BRADY - About Heli-Skier Founder

We were a "skiing family," and I was lucky...

By the time I was eight, a racing coach was talking with my parents, suggesting that I had enough potential to train and be a great ski racer. But we didn’t live in the mountains; we were “flatlanders” in the 60s, going to Tahoe every weekend, so my parents declined the offer.

It wouldn’t have mattered…when I grew up, I lacked Alberto Tomba’s thighs...but I was fearless, and that put me in the First Aid station and hospital more than once.

Thanks for your interest, but aren't you more curious about WHY we launched heli-skier? What "skiing problem" are we trying to solve?

The Love for BIG AIR & SPEED

When I was sixteen, I did have the opportunity to race for the private school that I was attending near Tahoe. I was a better slalom racer than G.S., yet I loved the G.S. style of free-skiing. I just didn’t have the leg strength to hold a hard edge at high speed for long enough, and I didn’t train either.

 

I skied 30+ days a year in my youth, and spent as much time as possible AIRBORNE! I also had a “Need for Speed.” Damn, I wish good cameras were as portable and convenient back then! We would have had a sick portfolio!

As a sixteen year old, I skied a pair of K2 810s (207s), and I kept those as my go-to boards forever. My friend Jon got a pair of 910s (K2s Downhill Racing Skis) that year - MASSIVE SKIS for his size and weight. If I was fearless as a youth, my best ski buddy Jon was CRAZY...and very talented.

It wasn't uncommon for him to ski in just a white T-shirt...he was immune to the cold and immune to convention. When you skied with him, you became absorbed in his world on snow...the way he approached it...sharing his mojo. He was absolutely one-of-a-kind. HE would have LOVED heli-skiing! He had a deep thirst to learn everything about the latest equipment each year. He left us way to early as an incoming freshman at Boulder. R.I.P. Jon. We all loved you and miss you every season.

My brother Steve (featured in the photo) sort-of gifted me a pair of Dynamic VR27 Super Gs (215s), and I started regularly free-skiing at 50++mph, and Jon and I started “tucking” entire bowls and runs. I absolutely LOVED the straight-tuck position with a broad knee separation and my elbows snug, inside my knees and a little lower...just f'ing screaming at the bottom of Wolverine Bowl, barely slowing before flying off The Face. Our speed exhibitions straight down the steepest section of the The Lower Saddle occasionally attracted a gallery of onlookers...we thought we were badass little shits! We kinda were. I figure we pushed nearly 70mph on those runs. It seemed fast back then. Those VR27s were unique sleds for sure.

My insane skiing habits as a youth began to wane from there forward. The ski seasons kept their cycle, and Warren Miller’s movies kept their annual heartbeat. Then the growth of snowboarding and extreme skiing captured and held my attention...

 

Marriage, kids, businesses…they all get in the way of an adrenaline junkie’s pursuit of satisfying his genetic calling. 

 

Genetic dysfunction…well yeah! I was the kid who would always “jump first!” With five friends on the edge, I leaped of the bridge which spans the Russian River mouth - 50-60 feet…into four feet of water - OOPS! The deep mud and straight entry saved me. Bridges...or cliffs...into a lake…I would always elect for a fix…look for the RUSH!

Jon and I and a couple of other students were chosen from the ski team to go to Kirkwood for the high school “State Championship” races that year. It snowed about 6-10 feet in three days. The powder skiing that week was still the best I’ve ever had! (I’m on a mission to modify that personal record in Heli-trips to come.) But, during that dump, we were climbing 50 feet up into the pine trees and jumping out into the very deep, fresh snow - pillow soft! The school’s headmaster & ski coach wasn’t too happy with me. Those were the fearless, adrenaline fueled days of my memorable youth.

I paid attention to the growing popularity of heli skiing, and I loved the backcountry. When we were in private school, Jon bought Jake Burton’s fist snow board (with a tether attached to the nose and neoprene pad to stand on) out of Skiing Magazine. We used to hike up to a local 8000ft peak and shred the backcountry all alone!

This was the winter of '79-80, and I was just learning to surf in Sant Cruz during the previous summers. This snow boarding shit was a pretty groovy ride - much like surfing - all feel.

