Heli-ski Guide Course
New Zealand's rugged Southern Alps are the perfect training ground to become a heli-ski guide. With deep powder bowls, steep chutes and endless peaks the Alps have everything you need to become an experienced and knowledgeable guide.
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Ultimate Winter Experience
Over 20 days professional instructors and guides will teach you everything you need to know to lead a group safely through the back country. This is a unique course that will help you towards a career in heli-ski operations, cat-ski operations or back country ski guiding.
Guides that excel during the course may also be offered a position with Alpine Heliski, New Zealand's premier heli-ski company.
For the ultimate winter experience why not combine the Heli-ski guide course with our 10 week instructor course in Queenstown? You'll leave with some fantastic qualifications as well as some of the most amazing skiing / riding memories of your life!
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20 Day Heli-ski Guide Course outline :
Day 1 Introduction
Course briefing, Handout of course manuals
Days 2-8 Avalanche Safety Management Stage 1
This is an introductory course for people involved in the safety of alpine recreational activities and in the collection of snowpack data. At the completion of the course, participants should have the basic skills to:
• Recognise avalanche terrain and identify safe route selection
• Understand the formation and classification of avalanches
• Identify and record current weather conditions
• Identify and interpret snow crystals and structures
• Carry out snowpack analysis and record snow profiles
• Contribute to an avalanche search and rescue operation
• Improve personal safety awareness
***International Students
If you are not a NZ or Australian citizen or permanent resident, you are classified as an international student and are required to complete an international enrolment form and supply details of your passport and visa. The fee is higher because the domestic fees include a government subsidy which is not payable for international students. Additional fee NZ $920 |
Day 9 Heliski First Aid
The Heliski First Aid Course teaches practical skills for the management of medical and accident emergencies specific to heliski operations.
Day 10 Helicopter Safety and Loading Certificate
This module covers all aspects of helicopter safety and heliski specific loading procedures.
Days 11-12 Backcountry Skiing & Mountain Skills
This part of the course is designed to teach participants a range of advanced backcountry skills prior to their heliski training.
The topics include
• Route Selection
• Crevasse Rescue
• Mountain Travel and basic alpine climbing skills
• Snow Stability Evaluations and Slope Tests
• Technical Skiing skills
• Group Management
• Safety Briefings
• Office procedures and guides meetings.
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Days 13-20 Heliskiing with instructors 5 days with 3 days weather cover
This is the most exciting part of the course where trainees bring together all the skills learnt so far.
During each heliski day participants are shown how to
• Load and unload heliski groups
• Make ongoing snow stability assessments
• Guide clients safely down selected runs
• Set a ski pace suitable to groups ability
• Select landing and pickup zones
• Use correct radio communications with guides and pilots
• Coordinate lunch locations and additional runs.
Day 20 Participant evaluations and recommendations
A full evaluation is given individually to participants with recommendations and issuing of final certificates. |
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What our Students say
“Oh my god!! (heli-skiing) was the best day of my life!! Think I might do it on my wedding day!! Not that I'm getting married just yet!”
Kay Morrill, England
Class of 2004
“F***ing awesome”
Ben Haines, England
Class of 2004 |
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Snow Trainers PO Box 846, Queenstown 9348, New Zealand, Tel +64 21 258 6259 © 2007 |
