Tuesday 17 September 2013

Corporate special

Corporate Special:



Thinking of ways to impress your clients??? Why not take them on a luxury weekend to the only heli ski lodges in France where you and your clients will be endulged right from the word go!

Our chalets are fully equipped with a conference room combined with all the equipment of the highest standard ensuring meetings and presentations are stress free.




 Enjoy gourmet food from our very experienced chef James who will tantalise your taste buds with his specials ‘Filet de Boeuf Wellington’ and ‘Lobster Thermidor’. He will even be very happy to give you a cooking lesson! Or how about some champagne in the hot tub.....




You can also enjoy beauty treatments from our very own masseuse to soothe any aches and pains induced by an action packed days skiing



At The Pook, we pride ourselves on extremely high quality service where throughout your stay you will provided with a chalet host and a 24 hour driver to ensure all your needs are satisfied.

In the past we have had great pleasure in hosting big corporate groups such as Bentley who enjoyed a wonderful stay with us. Follow the link here, which shows a video of their stay with us.


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Monday 2 September 2013



Review of the month:

Salomon Skis:

At Val Heli ski we provide a Salomon ski centre for all our clients, which allows them to experience a wide range of top of the range skis. Many clients say this service gives them a better idea of what type of ski suits them, which is vital information if ever you are thinking about buying your own pair of skis.

Salomon Rocker 108 Review:

The Rocker 2 is effortlessly stable, yet fast light and nimble. This ski is very good for wide open carving turns in addition to shorter turns in narrower runs. It feels very floaty and is very easy to manoeuvre in any situation, whether it be moguls or deep powder snow. The mechanics behind all those sensations are the twin and powder rocker shape, giving the ski a full rocker profile from tip to tail with some camber underfoot. Also, the ski has a wood core, wide and reinforced edges for durability, with the addition of lightweight honeycomb material in both tip and tail for that lightness and float. A perfect ski to enhance your heli skiing experience and anywhere else with deep snow and killer terrain.


Pros:                                           Best uses:

-Good carving                             -Powder
-Good grip                                  -Groomed terrain
-Excellent flotation                      -Moguls
-Playful

Overall: 5 stars

Monday 19 August 2013








Ski tip of the month:

How to ski powder like a pro?



1. Don't lean back

There is a common misconception that one should lean back whilst powder skiing but in fact while it is important to keep the tips from sinking, leaning back makes It much harder to turn effectively. Always maintain a centered position on the skis and try lifting the tips up at the same time by feeling your toes pushing on the tops of your boots.



2. Maintain speed and make less frequent turns

Instead of trying to carve through powder like you might do on a piste bashed run try pointing your skis down the hill more to maintain speed and turn less. Use the deep fresh snow to slow you down rather than trying to do lots of large turns to control speed.




3. Keep a strong core


Maintaining balance can be tough because of the weight and depth of the snow. Moguls, other peoples’ tracks and the fresh snow can surprise you and knock you off balance. Use your core strength to powerfully smash through the powder without letting it shock you. With a friend try standing on your skis in a relaxed position and get them to push and shake you. Then try tensing all your abdominal muscles and get them to do the same. You will feel much more stable when your core is tensed.




4. Gentle edging


As powder is so much softer than other terrain it is not necessary to dig your edges into the snow as much for grip, or to slow yourself down. Imagine you are mono skiing and put both skis close together whilst keeping equal pressure on each ski throughout the turn using up and down movements to keep your skis above the snow. Stand tall at the beginning of the turn and flex down at the end. As your turns will be quick and short you should feel like you are bouncing from one turn to the other.




5. Pole Plant
Pole planting should be used to maintain a rhythm. At the start of each turn as you bounce out of the last one punch your hand forward and plant your pole in the snow down the hill in front of you. Always keep both hands in front of you to prevent you from leaning back after each plant.



Friday 19 July 2013

Myth of the Month - Heli Skiing is ONLY for Experts

Myth Of The Month:

‘Heli Skiing is only for expert skiiers’

There is  a common misconception that  heli skiing involves jumping out of helicopters in superman style and then having to deal with almost vertical gradients in difficult conditions.
In reality the helicopter lands on  a flat patch of snow and then you disembark with your skis and it is all very easy! One of the many reasons that people choose to go  heli skiing is so that you escape the crowded pistes and enjoy that all desired untouched powder, which is only accessible by helicopter.



This photo above shows a heli skier in action! This would  be only equivalent to red run on piste so is easily enjoyed by a large range of abilities! 

In fact quite often heli skiing is easier than on piste skiing because you can avoid those thick layers of ice that form as a result of skiers going over the same layer of snow compacting it more and more until it becomes very solid. 

So if you are looking to escape the pains of getting cut up by snowboarders and are searching for the unique experience of effortlessly gliding through fresh untouched powder without the need to waste valuable time waiting in queues, then heli skiing is for you!


“Here in the deep powder snow you don’t hear yourself ski.  You don’t hear your long turns or your short turns.  You just float.”

