“Best Day of My Life”

Pat Orford from Byron Bay talks us through his first heli-riding experience when staying in Wānaka, New Zealand recently.

Pat is an advanced snowboarder, but nothing quite prepared him for his first heli-skiing experience with Harris Mountains Heli-Ski, flying from Wānaka. “I was really nervous. I thought I was going to die because I’d never done it before and didn’t know what to expect – he laughs.”

One of his biggest concerns was avalanche safety. He wasn’t sure how the guides were going to choose the terrain or what the experience would involve once they landed.

“There was a bit of conflict in my head – excited but nervous , but the guides were so professional, cool and nice. They made you feel comfortable and safe. They were an older crew who had been doing it for many years, and that actually made me feel safer.”

There was a big focus on the safety aspects, we had to be trained before we got on the chopper, and watch videos and take a quiz on aspects of safety and we were all given the full avi gear, there were strict processes to follow, which was really reassuring. 

Once the helicopter took off, though, the nerves gave way to excitement. “It was the most amazing feeling I’ve had in my life. Looking down on these huge mountains, there are no words to explain what you feel.” The first landing was another matter.

“I crapped my pants – ha!. You realise you’ve got to get out and go down, and it’s a weird feeling. I was worried about the avalanche situation. That was really wigging me out.”

As the day progressed in a series of runs down the terrain followed by being airlifted back up by helicopter, Pat started to understand more about the guides’ approach to terrain selection. His guide was checking conditions and communicating with the helicopter pilot, who was clearly very experienced and the runs they were selecting had no avalanche threat. Erring always on the safe side. “I realised there wasn’t a threat, so from then I just embraced it.”

Each run offered something a bit different and he couldn’t really choose a favourite run. One of the highlights was flying over the jagged white mountains and landing on a beach beside a lake, mountain water fed high up in the mountains as a location to eat lunch – wow. 

Later, after lunch, the helicopter dropped them onto a steeper section of terrain. The final run was another favourite, it was like a final challenge run, one of the steeper ones – we were stoked. The conditions also made the day memorable.

“The sky was so blue. We couldn’t have asked for better conditions. It was insane, the sun was shining so it felt like we were snowboarding in the middle of summer.”

After the last run, the group headed to the pub, still buzzing from the experience. “That was the coolest thing. We all came down and went to the pub, and everyone was buzzing.”

Despite his initial fears, Pat has no hesitation in recommending heli-skiing to others. “100 per cent, go for it. Without a doubt. Don’t hold back regardless of your fears. An absolute bucket list experience FOR SURE”

He also reckons you don’t need to be a super-skilled skier or snowboarder to enjoy the experience. As an advanced snowboarder, he found most of the terrain relatively easy, apart from one steeper run. For someone who had never flown in a helicopter before, it was a first experience never to be forgotten. “Best day of my life.”

Words: Pat Orford
Photo Credits: Emma Wilson