Greenland – Heliskiing at Eternity Fjord

Information about the Region

Maniitsoq is an Inuit fishing village located at 65 degrees north latitude, near the Arctic Circle. It has a population of approximately 3,000 and some infrastructure, including a supermarket, a fishing port, and a small airport. Everything is within walking distance and very manageable.

Our Accomodation

During our week, we're staying at the Hotel Heilmann. The rooms are beautifully furnished, each with a private bathroom. The hotel also has a café and a restaurant, where we enjoy a delicious dinner overlooking the fjord.

You can get a first impression here: https://hhl.gl/en/vaerelser/

Safety and Quality

Safety and quality are our absolute priority. Although we always aim to provide the best experience for our guests, we will never do so by compromising their safety. Any risks that can be influenced are kept thoroughly within our control. As with any activity in high alpine regions, including heliskiing, there are also risks that are beyond our control. You should be aware that we are not exempt from these risks when skiing in the remote places of our planet. Given that we are far away from any rescue services, we have developed our own rescue protocol. A group consists of a maximum of four guests and one guide. We will generally be out with two groups at a time. The groups will follow a rotating system, meaning that the othe group with their guide is never far off in an emergency. We additionally equip ourselves with first-aid material and rescue equipment, and possess the necessary expertise and practice for its use. We also always keep a satellite phone by our side.

Helicopter and Pilot

In Greenland, we use an Airbus AS 350 E helicopter, operated by Air Greenland. This powerful helicopter can accommodate four guests per rotation, plus a mountain guide and pilot. The pilots come from Alpine or Scandinavian countries and have years of heliskiing experience and are intimately familiar with the Greenland mountains.

Runs and Terrain

Due to our northern location, we operate exclusively in alpine, sometimes heavily glaciated terrain. We operate at altitudes between 0 and 2000 meters, allowing us to perfectly adapt the steepness and exposure of the runs to the snow conditions.

Requirements for Guests

In order to get the most out of this week of heliskiing/heliboarding, you should have a very good skiing technique in all terrains and snow conditions. Good physical condition and endurance are especially required for long runs through the forests. This destination is for advanced skiers and snowboarders. Flory Kern – Ski Berge Abenteuer – can refuse individuals the right to participate if they hold up the group, pose a danger, or show conditional weaknesses. In such cases, these individuals may be flown back to the base during the day

Skiing Equipment

Freeride ski equipment (at least 100 mm below the binding) and safety equipment, consisting of a shovel, probe, avalanche transceiver and a Scott Alpride system or similar are mandatory. Since we are only on site for one week, we cannot provide any safety equipment on site. However, if you don't have your own set, we will send it to you before the trip. Helmets are recommended. You will receive a detailed packing list from us 60 days before the start of the trip. Each participant is responsible for ensuring that their equipment is in perfect condition. Buying or renting replacement equipment on site is almost impossible. However, we always have a few spare skis on site to help out in case of loss or damage.

Weather

Of course, we also prefer skiing in sunny conditions and perfect snow. But to get that, we also need favorable precipitation. As in all mountainous regions of the world, snowy days are just as much a part of winter in Greenland as sunny days. Spring on the west coast of Greenland is generally somewhat favorable weather-wise.

Conditions

Despite many favorable circumstances, heliskiing in Greenland depends largely on weather, snow, and avalanche conditions. Natural forces beyond our control, and about which reliable predictions are sometimes difficult, shape the situation on the mountain. Therefore, this sport is not always perfect, and you should prepare accordingly. No one can predict in advance what weather and conditions you will experience during your week. It can be the most fulfilling week of skiing of your life, but it can also turn into a disappointment if the weather or snow conditions aren't optimal.

Downdays

As in all heliski destinations, Greenland also experiences days with very heavy snowfall or cloud cover, making safe helicopter operations unsafe, and the risk of flying by helicopter is disproportionate to skiing. In Maniitsoq, alternative activities are very limited; a good book or surfing the internet will certainly help you get through a down day.

Höhenmeter und Helizeit

Unser Motto ist ”a destination from riders for riders”. Diesem Motto haben wir auch unsere Höhenmeter bzw. Flugzeitphilosophie angepasst. Wir wollen dir maximalen Fahrspaß bieten und diesen in unserem Paket möglichst perfekt inkludieren. Daher bieten wir dir ein überdurchschnittliches Leistungspaket von 12 Flugstunden pro Woche (bei 8 Gästen). Werden die Flugstunden überschritten, können wir zum Preis von 3500 EUR  je Flugstunde weiterfliegen. Die geflogene Helizeit wird durch die Anzahl der mitfliegenden Gäste geteilt. In unserem Paket garantieren wir 6 Helikopterstunden. Das heißt, wenn wir wegen Schlechtwetter weniger als 6 Stunden fliegen können, werden alle Stunden bis zur 6. mit 250 Euro pro Person und Stunde zurückerstattet. Bei nicht in Anspruchsname der Flugzeit wegen Konditionsmangel, Krankheit, verspäteter Anreise oder vorzeitiger Abreise können wir leider kein Geld zurückerstatten.

Number of Guests and Exclusivity

We want to offer you a very exclusive heliski trip. Therefore, this heliski trip falls under the category "Semi-Private." Our maximum group size per week is 8 guests. We will divide the 8 guests into 2 groups and work on a rotation system. This way, waiting times and delays are rare. Flory and Chris will accompany you on this trip.