Wednesday 15 May 2013

Resumé for 2012/2013 season Val Heli Ski


Resumé for 2012/2013 season Val Heli Ski:

 
Wow!!!!! We have just experienced the best season in 30 years!!! There has been record snowfall in the extensive areas of Val d'Isère, Tignes and The Three Valleys!!! This has lead to epic snow all around the areas that we service and our clients have been able to enjoy over 40 fresh powder days stretching all the way out to the beginning of May! (Global Warming…WHAT?????)

 
Just imagine hopping onto the chopper and then embarking on a journey into a different world where slopes are not spoilt by tourists (you won’t have to worry about that snow boarder bombarding into you) and where our professional guides can direct you to the most exclusive spots in the Alps! You can not beat the charm and scenery of the backcountry and some of our clients have even shared with us stories of when they spotted a family of Chamois and were actually skiing among these beautiful animals! After gliding effortlessly down some of the most desired routes in the world, there is no need to waste minutes of valuable skiing time in the stressful nature of ski lift queues, our choppers will be waiting for you ready to kick start the action again!

 


 

  We would like to thank our proud sponsors ‘Salomon and Liberty’ for ensuring that our clients have at their disposal some of the most technical off piste powder skis available on the market today, which allows them to glide through the fresh powder with maximum enjoyment!


 

 It has truly been a memorable year and here at Val Heli Ski we would like to thank all of you who have shared with us some of these unforgettable experiences. We hope to see as many of you as possible next year for an even more extraordinary experience.

 

 

Thursday 28 February 2013

Only Two Months of the 2012/13 Ski Season Left!



Unbelievably, we are already half way through the 2012/13 season and it has absolutely flown by!








We have been extremely lucky with the weather so far, apart from a few overcast days and delayed heli skis, the conditions have been fantastic and it is always great to be greeted by enthusiastic guests at Pook Heli Lodges after they have enjoyed an immense day off piste, especially when there is plenty of powder as well as a good amount of sun.








March looks like it is going to be an exciting month in Tignes as they are hosting The X Games on the 20th-22nd of March where you can witness some of the world’s best freestylers (and Tignes great bars). This event will be closely followed by the week long winter festival that is The Brits! This will be The Brits 24th year and is being held between from the 23rd-30th March. Both are definitely events that are worth attending!




SEASONAIRE HELI SKIING


Feel free to sign up to our newsletter (the option to do so is located on the right hand side of the page) especially if you are a seasonaire. Our newsletter is a great way to hear about any special offers we have on regarding Pook Heli Lodges and heli skiing. If you are a seasonaire, it is especially worth signing up as we often have last minute DISCOUNTED heli ski places available.

WE ALSO OFFER SEASONAIRES A 10% DISCOUNT

If you can get a group of four people together to fill the helicopter
Contact info@valheliski.com for more information on seasonaire heli skiing


Don’t let it slip your mind that there are ONLY two months of the 2012/13 season left (and it will go quicker than you think!) So don’t put it off.

A Quick Message from Tom and Claire Jeffery:

Hi,

Tom and I have signed up for the Ruitor Glacier Challenge this April, which is a charity event aimed at raising money to finish a secondary school in Kenya being buiit by a UK Charity www.kariandusi.co.uk.

The challenge is a non-stop marathon ski tour over 36 hours on touring skis and "skins" (which allow you to "ski" up hill), from Sainte Foy Tarantaise (1550m) onto the Ruitor Glacier - our goal is the Tete du Ruitor at 3486m - then back to Sainte Foy. On the first day, I will use the Sainte Foy ski lifts to reach the Col de l'Aiguille at 2600m, then "skin" up to Pointe de Foglietta at 2928m, ski across Lacs Verdet and Blanc (they'll be frozen!), skin up to Col d'Argentiere (2875m) and ski down to Plateau de la Sassiere (2032m). Here, using my shovel (which should be carried by all off-piste skiers), I will attempt to build an igloo or snow hole in which to spend the night! If I fail in this part of the challenge (or it's just too damn cold), I will sneak into Refuge du Ruitor, an unmanned hut. I have booked a mule to bring dinner up for me but I will have to cook it myself (the mules don't have opposable thumbs).

Bright(?) and early the next day, I will skin up 1450 vertical metres to the Ruitor glacier then, wearing a harness, I'll be roped to a guide to cross the glacier to the Tete du Ruitor (3486m). I anticipate this uphill climb will take me between 4 and 5 hours. It will be rewarded by a descent of more than 2200 vertical metres down to La Masure at 1200 metres, one of the biggest and most awesome off-piste descents you can imagine. If there's sufficient snow cover, I will continue down to Sainte Foy Chef Lieu at 1100m, but I don't anticipate that will be possible in April!

I am not doing this alone, of course! This is the route chosen for "Team Extreme" (I would, wouldn't I!) There are two alternative, less demanding routes for less-experienced tourers and brave teenagers.

Read more about the Ruitor Challenge at www.ruitorchallenge.com.

