YOUR SAFETY
YOUR SAFETY
Your safety is paramount
The New Zealand mountain environment is second to none. Our beautiful and rugged Southern Alps sit perfectly in the lower Tasman Sea receiving regular frontal systems laden with snow.
Your safety in this environment is our highest priority; which is why we proudly implement the highest safety standards of any operator in New Zealand.
Your safety on the day
Operating in alpine environments, poses natural risk that you need to be aware of, before turning up on the day. It is important that you read, acknowledge and sign the below risk disclosure statement before booking a heliski experience.
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All our guests receive comprehensive helicopter and avalanche safety briefings by their personal guide before the days skiing and riding commences.
Every person is issued an avalanche transceiver, a shovel, probe and instructions on how to use this equipment. In a New Zealand first, we also provide all of our guests with an airbag.
All guides pilots and staff are current in emergency procedures and are well prepared with equipment and knowledge.
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Our comprehensive internal snow-safety programme is led by experienced snow scientists with decades of combined knowledge. We are an active member of the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council’s Infoex network, where professional operators share real-time snow and avalanche data.
To further safeguard every outing, Southern Lakes Heliski (SLHS) equips all guests with avalanche airbags as standard safety equipment. To operate the system correctly, each participant must be able to reach across their body with their right hand and touch the top of their left shoulder.
Our guides manage avalanche risk by pairing their extensive expertise with up-to-the-minute observations, selecting terrain that suits the day’s conditions. Throughout the season the team is in the field, monitoring the snowpack and weather patterns; their local insight allows for highly accurate assessments.
(The Carnet of the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations — IFMGA / UIAGM — is the highest professional qualification attainable in mountain and ski guiding.)
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We have a modern fleet of well maintained modern AS350 B2/B3 Squirrel helicopters. These powerful machines can manoeuvre a full load of skiers and equipment onto the most challenging of landing spots, and offer superb visibility from every seat allowing you to take in the majestic scenery and the jaw dropping landings.
Combined with a professional aviation team made up of local pilots whose combined skill set and passion for their jobs and the region allows for an industry leading heliski experience.
As a team with a safety-first approach to operating, we implement a wide range of health and safety measures before, during and after your heliski experience. Many of these you will be actively involved in, or witness during your heliskiing experience; and it is important you listen to your guide and pilot on the day.
DAILY RUN RISK DISCLOSURE FORM Click Here
PRIVATE CHARTER RISK DISCLOSURE FORM Click Here
If after consuming any of this contact you have questions or concerns, we encourage you to get in touch with our team by calling 03 442 6222 or emailing info@southernlakesheliski.com.
Guided by the best in
the industry
Heliskiing like all other adventure activities has certain risks that are inherent in the areas we heliski and board. You can be assured that keeping our guests, guides and pilots safe when heliskiing is our number one priority.
Our skiing and snowboarding staff are experts in their field and have the key skills and knowledge to provide you with a safe, exciting and memorable day in the backcountry. Our senior guides are qualified through national and international bodies (*IFMGA/NZMGA/NZHOG) and have amassed many decades of experience in NZ and around the world. We routinely keep all our guides current with an extensive preseason training programme.
In addition to the vast experience and technical knowledge that enhances your safety when skiing and snowboarding in our alpine environments, our guiding team pride itself on its communication and people skills always aiming to deliver the best customer service.