Fast forward to 1996...I decided it was time to GO heli skiing! I began collecting info and brochures. Nearly all of it came from local travel agents. It was an archaic way to plan as ski trip, right?

 

Somehow I got distracted by the demands of "#adulting," and it would be another two decades before the itch became strong enough to get my first heliski booking done. I even missed skiing one year. altogether…tragic.

The Love for HUGE Surf

 

In my late 30s, I became infatuated with the re-birth of “big wave” surfing. These were the years when “tow” surfing (getting pulled into large waves by a WaveRunner) became popular. Now here was a sport right up my alley! I was an accomplished surfer by most measurements, and the day the above B&W image was shot, I met my “tow partner” Marco. He had the same aspirations I did - to go CHARGE big waves, and we became good friends. We were immediately bonded after we bought the Yamaha 1200 XLT.

 

That purchase launched an “amateur career” of chasing XXL winter swells for a number of years. Highlights included tow surfing big Coon’s Creek at Montana de Oro State Park, beach launches at Jalama to ride up to Boat House on Base at Vandenberg A.F.B. Lots of Pt. Loma expeditions. We were the first (and maybe only) to attempt tow surfing the sea-mount just outside the Avila Beach Pier! We ventured deeper into Baja exploration, and of course we made many crossings from the Coral Hotel out to Todos Santos, Mexico to tow surf Killers on big days! It's a miracle that my wife tolerated all those antics.

 

Here’s the reality of aging that I’ve discovered, as I’ve tried to maintain athletic acumen. After 40 years of age, and especially after 50, the strength, agility and athleticism necessary to successfully navigate a big wave surf session seems like a bar that just gets significantly higher to grab! OUCH - hate that. Although Gary Linden my shaper seems to have defied all laws of aging in that respect.

 

Contrast that with the physical requirements to gracefully carve up a steep powder slope, and you’ll conclude that, as you age, it’s MUCH easier to ski untracked powder than it is to get yourself into proper position to then commit to going over the ledge on a 30’ drop!

 

And on a great heli skiing day, you get to “rinse & repeat” much, MUCH more frequently than during a big wave session. The adrenaline rush is certainly similar...IT'S ADDICTING. My wife says it's dopamine.

 

Both pursuits of big wave surfing AND heli skiing unfortunately thin one’s “friend pool” considerably, as you canvass your contacts for someone to join your reckless, dopamine-driven endeavors! You realize that it takes a combination of time, financial resources, a flexible schedule, a tolerant spouse and some level of accomplished athletic acumen to chase huge waves on a Jetski or chase backcountry powder from a helicopter. I was very fortunate to find Marco, a partner to go play in the ocean, chasing big swells. Yet to book my first heli skiing trip, my “friend pool” dissipated to zero. So I went alone.

 

And on that first strip, I met many skiers who were also on solo missions. Same conclusion: It takes, time, money and skiing expertise. If you're considering your first trip, and concerned because you don't have any ski buddies that will commit to a heli skiing trip...JUST GO! You won't regret it!

When I finished my fifth day on my first trip, and I was walking down from the heli to the front door of the Hillcrest Hotel in Revelstoke, I was on CLOUD NINE...I was just floating man...the last two runs were EPIC. And I was thinking to myself, that overall, FIVE-DAY, extended rush...it dwarfed the tow-surfing BUZZ, like a Long Island Iced Tea beats a Coors Light in alcohol content! It ways WAY BETTER...and I WAS FUCKING STOKED! And I was HOOKED. The adrenaline junkie had found another way to seriously satisfy his itch and get a "fix" in his later years...

Heli Skiing Quickly Became an Addiction

So that's the whole story that go me into the helicopter the first time. It was difficult to make a decision on which operator to choose for my first trip. I explain why that process was such a challenge on the About Heli-Skier page. A very informative and generous conversation with Dirk deBie kicked it over the top. Thanks again Dirk!

And frankly, without going through that process, I wouldn't have had the idea to "solve that problem" and create this site - the solution!

I continued to respond to my newfound addiction....

Selkirk Tangiers & The Ruby Mountains

After two consecutive years of five day, small group trips with Selkirk Tangiers, my zest for getting back to B.C. was interrupted by Covid. That sucked! But I had my eye on Ruby Mountain Heli since I began seriously considering these trips 22 years ago. They are always booked! But I managed to squeeze in for a February trip, and another dear old friend Mike, joined me on that one. Mike claims I taught him how to ski when were were kids - no wonder he's so good! The Rubys were a blast and a hell of a story (over a couple beers!)

