The Redbull Crew at Last Frontier Heliskiing | Photo – Scott Serfas
I love deep snow. And experiencing deep snow on skis is pretty much what every skier lives for. But there’s something special about watching a snowboarder in a wide open bowl, ripping massive turns in powder. The first time I saw that, it almost got me to switch over. Seeing a rider completely laid out, shoulder almost touching the snow as they carve a wide, fast, deep turn is pure magic. It conjures images of big wave surfing and long barrels in the South Pacific. Maybe that’s what draws them…it’s a little more loose and free than skiing. No poles, less gear and just you, surfing your way down a mountain.
Nicolas Muller brings the slopestyle to the backcountry.| Photo – Scott Serfas
Heliboarding, like heliskiing, is the holy grail for those of us that live life from snow storm to snow storm. For snowboarders, it’s a chance to get away from the crowds of the resort and enjoy the surfer’s version of winter heaven; steep faces become alpine bowls and steep couloirs; the swell is never ending when you’re heliboarding and every lap is an untracked dream.
Like surfing a never ending wave…magic. | Photo – Scott Serfas
Seeing professionals do it is even more inspiring. We’re blessed at Last Frontier Heliskiing, to have had some pretty big hitters come up and shred with us. Teton Gravity Research, Salomon and Oakley have all been up for visits to one of the biggest heli accessed zones in the world. Last spring was no exception when Redbull decided to bring a crew in for a week of shredding and filming in the heart of our heliski tenure.
It was a heavy hitting crew. Legendary slopestyle and big air rider Mark McMorris, a 10 times X-Games medallist, bronze medallist at the Sochi Olympics and one of the best shredders in the world came to film a segment for his feature film, In:Motion. He was joined by Nicolas Mueller and Mikkel Bang, both accomplished big mountain riders. The segment from the film shot at Last Frontier Heliskiing’s Ripley Creek location, in Stewart, BC, is breathtaking. I was there near the end of that week last year and I can tell you the conditions were as good as they get. So kick back and get a feel for what heliboarding is all about.
Big Air indeed! Mark McMorris doing what he does best. | Photo – Scott Serfas
Helicopters aren’t just for skiers. At Last Frontier, we cater to both. So whether you’re on two planks or one, the goal is the same: never ending turns in untracked snow.
Be safe, ride hard.
— D’Arcy Mcleish
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