as safe as possible. Even if it is considered by many people to be one of the most dangerous sports today, heli skiing Canada is far more safe than just a few years ago. New technological advances have made it possible for each participant to carry protection devices that are meant to help make them easily detectable to the search parties in case of an avalanche, but also breathing equipment and much more.

Skill, however, is something that no person who goes on a heli skiing BC trip can do without. Even though to many people heli skiing Canada may seem to be a lot like regular skiing, it is still an extreme sport and it you need to give it your all, and that all needs to be quite a lot. It is not enough to have extensive skills and experience with this sport but you also need to be in great physical shape in order to be able to safely navigate down the mountain during each descent of your heli skiing BC vacation. The lodging options are extremely comfortable and match the same level of expectations of the trips using the helicopter.

Depending on the size and active load of the helicopter you can take as many as a dozen or even more friends with you on the daily heli skiing Canada descents. Finding heli skiing BC destinations for your vacations is a piece of cake if you decide to do your research on the internet. Not only will you be able to save a considerable amount of money which you would generally spend on phone calls, but you will also significantly reduce the time frame. Because nowadays most heli ski Canada operators have online sites you can even make reservations directly on the internet and send down payments with just a few clicks of your mouse. There are numerous reasons why people go on heliskiing trips and after you go for the first time you will completely understand all of them.

How Safe Is Cat Skiing In BC Canada?

Saturday, July 24th, 2010

All reputable cat skiing BC Canada operators are widely renowned for offering high-standard cat skiing experiences. They all provide access by means of snowcat to untouched backcountry terrain so that skiers can enjoy skiing or snowboarding untracked powder snow. Nowadays there are plenty of enticing BC Canada cat skiing holiday offers to choose from, ranging anywhere from daily or weekend escapades organized in a valley community, and all the way to seven day packages in secluded and quiet lodge settings.

While some catskiing BC Canada operators focus on providing top notch lodging and dining, others also offer very affordable packages designed especially for budget conscious customers. As you can see, BC Canada cat skiing services are all about diversity and flexibility, but how safe are they?

Winter sports enthusiasts new to cat skiing are mainly concerned about the safety levels associated with practicing catskiing, and their biggest fears revolve around the increased risks of avalanches. And to a point, their worries are in fact well-grounded. Despite the ongoing efforts sustained by dedicated cat skiing operators to make trips as safe as possible, in truth it is virtually impossible to completely eliminate the element of danger from the equation. There’s always some room left for accidents to occur, but if (or when) these do happen, the crucial thing is that the operator be well prepared to intervene promptly and in a highly professional manner.

As for avalanches, know that they can be forecast, although to a lesser extent than other natural phenomena. In fact, avalanche prediction is more an art than a science, and it takes great skill and experience to come up with accurate and actually useful readings. Just like common activities such as driving your personal car or sailing at sea can involve a certain degree of risk, so there will always be an element of risk attached to cat skiing.

When you are a rookie to cat skiing, it is reasonable to be concerned about these risks, but as soon as you gain more experience and familiarize yourself with the surrounding scenery, you will become much more relaxed and confident about it. And with support from a group of seasoned guides, you will find it much easier to set all worries aside and concentrate instead on your skiing.

Popular, reliable cat skiing BC Canada companies only hire professional guides who have undergone lengthy and comprehensive stages of training. These people are well aware of their responsibilities and they always cater to groups according to skill and hands-on cat skiing experience levels. As guides, their main priority is to ensure safety, and only when this aspect is fully covered they can take care that their groups also have fun.

Although minor accidents do occur occasionally while cat skiing, such events are a natural part of the learning process. However, with a solid catskiing BC Canada company, you can rest assured that such risks will be kept to a minimum. By choosing to practice skiing or snowboarding with a solid Canadian operator that promotes a “safety first” policy, you have the guarantee that the best guides in the branch will cater to you in a highly responsible manner and help you stay away from trouble on the ski slopes.