Ego and Humility: What is “Intermediate”? 

Getting into the ideal level group is the golden ticket of heli-ski. It will turn a good day into a great one, and we are here to help you get it right. Fitting our guests into the right group isn’t a soft skill for us; it’s an operational mandate. Overstating capability can create safety and pacing issues on the day, while understating can result in frustration and missed opportunities. With a good idea of your skill level and fitness, we can help you to choose an experience that will make the most of your strengths and suit your goals. We want your heli-ski day to excite new confidence in you and leave you feeling on top of the world! 
To ski with Harris Mountains Heli-Ski, we recommend our guests are “strong intermediate” or above.
But what does that mean? Well, let's break it down:

Firstly, we use the international coding of runs at ski resorts as a basis for understanding what terrain you are comfortable in. A strong intermediate skier/ boarder will feel confident on Blue and Red runs, and happy on Black or Black Diamond runs, even if they feel challenging. The ability to feel in control of your line and speed on challenging resort runs is a great start. 

A second indication that a strong intermediate is ready to heli-ski is that they spend time off-piste and can maintain control and flow in ungroomed snow. There are no groomers in the backcountry!  We do not recommend that the first time you ride off-piste is on your heli-ski day. If you've had limited time in powder but can make smooth, rhythmic turns in other types of ungroomed snow, that’s ideal. Tell us where you’re at, so we can use that knowledge to set up a day that will be amazing for you. 

For almost all of us, when asked how well we ski or board, it can feel tricky to answer. Ego and humility war for a chance to respond, and if you’re booking your trip in the pre-season, it can be hard to predict how you’ll feel when the snow arrives. That's why, over decades of operation, we’ve honed a thoughtful series of questions to help our guests describe where they’re at and what they’re looking for. We want to know about your strengths and concerns, and what the pacing of a perfect day feels like to you. We use this information to carefully build well-matched heli loads for smooth operations each day we head into the mountains.

To prepare for your heli-ski day, regardless of your level, we recommend you ski or ride off-piste as much as possible. Even if it’s not powder practice, building confidence in variable snow will improve your balance and build muscle memory. One of the best things you can do is to take a lesson and tell the instructor that you're going to heli-ski (watch out – they may try to join you!).

For skiers at intermediate level, ask for tips on strengthening pole plant timing & technique. As you advance, work on upper and lower body separation in steep or challenging terrain. For intermediate boarders, look to improve your turns by practicing a calm upper body and minimizing counter-rotation and steering with your shoulders. Butters and ollies will help you play with your centre of mass over your board, improving your dynamic balance. As you progress, push yourself to ride switch more often, even if it makes you feel awkward. You will find greater versatility as you challenge yourself.

At Harris Mountains Heli-Ski, honesty is the best policy. At any level from intermediate, to expert, to pro, we have a perfect day waiting for you! If you are a strong intermediate skier/ boarder you will ride comfortable terrain with experienced guides and gain all-day exposure to the types of pristine conditions rarely seen at resorts. If it’s your first time in the backcountry, book with confidence, you’ll be in a group matched to your level. You can be sure we will do everything possible to make your heli-ski day an experience that you’ll never forget.