Skiing redoubles efforts to become most unrelatable sport on planet.
June 3, 2009, 3:31 PM
By: John Symms
After a hiatus of seven years, and a false start in 2008, the World Heli Challenge will finally come back this fall in Lake Wanaka, New Zealand. Over two weeks in August and September, the event will feature an Extreme Day, for performing daredevil feats above and amid perilous exposures; a Freeride Day, where competitors avoid exposure and opt instead to perform risky acrobatic maneuvers; and a Chinese Downhill Day, where competitors come together in an elaborate commentary on the difference between Western and Eastern cultures with respect to patiently waiting in lines. A Chinese Fire Drill has also been rumored, but only if the existing allotment of helicopter time permits it.
Having finished a mountaintop drop-off, a helicopter hovers around a skier to videographically document his recreational experience.
Wanaka, New Zealand will play host to this legendary event, coming back on the scene due to the immense support from global media and already athletes are knocking down the door to claim their spot.
The World Heli Challenge consists of 3 days of helicopter-accessed competition, staged over a two-week period to allow for perfect weather conditions. Athletes will vie for top honors in Extreme, Freeride and Chinese Downhill events and the coveted title of overall World Heli Challenge Champion. "The World Heli Challenge offers the athletes the best conditions on which to ultimately test their all-around ability as snow athletes. The unrivaled camaraderie among athletes, the two weeks of continuous adrenaline activities that the Wanaka region is renowned for and the incredible helicopter skills of Harvey Hutton and the Back Country Helicopter pilots make this event quite simply one of a kind," event organizer Tony Harrington exclaims.
Kiwi sensation Jossie Wells had his first taste of international acclaim as a forerunner of this event when he was just nine years old. This time he's back as an athlete along with his younger brother Byron. Confirmed athletes also include Australia's Chris Booth, Andrea Berchtold, Charlie Timmins and Boen Ferguson and daily growing list.
It is a relief to see that the World Heli Challenge is finally back. Despite the best efforts of many to take it to the backcountry and get skiing back to its snowmobile-, snowcat-, and helicopter-laden roots, skiing has begun to seem dangerously accessible to the public in recent years. The resurgence of the great helicopter competition might be exactly what the sport needs to regain its rightful place among polo, yacht racing, and antique automobile collecting as a pastime of the wealthy and elite.
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Contributors
John Symms
My friend is a pro. In fact, many of my friends are pros. How else do you think I got this job?
Tim Mutrie
Journalist and blog-a-neer, big mtn. correspondent Tim has a desk-sized condo in a little place called Aspen.
Seth Morrison
If you don't know who Seth is, just click out of this blog and walk away. (Seth is a big mtn. legend, you see.)
Sage Cattabriga-Alosa
Sage went from washing dishes professionally to freeskiing professionally — aka "professional growth."
Ingrid Backstrom
World traveler, prolific ripper, reader and smiler, Ingrid lives in a cabin at the base of Squaw Valley.
Nate Abbott
Driven by coffee, powder, music, laughing, books & possibilities, photographer Nate is a lurker with Leica.
Liam Downey
Vermonster, Level 1 vet and large animal veterinarian, Liam's 6'5" frame makes him a large animal himself.
