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Christmas gifts for skiers: Pure Powder’s ultimate Christmas wish list for the skier that has everything

Everybody wants to look like they have the right gear when on the slopes. It’s no good prepping a la Madonna with her oh-so-gawdy Chanel skis and then struggling up the nursery slopes. Your fellow skiers will see straight through the designer outfit (they’re looking out for high-tech, high performance skiwear). Our Christmas gift guide for skiers is for those in your life who have it all. It may include the occasional luxury item but we think a week of cold weather and occasional bruising should have a slice of the high life.

Getting to the slopes in style

jacket and bag

The ultimate apres ski jacket   Jason Wu is better known for flowing ball gowns (he’s dressed the First Lady no less), so we’re delighted he’s moved into his version of ‘streetwear’ with his raccoon trimmed, olive green coat. With leather panels and a furry hood, you may need to scrimp on transport having spent your salary on the jacket but at least it’ll keep you warm on the ski bus            £3,030

The perfect weekend ski bag   Ski trains, bus journeys and shared shuttles. Sometimes getting to resort can be an adventure in itself. If you want to look a little more stylish swinging into Val d’Isere this year, Eddie Harrop’s leather Weekender bag is perfect for fitting your weekend snow kit essentials. Hand-crafted using the finest leather, it’ll also be resilient to an EasyJet check-in but we’d rather keep it close to hand   £385

On the slopes

Pants and boot

The ultimate ski pant   Arc’teryx are the go-to brand for the heli ski guides of CMH (the largest employer of ski guides in the world) so we should take note. Waterproof and breathable, these Sentinel trousers are made from three layers of lightly insulated GORE-TEX designed to deliver technical performance whilst still flattering on the leg. Who wouldn’t want Dragon Fruit colour trousers?   £370

Boot warmers for the best ski boots   Keeping your feet warm can be a constant battle. You can avoid the agony with custom made ski boots from Surefoot but if you’re feeling the pinch you can meet halfway with Therm-ic ski boot warmers. The RC 1600 Smartpack provides warmth for up to 29 hours operated with a handheld control and 3 different heat levels. Available from Surefoot London   £250

The skis to beat all skis

Atomic Theory Skis

Editor’s Pick Skis   Freeskier Magazine gave Atomic’s Theory skis #1 status for the third year running. With a near perfect score in the carving stakes, the innovative carbon inserts running the length of the ski make them solid and stable whatever the condition. With All Mountain rockers in the tip and tail, these are the perfect mix of versatility and reliable ski technology. Available from Ellis Brigham   £380

Skiwear for the Slopes and the Apres

Sweaty Betty Baselayer and Barts Hat

Base layer Fashion   Sweaty Betty have outdone themselves this year presenting the best ski base layers for those looking for a slightly more fashionable look. Merino baselayers are important but fashion can be a deciding factor. Albers Seamless ski leggings come in sweat-wicking fabric and are double knitted for one’s modesty   £49

Headwear   You can’t beat a wooly hat but this fur-trimmed Barts Kamizu hat will keep those ears toasty warm whilst enjoying that glühwein. Light enough to pop in your rucksack, stylish enough to rock at Hotel Farinet   £29.99

Gadget Corner

Mophie and Storm drone

The best gadget to stay social and safe   We finally have a gadget that keeps you entertained as well as safe on the slopes. Mophie is a helium battery case that can recharge your depleted iPhone back up to 80% having exhausted your battery with endless ski videos. Meaning you can Tweet or Instagram your snowy pursuits safe in the knowledge that you can keep in radio contact should your battery die. Available from Apple stores for £69.95

The only way to capture endless ski jumps   He’s got the GoPro and bored you with the footage. Expect a whole new level of excitement when you give him the Storm Drone 4 which carries his GoPro for a 6-7 minute aerial flight to capture tricks in the terrain park or just to survey La Folie Douce of an afternoon. It’s a helicopter ride for your camera – vital for any self-respecting gadget geek   £220

Stocking fillers

Smartwool socks and Helmaclava

Keeping toasty warm   It may not look the most attractive but skiing in -20 means you appreciate the powers of a Helmaclava. Designed to wear under your helmet, this thick fleece will keep your nose and neck warm   £19.99

 Warm feet are happy feet   Smartwool  are the big daddy of ski socks.  Made from the finest merino wool designed to keep you warm and dry, the underfoot and shin pads also means you’re protected for all day cushioning   £21.99

Or you can think big and surprise the skier in your life with a heli skiing or off piste skiing trip (trips start at less than the Jason Wu jacket). Contact the UK’s leading heli ski specialists to find a trip to suit you or the skier in your life.

