Advice from Upward Curve Inflight magazine if you’re looking for FRESH TRACKS: ‘With global skiing available all year round, it’s about finding a window and hitting the powder. Here are four incredible options across both hemispheres. Niseko, Val Thorens, Revelstoke and Perisher’. For the full article click here.
‘REVELSTOKE
British Columbia was the birthplace of heliskiing and Revelstoke is the jewel. Thanks for massive annual snowfall of light dry powder and the incredible variety of terrain to explore, Revelstoke has been the exclusive retreat of the elite heliskiing community for decades and Bighorn is the place to stay. Its beautiful timber-framed building is pure apes-ski indulgence. Imagine winding down after a day of skiing in the triple height great room, indulging in canapés in front of the roaring log fire. The ultimate luxury is the private helipad – you’ll find yourself at the top of a wilderness peak in minutes, with nothing but miles of pristine powder, glacial bowls and tree skiing that surpasses anything else on Earth.’
Renowned Ski Journalist Peter Hardy reveals his top 10. Here’s what he says about:
Revelstoke, BC
Best for powder
Until 2008, Revelstoke attracted only a contrasting clientele of wealthy international heli-skiers and a scattering of locals, who frequented slopes served by one short lift. But then a world-class gondola and two fast chairlifts transformed it into a 1,214 hectares (3,000 acre) resort with the biggest vertical in North America (1,713m).
Revelstoke attracts huge amounts of powder snow – around 12m a year on average – and much of the terrain is steep and ungroomed. There are wonderful glades of trees and a big open bowl accessed through a cliff band – it’s essential to know the best ways in. The ski school offers half- and full-day private guiding – a must for any keen skier or snowboarder. The Steller quad chairlift accesses some beginner and intermediate terrain, giving the resort a family appeal that it previously lacked before.
Revelstoke boasts some of the best snow in North America Credit: Russell Dalby/Getty
The resort also has its own snowcat and heliskiing operations for accessing untracked snow. For committed powder hounds, the great beauty of Revelstoke is that there’s no need to book a full heli package and risk expensive ‘down days’ when weather conditions prevent helicopters flying. Instead, the decision on whether to heliski, snowcat ski or simply ride the gondola to explore the ample terrain can be made each morning after looking out of the window.
A new slopeside 154-room hotel is currently nearing completion, across from the existing Sutton Place Hotel. It has three helipads outside the door and will become the new home of resort-owned Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing.
There’s also a choice of hotels including the new Basecamp Suites in the heart of unpretentious Revelstoke town, a five-minute drive away, served by a daytime bus service and with a fair choice of restaurants and bars.
Where to stay
British-owned Chalet Bighorn at the resort village has eight extremely large bedroom suites and consistently wins awards as the top luxury chalet in North America – the quality of service and cuisine is extraordinary. There is a spa with pool, gym, sauna and massage rooms, cinema, outdoor hot tub and private helipad. From C$90,000 (£49,700), booked direct. A less exotic alternative is to stay in the historic old town at the Basecamp Suites, from C$326 (£119) per night in a one-bedroom suite, booked direct. Both exclude travel.
Gabriella Le Breton explains why Bighorn is in the top 10:
“The pioneer of fully serviced chalets in North America, Bighorn is set in the Revelstoke Mountain Resort, which combines big mountain resort skiing with heli-skiing and cat-skiing. The sumptuous eight-bedroom lodge has a helipad in its garden, placing the sprawling tenures of three leading heli-ski operators almost literally on the doorstep. Guests choosing to pass on the heli-skiing can explore the expansive pistes and back-country terrain of the resort of “Revy”, which claims North America’s greatest vertical drop (5,620ft), go cross-country skiing or watch the world’s best riders compete in big mountain competitions like the Yeti Natural Selection Tour, in which snowboarders compete on heli-ski terrain, as well as in the main resort.”
