Prices are Per Person
Price includes: Helicoper, Guide & Taxi
Petit Combin, Trient, Rosablanche
Pers. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 CHF 1280 640 440 390 360 340 335 Rates for second drop CHF 820 410 275 260 250 240 235 Pigne d'Arolla CHF 1070 535 365 320 300 285 280 Ski Coach: Fixed Fee of £249 Ski Coach Warren Smith: Fixed Fee of £499 Photographer: (Optional) Fixed Fee of £249 * Please include the Ski Coach & Professional Photographer as additional persons in the Helicopter, Guide & Taxi fees above.
About the Heliski trips in Verbier
Mountain Guide - Gilbert Crettaz
The Warren Smith Ski Academy has teamed up with Swiss I.F.M.G.A Mountain Guide Gilbert Crettaz to create an experiece not to be missed.
We have had many people say that they would have much more confidence if they had Warren alongside them. Therefore we have now introduced this idea. Not only does Gilbert use his expansive knowlege of the area to guide you through the awesome and awe inspiring terrain, but Warren is at hand to give confidence and coaching on the trip helping you use the correct techniqe for the terrain making the experience both memorable and fun.
Ski Coach - Warren Smith
Ski Photographer - Melody SkyIn addition you can also hire professional ski photographer Melody Sky to capture the moments for you to take home, taken in a style as if as if they were for the ski magazines!
Here are some client feedback from previous trips:
Nick Dyte - Ex WASPS Rugby Player (UK)
What a spectacular day!!!
I thought heli-skiing was the sole preserve of real expert skiiers. Warren has completely changed my view of that. Being able to go to places I'd only ever seen on extreme video's and ski them with complete confidence, due to the fact that Warren was alongside subtly coaching, has opened up a whole new world of potential experiences.
To complete the day, having a professional photographer along to capture the more interesting moments, made even the worst of us look like pro skiiers and has allowed us to have a picture on our desks reminding us of a truly great day out. Roll on the next drop...
Alyn Morgan - Dental Surgeon (UK)
The day we spent heliskiing on the Petit Combin was definitely one of the highlights of my skiing career so far. Having heliskied previously in Canada, I found the experience quite daunting, mainly due to a lack of input and support from the guide, and so the idea of skiing with both a guide and a ski coach was immediately appealing. As it turned out, everything about the day far exceeded all our expectations. Having an experienced mountain guide in the party to ensure that above all the group remained safe, whilst also leading us to the best snow conditions was fantastic, but as my previous experience taught me if you don't ski untracked snow regularly then most of us will need help with our technique to get the best from the conditions.
Having Warren there to coach made all the difference to the day. A few tips and adjustments to our technique enabled us to enjoy and ski the slopes rather than just survive them. In addition Warren and our guide, Gilbert, were able to confer and ensure that we were skiing pitches that tested us but didn't put us beyond our safety zone. Although there were differences in ability in our group, at no point was anyone skiing terrain that left them out of the depth, but the better skiers were still challenged.
The icing on the cake was Melody's photography recording the whole day for us. To take pictures of four enthusiastic amateur skiers and to make it look like we belonged in a ski magazine photoshoot is an amazing effort, and highlights the skills of a professional ski photographer. The pictures serve as a great reminder of what a fantastic day we had and also how far heliskiing is removed from piste or even resort based off piste skiing - no crowds, no lifts, no noise, untouched snow and spectacular views. Add in top quality ski coaching and guiding and it's a combination that is impossible to beat.'
Emma Bradley - Research Scientist ( UK)
When it was first suggested that I tried a heli-skiing trip in Verbier this winter my first thought was that my skiing would not be good enough
to do it. In the event my fears were unfounded and I found that skiing with Warren alongside an experienced guide enabled our group not only to
ski in the best conditions but also gave us plenty of coaching tips that allowed us to enjoy the challenges of skiing in the powder snow. Having
Warren there to coach us made me feel far more confident about skiing more difficult terrain than I would have normally done, and by pushing
my skiing it made the day much more enjoyable so much so that we booked another trip for a week later.
Melody accompanied us on the trip and took in excess of 400 photos of our group throughout the day many of which were taken candidly so that it was not intrusive – that way I didn't have to think about being on camera and could concentrate on my skiing! The quality of the photos was amazing, from us getting out of the helicopter at the top of the Petit Combin to the final short walk to where the mini-bus picked us up. The photos provide the perfect way of remembering a wonderful day out.
