3 WEEK HELI GUIDE COURSE

Queenstown, New Zealand

Train to become a professional heliski or heliboard guide

New Zealand's rugged Southern Alps is the perfect training ground to become a heliski or heliboard guide. With deep powder bowls, steep chutes and endless peaks the New Zealand Alps have the terrain you need to become an experienced and knowledgeable heli guide.

Learn from New Zealand's best

This is a unique course that will give you a taste of backcountry guiding or kick start your career in heli-ski operations, cat-ski operations and ski or snowboard guiding. Our professional guides will teach you everything you need to know to lead groups safely through the back country.  Learn from New Zealand's best and take the first step to becoming a professional heliski or heliboard guide. 

What's included:

Helicopter Safety and Loading
This module covers all aspects of helicopter safety and heliski specific loading procedures.

Backcountry Skiing / Riding & Mountain Skills
This part of the course is designed to teach participants a range of advanced backcountry skills prior to their heliski training.
The topics include

• Route Selection
• Mountain Travel and basic alpine climbing skills
• Snow Stability Evaluations and Slope Tests
• Technical Skiing/Riding skills
• Group Management
• Safety Briefings
• Office procedures and guides meetings.

Heliski / heliboard guiding, 5 days with weather cover days
This is the most exciting part of the course where trainees bring together all the skills learnt so far.
During each heliski day participants are shown how to

• Load and unload heliski groups
• Make ongoing snow stability assessments
• Guide clients safely down selected runs
• Set a ski pace suitable to groups ability
• Select landing and pickup zones
• Use correct radio communications with guides and pilots
• Coordinate lunch locations and additional runs.

Participant evaluations and recommendations
A full evaluation is given individually to participants with recommendations and issuing of final certificates.

Accommodation
Accommodation in central Queenstown on a shared room basis.

Optional Extra

• Stay on and take your Avalanche Safety Management Stage 1 course. This is an internationally recognised qualification and is required if you want to head towards a full time job as a guide or patroller. This course is run through the Otago Polytechnic. Click here for all the details.