Posted by: Suzy Small

Pure Powder’s Skiing Resort Guide: Whistler/Blackcomb

Location: Most famously known as just Whistler, Whistler and Blackcomb are two mountains that sit side by side and make up Canada’s biggest resort. Together they make up a whopping 8,171 acres of terrain, split between pisted runs, Alpine bowls and glaciers. Whistler Village is at the base of Whistler, the hub of the village […]

Posted by: Georgie Knox

Pure Powder’s Skiing Resort Guide: Silver Star

Location: Located in the stunning Okanagan Valley, Silver Star is British Colombia’s fourth largest ski resort where you can expect the famous champagne powder we all know and love due to being further west. The varied terrain spreads over 3,282 acres and attracts every kind of skier. Getting there: Silver Star is extremely easy to get […]

Posted by: Zillah Bell

Pure Powder’s Skiing Resort Guide: Sun Peaks

Location: Sun Peaks is the second biggest ski area in Canada, behind Whistler. It is the perfect warm up destination for anyone who is heli skiing at CMH’s Cariboos Lodge. Getting there: Sun Peaks is located in the heart of British Columbia, only a 45 minute drive from Kamloops and less than an hour by […]

Posted by: Zillah Bell

Tree Skiing in BC, Canada

The tree skiing in the interior ranges of British Columbia is very unique.  The trees protect the snow from wind and sun damage; so not only is it where you would expect the deepest snow to be, it is also where the powder remains perfect for longer which makes tree skiing a very enjoyable experience! […]

Posted by: Zillah Bell

CMH Private Heli Skiing Trips

Heli skiing is the ultimate skiing experience – we don’t know a skier out there who doesn’t have heli skiing on their bucket list.  What’s not to want – deep, untracked powder in every direction, fresh tracks at every turn, no lift queues and a helicopter at your service!  Now, imagine it all to yourself […]

Posted by: Georgie Knox

Where Can I Go Small Group Heli Skiing?

Smaller heli ski groups mean greater opportunities for deep snow and more epic lines; and  heli skiing in groups made up of 4- or 5- guests can mean that your mountain experience is as intimate as possible.  You can either fill a helicopter with your buddies or join a ready made small group.  It’s best […]

Posted by: Zillah Bell

Pure Powder’s Resort Guide: Revelstoke

Location: Revelstoke Mountain Resort is located in North America’s ‘deep snow capital’ in the heart of British Columbia. It was voted Canada’s Best Ski Resort in 2020, which is most likely due to its 3,120 acres of skiable terrain that includes the longest vertical ski hill in North America, trumping Whistler in 2008 when their […]

Posted by: Suzy Small

Where Can I Heli Ski In Chile? 

What a better way to spend the summer than heli skiing in the Andes…Powder South, offers an excellent heli skiing programme which is be based out of four different locations.     The Heli Skiing Programme:   Heli Skiing in Chile is based out of the Chilean Andes Mountains and it has access to over 1 million acres of terrain – where to heli ski here is endless. Most of the skiing is on open Alpine […]

Posted by: Georgie Knox

The Top 5 Heli Ski Lodges in the World

We’re all about the best powder skiing experiences in the world, and as your heli ski experts it is only right that will pull together our top five ultimate heli ski lodges in the world. We couldn’t think of any where else we would prefer to be right now. Each lodge is sumptuous, with impeccable […]