Chris Whitfield - Property Developer (UK)
Having worked towards heli skiing over the winter with warren and Charlie I had no idea what to expect as we approached the top of petit Combin . I was absolutely blown away by the vastness and beauty of it all and proceeded to spend the next 10 mins on my arse until Charlie reminded me what to do.
Seriously though it has become etched in my mind as one of the most amazing sporting days of all time. It was made possible by the great teaching I received in off piste from Warren and Charlie and it has started a big adventure for me in heli skiing. Thanks a million.
Filippo Friedenberg - Retired (Italy)
Gilbert Crettaz has been taking me helicopter and back country skiing for a few years and when he offered me the chance to join Warren and Melody for a day I jumped at it.
What a day it turned out to be: Warren is an incredible skier and watching
him in action is a pleasure in itself, not to mention its instructional
value, even for an old timer like me.
If that wasn't enough, about a week later I received the best action shots
of me skiing I have ever had: thank you Melody.
Mark Barnes - Property Consultant - UK
As I had not been off piste skiing before I was looking forward to the invitation with both excitement and fear.
Charlie gave me a few tips, which proved to be invaluable, before we took off towards the Petit Combin. What an amazing day it was. The views were spectacular and made even more impressive by not seeing any ski lifts or even other skiers all day!
Our guide Gilbert has an extensive knowledge of the area and made us feel extremely safe. It was a pleasure to watch both Charlie and Warren ski and they managed to give just the right level of tuition to all level of skiers that day without making anyone feel inferior.
This is an amazing experience which I will be back to enjoy again with more friends. The photographs' taken by Melody just rounded off a perfect day.
Below is a guide to the skier level system we go by at the Warren Smith Ski Academy. Please use this to find your level, and you will be taken on an applicable route.
Group + Skier Levels
Skiers ability levels range from basic intermediate skiers wishing to get off the typical intermediate plateau to skiers taking their instructors exams and performance training for competition (alpine racing or freeride). To easily identify the levels of skiers and groups running on an Academy week you can use the following system:
Group 1 Basic IntermediateThis group consists of skiers who are trying to make basic parallel turns but use a small snowplough wedge in between the turns to help turn initiation. Skiers in this group can generally get down blue runs but struggle on Reds. This is this group have usually never skied moguls, steeps or freeride terrain.
Group 2 IntermediateThis group consists of skiers who can make basic parallel turns but lack the strength and confidence in the turn to make it consistent. These skiers can usually get down blue and red runs. On red runs however there technique suffers and the body weight moves over the back of the skis making the steering more difficult. These skiers have usually attempted moguls, steeps and a bit of off-piste skiing but with no success.
Group 3 Advanced IntermediateThis group consists of skiers who can make parallel turns with confidence on blues and reds. When they attempt black runs or steeper gradients they lose their technique and the body weight drops back. Skiers in this group can generally get down moguls, steeps and freeride terrain but with a weak or/and confidence lacking technique.
Group 4 AdvancedThis group consists of skiers who can ski with confidence on Blues, Reds and Black runs. They can carve effectively from turn to turn on nicely groomed snow but are not so consistent when the snow is icy or un-groomed. Skiers in this group can get down steeps, moguls and freeride terrain with confidence and a semi consistent technique but loose control approximately 30% of the time. Skiers at this level want to develop performance towards skiing 40 degrees slopes with good technique and direct (zip) line moguls.
Group 5 Expert / InstructorThis group consists of skiers who can ski all terrains comfortably but want to be able to ski higher speeds through greater dynamics, ski steeper fall line moguls with a greater range of absorption and extension, make higher speed GS freeride turns in powder and variable snow conditions and generally master a solid technique. Skiers in this group would cover the basics of race training, steep couloirs, instructor exam technical requirements, freeride performance and higher speeds.
Group 6 Athlete / PerformerThis group consists of skiers wishing to compete or who already compete in freeskiing competitions, Alpine Racing competition or freestyle skiing disciplines such as moguls, half pipe, big air, slope style or rails. In this group you will also find skiers who are training for there BASI 1 technical exam and Euro Speed Test.
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