Heli skiing is the pinnacle of winter sports for an experienced skier or snowboarder. To get the best value out of your heliskiing vacation, show up in great shape to be able to ski as much as possible and make the most of your precious days on the mountain. A helicopter can get you from bottom to top so fast, with little time to rest and recover between runs, the potential to experience fatigue and sore muscles is very real. Fatigue is the biggest factor with injuries on the mountain. To avoid missing out on any skiing or snowboarding, off season heli ski training is highly recommended by our guides.

The better overall physical condition you stay in year round, the easier it is to ramp it up when the snow starts flying. Elite athletes train to peak for their big events. In a similar way, you can peak for your favorite winter activity, namely, skiing and snowboarding. In most places actually skiing and snowboarding is virtually impossible in the off-season, so what’s the best way to prepare? The best approach is to choose activities that work similar muscle groups to your favourite winter past time and have fun while you’re at it.

Running and Cycling are great outdoor activities that are fun and can be done solo or incorporated into a social group. When winter rolls around, the great Canadian past time of hockey is a great conditioner to get the legs and cardio going. Other options could be cross-country skiing or swimming. Some people prefer the gym route with different cardio and weight training combinations. If you really want to dial in the best system for you, find a personal trainer to get you in shape and push your limits with a strategic plan geared towards your goals.

All this training is good for your overall health and wellness, which is obviously important in the bigger picture. The resulting benefits will come into play when you show up for your heli skiing trip at Northern Escape ready to rack up the vertical in the deep powder.