On my first trip to B.C., I met a very experienced heli-skier named Vince from the U.K. He told me that he went to Iceland in June three times! He talked about the owner of Arctic Heli Skiing, J.B. and his connections to Tangiers. (It turns out that many of the guides from Tangiers go to Arctic Heli Skiing in the spring to guide there, as the winter in B.C. slows to welcome the spring.) Vince also told me about these amazing, long runs of corn snow in Iceland! I was well acquainted with carving big spring-time corn snow lines from the High-Traverse at Alpine - nothing better in the spring! I'm IN!

Arctic Heli Skiing - Iceland

And planning that trip was the first exposure I've had to all the heli skiing images throughout the globe where the ocean is in the background, while the heli-skier charges a big line! FANTASTIC! I'm totally IN! So I dragged my bro Dave (who joined me on my second adventure to Selkirk) to Arctic Heli Skiing in the last week of May. It was an insanely cool trip! I can't wait to get back to the Arctic region to go skiing again. One of the guides at Arctic told me he skied down to the beach, took off his skis, put on his wetsuit, picked up his board and paddled out to surf! Awesome!

After heli skiing the first week, my wife and my neighbor's wife Beth joined Dave & I for the second week of the trip to go sightseeing in the South. Volcanoes, glaciers and huge waterfalls are everywhere you turn! GO. And do it like we did. Go heli-skiing the first week and be a tourist after that!  My wife Nancy even has an itinerary suggestion that models ours!

Last Frontier Heli Skiing - Stewart B.C. (Way up North!)

As Canada opened up again, I was quick to book two more trips. I stated in mid January with Last Frontier Heliskiing. I decided to try their Ripley Creek location for two reasons. I WANTED to go DEEP into B.C., and Stewart B.C. definitely satisfies that desire, for better or for worse! In email dialogue with the team, I was told that Ripley Creek offered "more adventurous tree skiing," and that pushed my buttons! I LOVE TREE SKIING! So I went. And the trip had some serious challenges!

FOG is the enemy! It kept me in Vancouver for an extra night because the Terrace airport was socked-in! Of course my brand new Eagle Creek roller duffel wasn't there in Terrace the next day. (Always bring your ski boots and enough ski gear to "wing-it" on the plane!) I needed a special shuttle for the six hour drive to Stewart. One other skier joined me and the driver lent me her gloves! I borrowed ski pants and some other gear the next day, but we didn't ski...DAMN FOG! High temperatures, fog and soggy weather kept us down for 4 out of 5 days. And Air Canada had EVERY SKIER'S luggage for the first 4-5 days. It became laughable! But we all made the best of it! Click the Ripley Creek link to see the rest.

Back to Tangiers a Third Time

Next, I went back to Selkirk Tangiers for a third time, and I brought Nancy, my neighbor Parry (and and his wife Beth who was in Iceland with us.) We had a great week in Revelstoke, skiing the mountain two days and getting in about 50,000 feet of small group heli skiing. On the last day Parry said, "These are the best days of skiing in my life!" (Yeah, it's addicting!) During his first run through the trees, he said, "I feel like I've been skiing on cat tracks my whole life..." It was an interesting comment coming from a new inductee to the sport, and it was great to see his STOKE!

As you can see, we got some good runs!

Up to Bear Paw Heli Skiing We Go...

In February '24, I was anxiously awaiting an upcoming adventure to Bear Paw Heliskiing. I had intended to drag Dave along with me again!

OH No! B.C. is a BUST in February '24!

Literally, a day before departure, my bother Dave calls me and says, "Read your email." Amber, the owner of Bear Paw had emailed her small guest list and suggested a full refund or to book next year. Most of B.C. was caught in a warm spell, and the conditions had turned to crap - CRUST just about everywhere at every elevation - UGG! I called Amber and spoke to her and he co-owner Kevin. Obviously, this was a serious decision for them. C.M.H., Crescent Spur, Mike Wiegele, Selkirk...they were all canceling trips. The conditions in most of B.C. needed a FULL winter re-boot.

