Luxury Heliskiing: 3 Equipment Essentials

Ripping up the pow on the K2 Pontoons
Ripping up the pow on the K2 Pontoons

Let’s face it, every time the air turns cold and the snow clouds begin to roll in, our thoughts turn to hitting the slopes.  Once that frisson of excitement subsides the lingering question remains, ‘Will my equipment live up to expectations and is there any must have kit that well…  I just must have?’  We can answer that for you with 3 of the hottest products to take your luxury heliski holiday to the next level.

There’s no doubt that ski design has come a long way since 2m skis were on the short side of acceptable.  The latest trend for those who look for deep snow is rocker technology.  Having a rockered ski that bends skywards at the front and back offers more floatation in the powder so you use less energy and can really make the most of your day in the deep stuff.  K2 pioneered this technology with the Pontoon and it continues to lead the way as one of the best powder skis money can buy.

Tired of having to always take your pack off to get at those essentials?  Fed up with the lumpy avalanche gear swinging around on your back?  The North Face Powder Guide Vest is the answer to your problems.  Stylish, compact, and comfortable, the Powder Guide Vest has all the storage exactly where you need it for a great day in Revelstoke’s backcountry.

What better way to relive that perfect day heliskiing than showing off your amazing footage in the Bighorn movie theater?  GoPro offers HD quality video from a camera that’s smaller than a juice box and a range of mounting devices that means you’ll always catch that enormous grin on your face as you put another turn down the perfect powder slopes of the Monashee Mountains.

Top Fashion Trends for the 2012 Ski Season

Luxury ski fashion ideas for 2012

So, what should you be rocking on the slopes this season? After a few seasons of neon brights blinding us at every turn, this year it is back to simple primary colours: red, blue and yellow. Simple, unfussy blocks of colour. We love the Norrona Lofoten Pro Shell jacket and pants in ‘caviar’ black and ‘saffron’ yellow, perfectly blending function and design. www.noronna.com 

Under your ski jacket, it’s all about the layers. A high wicking base layer followed by a lightweight down jacket allows you to stay warm without restricting movement. Great brands to look out for include Icebreaker for base layers www.icebreaker.com and Peak Performance down jackets. www.peakperformance.com

After an exhilarating day’s heliskiing, back at Bighorn you want to be cozy, comfy and yet still fit with your stylish surrounds. Of course the house is exclusively yours, so in theory you can wear whatever you want, but we’d highly recommend slipping on a soft cashmere sweater to relax by the roaring log fire. Perhaps the most luxurious on the market are Brunello Cucinelli’s fine sweaters, made from the soft under-down of the Hircus goat. www.brunellocucinelli.com

Update your look with a few key trends for this season. For the ladies, leather trim, colourful cords and tweed. For the gentlemen, plaid check, camel and velvet. If you don’t have the time to shop for the new season, staff at Bighorn can arrange a consultation with a personal stylist before you leave home. Londoners will be assured of personal service at our partner Boutique at Home, whose owner Natasha will find a variety of smart casual looks to suit your needs. www.boutiqueathome.co.uk

To see some cutting-edge skiers working the primary colour-block look at Revelstoke, check out this video: