What to Expect When Riding Helis

By Dave Geis

It is important to remember that your guide has no idea of your riding ability or your ability to make safe decisions. Your first run will not be ultra steep as the guide must access your ability level as a skier/rider and your ability to follow his/her instructions.

It is extremely important to follow your guides instructions, not doing so could cost you your life. You need to gain your guides trust so he/she can take you to the Big Gnarly Lines you came to Ak to ride. The fastest way to big lines is to ride with in your ability, listen to your guides and ask questions “can I go there?”, “what do you think of that?”. Rag dolling 500 vertical feet, getting sluffed (chucgached) on your second run will close the door not just for you, but for your entire group.

Remember you are a team and your actions will effect you group/ friends day. These mountains are huge. The scale you are used to at home is not relevant here. My first ship Included Matt Goodwill, and Shawn Farmer. I looked out at a rock from the Heli, pointed to it and said I want to huck that! When we got out of the ship Matt calmly said lets go look at that rock you were scoping. When we reached the rock it was an 80 foot cliff face and a real eye opener. As you Gain your guides trust and he/she realizes you are not a loose cannon its game on.