I spent the next few days calling heli operators in British Columbia, Colorado and Utah, in a flailing (and failing) attempt to line something up that looked appealing for the next week. Unfortunately, the weather was variable with moderately high temperatures everywhere. The smart money would have to be patient - it sucked! There's nothing worse than the weather cutting you off at the knees the day before a dream trip. Although I saw it coming, I just didn't realize just HOW BAD it was...

...THEN CAME MARCH '24! EPIC! And my first Heli Strike Mission - North Cascade Heli

Mother nature cranked back up her winter engine and DUMPED! As you may recall, March-May of '24 was ALL-TIME for much of the Northern Hemisphere - record dumps, over and over again...EVERYWHERE...

Many of us were watching the first HUGE front begin to brew in the last days of February. The forecast for North Tahoe was TEN feet in three days - FULL CLOSURE CONDITIONS. I set my sights on the Pacific Northwest, and booked a 3 Day trip with North Cascade Heli for Monday-Wednesday, March 4th-6th.

Prior to departure, I was drooling, that the East side of the Cascades would get as much snow as Mt. Baker did on the West side, about 65 miles away. The storm had dropped SIX feet on Baker in one day! (on Thursday). I departed for Washington on Sunday, with high hopes for the steep & deep on Monday.

For my first mission there, it turned out to be an epic solo adventure! I had three days of excellent conditions. On my first day, we were temporarily stranded at our 4th run pickup, due to rapidly deteriorating visibility. Although weather ended flying for the day, it snowed several more inches, and the next tow days were full bluebird heliskiing! I completed a full review of North Cascade Heli and naturally documented the whole trip...including the Rotor Wash IPA!

NCH and The "American Alps" are definitely worth a visit - GO! (See this peak...practically heckling you to come!)

It turned out that the spring skiing adventures had more in store for those patient enough to wait for it.

I found some epic and very rare side country tree skiing lines in Southern California in April!

We're re-scheduled for Bear Paw Heliskiing in March '25...

But...before that...true to my goal of two trips a year...

I'm headed to Last Frontier's Bell 2 Lodge in mid-February '25 - Yeah baby!

Can't wait! Let's see what else happens in the meantime, like...

...My "New" Adventures in The Backcountry

After a love for the Sierras in all seasons was developed in my teens, I was aching to get back out in the wilderness. It's crazy how life can consume you and dissuade you from the things you love, until you've almost completely forgotten about them! The take-away...don't let that happen! At nearly 61, I had to get out there!

In the spring of 2024, I geared up for the backcountry. That was a task in itself - purchasing ALL the equipment online. I bought seven pairs of boots and returned six! All geared up by May 1, I made two solo missions out into the San. G wilderness. I tested the gear on my first trip, and then "really went skiing" on my second mission! For four hours, I hike up 2500 feet to an elevation of 10,100 and dropped into a 45 degree chute of slush - super fun! lol. 1,400 feet of decent provided my first real backcountry skiing adventure.

 

If you've read this far...THANK YOU! I'm grateful to share my life's adventures and personal story with you.

As of this site's launching in 2023, I have been around the sun 60 times. I reflect on 55 years of skiing with the utmost gratitude and joy! The 2023 season was the first time I went skiing in mid-July! So much fun! Ski in the am, hike the mountains in the afternoon, and enjoy the breweries for dinner!

I've built this site with the help of a team. I've embarked on this journey with pure passion in my heart...that had to be at the core of the motivation (not money), to get it to the launch pad. I have high hopes that this site (and related products & tools) will be a very valuable resource for the heli-skiing community, especially for the first-timers who are bewildered, as I was trying to make my first booking.

For all of you currently on my email list, I'm looking forward to heli skiing with you again! As I said on the home page, I now plan at least two trips a year.

Many of the trips in my future will have a "travel theme to them." The focus will be the heli skiing, of course. On the back end of the trip, I'll hopefully add some sightseeing, like the Iceland trip we did, or I'll plan a relaxation component. The Mediterranean for European heliski trips and island chains in the Pacific for Southern hemisphere heliski trip are definitely on the radar.

Come join us! Reach out to us here.

Let's get to know each other, go travel the world and get some unforgettable laps in the backcountry!

All the best for now...

See you in the heli.

BRADY