Srinagar, Feb 3: On the back of three successful seasons in the past, the 4th season operations of Kashmir Heli Skiing were kicked-off at at Gulmarg on Friday.
The operation run by a local company has emerged as top source of extreme skiing for the skiers from all over World while bookings have doubled as compared to the last season.
Launched in 2011 at Gulmarg by locally owned company, Kashmir Heli-Ski, with the support of J&K Government, has turned out to be a major attraction for high end skiing. The event, run by a local extreme skier and guide, Billa Majeed Bakshi, has become hit all over the world attracting some of the well known extreme skiers. Initially it targeted the customer base in Australia, New Zealand but with the success of each year it extended its horizon to Europe and United States of America.
This season everything has been perfect for company so far, snow, conditions, and Government and Defense Ministry support.
According to Billa the 4th season operations have started at the right time.
“We started the 4th year of operation on Friday. Though many consider it late but I and my fellow experts know that it is right time to start heli and back country skiing operations at Gulmarg. The snow conditions are good and weather forecast also shows encouraging signs,” Billa who is also lead guide said.
Apart from making the virgin turfs of different sections of Pir Panchal mountain range accessible, the skiers are also able to get access to those peaks and slopes which were out of bounds for the adventure sports lovers.
“This year we have already registered 1500 clients. All the clients are from West and none among them is local. We have got customers from Australia, New Zealand, Europe and USA as well. With each year we are adding new success stories and it is working well for us. Those who ski along with us give good word of mouth and media publicity in their parts of the World. Hence they help us and State a great deal,” Billa, who is Company Director, said.
About the area of operation, Billa says, “Most of the area that we covered last year was Pirpanjaal range and some little area on Poonch side. This year we want to explore 5000 metre peaks and that is an added attraction for the skiers. Our area of operation extend upto around 75-kiloemteres of Pir Panjal range”
“We are the only heliski company in Kashmir. Jammu & Kashmir Tourism have given us permission for heliski for the entire Pir Panchal Range. We have amazing terrain, few kilometers long open Alpine bowls for intermediate skiers and snowboarders up to 5000 metres untracked and undiscovered peaks in tour long terrain,” Billa said.
“Himalayas are known for remarkable deep dry powder snow. The high quality powder snow, with perfectly spaced pine trees, open alpine bowls and mighty peaks of the Himalayas makes the experience best in world. Our Alpine area holds a variety of exceptional terrain for all abilities from wide open bowls to virgin peaks of Himalayas. Tree line skiing is a complete adrenalin rush during bad weather days,” he said.
About the prospects of Sonamarg, he said: “When you think about extreme Heliski, It is not Alaska, Sonamarg is the place with most challenging terrain on the Planet. Due to heavy snowfall, place remains closed from December to May. Only accessible with helicopter Sonamarg has so much to offer for Extreme Skiers”.
He said that this season the administration at the ski resort of Gulmarg are well prepared and have kept Cable Car Gondola operational even in extreme conditions
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“This season we are lucky to have Gondola operational even in extreme conditions. When the conditions doesn’t support flying we take our customers to back country skiing with help of Gondola. Cable Car Managing Director Tufail Matoo and his team deserve applauds,” he said.
About the experts that help him to run such an adventurous venture, he said, “We have got the experts of international repute who have achieved lot in their illustrious career. We have got Dean and Woody who both have climbed highest mountain peak in the World Mount Everest nine times. Another senior pro, Tim is chief guide who has got experience of more than 20 years in the operations of Heli-Skiing”.
He said that his aim is to groom local ski guides in the operation of Heli Sliiing and time is not far when whole operation would be run by local lads.
“We have got around nine local guides and our aim is to groom them to become full-fledged experts. Some of them have been with us since the first season and have got ability to run operation on their own,” he said.
On the number of choppers employed, he said, “The operation is almost unimaginable to be run by one chopper. It requires two and we have employed two as well. The second chopper is mostly kept for backup, rescue and any sort of medical emergencies”.
Pertinently it was Sylvain Sudan in late 70’s to start Heli-Skiing in the Valley and he is known as pioneer of extreme skiing. Known as a ‘skier of the impossible’, for his dare-devil skiing feats in Alps and other peaks in Europe and Asia, the 74-year old Swiss born French Heli-skier Saudan was considered to be instrumental in launching Heli-skiing in the Valley in late ‘70s.
He continued his date with Kashmir even during the years of conflict by bringing skiers.
However, Sudan stopped to come to Kashmir after his helicopter crashed in a mountain range on way to Sonamarg in 2007. The skiers in Heli-skiing dive from a helicopter on top of mountains. It is considered to be an extreme form of skiing offering the ultimate powder skiing experience.