Icebreaker, which pioneered merino outdoor clothing in 1994, is introducing Realfleece in its Fall/Winter 2010 collection.  The helitracks.com team has been outfitted with realfleece this year and it is comfy and toasty.  Add this to an already great selection of base layers, and Icebreaker has everything you need to stay warm this winter. 

Realfleece is a premium natural alternative to a synthetic fleece – but, unlike synthetics, looks good enough to wear out socially. Made from the world’s best merino, grown by merino sheep in New Zealand’s Southern Alps, it’s exceptionally warm, soft and cosy.

The interior of each Realfleece garment has a terry knit construction, with loft that has been brushed to create air pockets that trap air and lock in body heat. The outside has a smooth, stylish, air-permeable jersey finish.

Realfleece garments are ideal to wear during low aerobic sports, such as hiking, and to warm up or warm down from high aerobic sports, such as running.

The ski and snowboard world is divided into two. Those who have heli-skied and those who have not. Those who have taunt those who have not with tails of big extreme mountain terrain, endless powder and hard core turns. Those who have not predictably tremble in fear.

I am here to tell you the truth. If you can ski all the inbound commercial resort runs in Australia and New Zealand then you can heli-ski. The myth that heli-skiing is only for the criminally insane is kept alive by ski and snowboard feature films where the truly insane-for-a-living professionals jump from helicopters, teeter on the edge of 60-degree vertical slopes and race avalanches down the mountain. The truth, however, is far more tame.

With the Aussie dollar hitting over 99 US cents and already one for one with the Canadian dollar, now is the time to fulfill that heli-ski dream in North America this coming season. If you think you don't have what it takes, think again.

Read on for a beginners guide to heli-skiing [ Sydney Morning Herald ]

TLH Heliskiing will be one of the only heli-ski operators to fly small groups in the luxurious Eurocopter B4 Helicopter this winter.  With more room in the aircraft for guests and all seating facing towards the front, all passengers will be able to enjoy the spectacular views with comfort.

Operations Managers at TLH Heliskiing have just confirmed that guests will now be flying in a new Eurocopter B4 helicopter from long term partner Wildcat Helicopters this upcoming winter season.  Guests coming to heli-ski or snowboard at TLH on either the Small Group package or the Private Platinum package will fly in this new state of the art helicopter, providing the optimal in comfort and safety.

Trying to figure out how to convince yourself to spend the cash on finally going heli-skiing? Ponder no longer! Aeroplan Reward Points and Bella Coola Heli Sports have teamed up to help you make it happen. Now you can trade your Aeroplan miles to go toward an epic heli skiing vacation. So start volunteering for all those business trips you didn't want to go and and stack up those points.

For details on this exclusive offer Click Here: Aeroplan Rewards for Heli Skiing

Excavation time is by far the biggest contributing factor in avalanche fatalities. By reducing or eliminating burial depth you substantially increase your chances of survival. The Float 30 is the first airbag that is both affordable and easily reusable. Back Country Access uses a smaller cylinder, single–chamber 150–liter airbag, and super–efficient venturi system to reduce cost and weight. The airbag itself not only helps prevent burial, but protects the head, neck and upper body from trauma. With its location behind the head and away from the hips and arms, it preserves the user’s peripheral vision and his or her ability to escape the avalanche before it picks up speed.
Click here for more info and a demo video of the BCA Float 30

This little teaser clip from Warren Miller shows just a few reasons why Canadian Mountain Holidays would be a great place to go heli skiing.  In under a minute, it says what I couldn't tell you in 10 paragraphs.  CMH has a number of lodges around BC, and world class hosting and accommodation. 

For the 2010/2011 season, one big change is that there will be five radios for each group of 11 skiers.  This increase will allow guides and skiers separated by trees or obstacles to communicate easily, making the guide’s job less stressful and the skier’s job more fun.

Combine that with what is supposed to be the snowiest year in decades, and you have the perfect season to try heliskiing.  Do what you have to, sell your car, sell your bike, sell all your roommates stuff if you have to.  Just go heli skiing.

If you live in the CANADA and are looking to heliski in 2011, now is the time to book. Last Frontier Heli is exterminating the HST for all bookings made in October. That will give you a big 12% saving on your trip.  Also, the 1st 10 bookings in October will receive a FREE pair of skis. And not just any pair of skis either, a pair of the latest ARMADA or ROSSIGNOL skis worth over $800. These are some of the best skis for the job.  Check out the other deals for October. 

 

If you are interested in getting yourself educated , here is a great place to start. The Canadian Avalanche Centre (CAC) is a non-government, not for profit organization dedicated to public avalanche safety. You can start with their online avalanche course (it's free!) It's a great way to gain an understanding of avalanche safety basics or to refresh your avalanche knowledge after a long summer.  

The next step is an Avalanche Skills Training course. With an AST course you'll learn the vital fundamentals of travelling in avalanche terrain. For more info on the CAC or to get involved with their programs, visit them here.  

New for the 2011 winter season, TLH Heliskiing will fly with only a single group per helicopter.

Combined with the unlimited vertical footage included in all heli-skiing packages, TLH guests will get to take full advantage of the 830,000 acres of skiable terrain.

That's a whole lot of vertical to eat up with a group of four Book early before it fills up!

Visit the contest page on our affiliate site catskiing.ca for a chance to win 2 days of catskiing at the operation of your choice, plus gear and clothing from Backcountry Access and Icebreaker.  That's right, winter is on it's way, and the powder is coming!