Posted by: Zillah Bell

Pure Powder’s Christmas Gift Guide for Skiers & Boarders

Stuck for Christmas gifts for the skier or snowboarder in the family or for friends…then check out our ultimate gift list for this upcoming Christmas Go Pro Hero9 A Go Pro has to be the ultimate gift for any skier or snowboarder and the Go Pro Hero9 is the one to go for. As the […]

Posted by: Georgie Knox

In the Press: Forbes

In The Press: Forbes Photo from Tordrillo Mountain Lodge Alaska has to be one of the most desired places to heli ski in the world, and we aren’t the only ones that think so. Forbes have recently written an article saying that “avid skiers are seeking out Alaska as the top place to heli-ski” Alaska […]

Posted by: Georgie Knox

Plan B. Where Can I Heli Ski During A Covid-19 Winter?

We’re massive fans of the interior ranges of British Columbia in Canada and in our humble opinion it’s as close as heli ski perfection as you can get.  It’s where you’ll find huge expanses of un-tracked ‘Champagne’ powder, tree-skiing for bad-weather days and unbeatable heli skiing know-how from the guides and pilots.   However, this is no normal season and as things stand the Canadian government are keeping […]

Posted by: Zillah Bell

Pure Powder’s Ultimate Heli Ski Packing List

It’s all very exciting – you’ve got your trip booked; flight tickets in hand; passport at the ready…  you can practically smell the powder!  However, you’re standing over an empty bag thinking – have I got everything?  We’ve pulled together our top packing tips to make sure that you’re all set.  What ski clothes to pack?  […]

Posted by: Zillah Bell

Are Touring boots compatible with CMH bindings?

Photo By: Zach Doleac  Our most asked question in the 2019/2020 season was – are my ski touring boots compatible with the CMH bindings?  So… we’ve decided to write a blog about it and get it answered once and for all! Taking skis CMH Heli Skiing provide all their guests with fat, powder skis which […]

Posted by: Zillah Bell

Pure Powder’s Resort Guide: Kicking Horse

Location: Kicking Horse Mountain Resort’s 1,315 vertical is known for its deep light powder and huge snowfall – no wonder it’s nicknamed the Champagne Powder Capital of Canada. It attracts skiers looking to experience amazing snow in a picturesque setting. Kicking Horse has a wide variety of terrain in its 3,400 skiable acres; better suited […]

Posted by: Georgie Knox

Pure Powder’s Skiing Resort Guide: Lake Louise

Location: Lake Louise is a hamlet located in the Banff National Park in the Rocky Mountains. Its name comes from the extraordinary vibrant blue lake which is at the base of Mount Victoria. The lake itself is a 6-minute drive from the centre of the hamlet and was named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, the fourth Daughter of Queen Victoria. Although the hamlet is small with only a few hotels and […]

Posted by: Georgie Knox

Pure Powder’s Resort Guide: Banff

Location: Banff is located in a picturesque National Park in Alberta, Canada.  It was named by the President of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1884 after his hometown Banffshire in Scotland. With one of the longest ski seasons in North America, Banff has access to over 8,000 acres of ski terrain spread across is three ski […]

Posted by: Georgie Knox

Pure Powder’s Top 10 Blogs of 2020

We’ve updated our top 10 favourite ski blogs which bring you the latest ski news, top tips and fashionable destinations.  Get your powder fix today and whet your appetite for the season ahead…  powdermatt.com/   To kick off the list we have this cracking a blog by Matt Mosteller – one year, while his friends were busy getting […]

Posted by: Zillah Bell

Top Resorts for your Heli Ski Warm Up in Canada

The Telegraph listed their Top Ten Ski Resorts in Canada, among them was some of our favourites for pre-heli ski warm up.  They are great destinations to try out that famous Canadian powder before you embark on your heli skiing adventure with CMH.   Revelstoke Revelstoke is a small town but is the perfect place […]

Posted by: Georgie Knox

Heli Skiing for First Timers – What are my Options?

Embarking on a heli skiing trip for the first time can be daunting and so we wanted to highlight some options specifically geared towards first time heli skiers. If you are a strong piste skier, have a decent level of fitness and are keen to start skiing in the powder then heli skiing could be […]

Posted by: Charlie Brooksbank