So, can I ask you to consider supporting my effort and to help Kariandusi finish this fantastic school, which is already providing education for more than a hundred Kenyan children a year and will do so for generations to come. We just need to raise 50,000 pounds to complete it. If you would like to make a donation to support this effort, you can visit the donation web site at http://www.bmycharity.com/ruitorchallengegroup and please click on our names Claire Jeffery or Tom Jeffery to make your donation.

If you would like to follow the events in real time and be sent pictures of snow holes and glaciers, please ask me / us and we will add you to the Challenge distribution list. 

Best Claire and Tom




Contact Claire Jeffery to make an enquiry or to book:


Fr no. 00 336 45 48 08 59
UK no. 00 44 771 774 7734


But don’t just read what we have to say about heli skiing and Pook Heli Lodges, check out our facebook and twitter pages to see what clients have said about us and some of the photographs that they have uploaded whilst either skiing or staying with us.
It is also worth keeping an eye on our YouTube page as we will be uploading recent heliskiing videos which are well worth a watch!

Friday 1 February 2013

February With Val Heli Ski




The weather forecast is looking fantastic! Snow for the next 5 days followed by bright sun, ideal conditions for skiing, so why not come and make the most of it heliskiing with Val Heli Ski or alternatively by booking a stay at Pook Heli-Lodges



Last Minute Spaces Available Over The Next Few Weeks

Val Heli Ski Availability
 One of Zai and Bentley's heli transfers is shown in the picture below and was taken from Pook Heli Lodges January 2013

We have a group in need of one or two more people to join them for a two descent heli ski including heli pick up from end of the descent direct to Pook Heli Lodges. Both members of the group are intermediate off piste skiers looking for some like minded people to come along. This is normally priced at £599 per person based on a group of four people but we will take offers by phone or email


Contact Claire Jeffery:
Phone: 00 33 6 45 48 08 59 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            00 33 6 45 48 08 59      end_of_the_skype_highlighting







Pook Heli-Lodges Availability

There are six beds left for the two shared chalet weeks commencing on the 3rd and 10th February either following our resident off piste programme or coming on an accommodation only basis. You could join the Ski Club of Great Britain for the epic heli-ski and off piste week commencing 3rd February, or feel free to come alone, join the group and meet like minded Brits looking to just enjoy the powder.

For more information on any of the dates shown or to enquire about other dates that we may have available, contact Claire Jeffery:

Phone: 00 33 6 45 48 08 59 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            00 33 6 45 48 08 59      end_of_the_skype_highlighting


Zai Skis and Bentley have recently stayed with us at Pook Heli Lodges. They were lucky enough to have some awesome weather that made for some epic heli skiing and we believe that they thoroughly enjoyed themselves (see first heli ski photograph)


Zai was formed in 2004, based in the Swiss village of Disentis. The high-end manufacturer of ski products, helmets and goggles, with a focus on hand built craftsmanship and the use of unique materials and patented technology.
Zai launched the world’s first and only skis containing a stone core, “zai Spada”, followed by ‘Hublot All Black by zai’ skis featuring a natural rubber top layer. They are also proud to produce the ‘one-of-a-kind’ zai for Bentley Supersport skis, handmade in Switzerland with collaboration from the Styling Studio in Crewe, the home of Bentley Motors.The handmade skis, poles and ski bag have been designed exclusively for Bentley, with design input from Bentley’s own team. Most excitingly, unique and patented technology confirms the product range is truly ‘one-of-a-kind’. New materials deployed in the skis are world first's and match Bentley and zai's philosophy's of unparalleled craftsmanship and performance.





Why use Surefoot custom ski boots?
After investing more than 25 years in research and development, Surefoot can proudly and confidently say that we sell the world’s most comfortable ski boots. Skiers - from the bunny hill frequenters all the way up to magazine gear editors and world-class racers - have confirmed this with their overwhelmingly positive reviews of the unmatched comfort and performance of Surefoot’s Custom Ski Boots.
The Surefoot Boot is available in nineteen different models with a variety of colours; it combines an ability-specific shell, a custom liner, and a custom orthotic to deliver the ultimate ski boot comfort and fit. 
The exterior of the boot - the ability-specific shell - is selected to best match each skier’s level and intensity. Fit criteria such as shell stiffness, canting, and gender-specific issues are also factors in the selection of the shell. Inside the boot, the skier’s foot and lower leg are enveloped in a state-of-the-art, custom-filled liner. The protective yet flexible liner ensures an optimal fit every single time you buckle your boots. Finally, we come to the foundation of our flawless-fit boots: the Surefoot Orthotic. These elements combine in one perfect ski boot to create a level of fit, comfort, and performance that is yet unmatched by any other ski boot.
In addition to our best-selling boot, Surefoot also offers hand-selected ski boots from Nordica, Tecnica, Lange, Salomon, Atomic, and many other top brands; all can be made custom for you with Surefoot’s Orthotic and Custom Liner. To learn about our process to fit you in the world’s most comfortable ski boots, please click here or call the London store on 020 7736 9217.


Wednesday 9 January 2013

2013 With Val Heli Ski

2013 With Val Heli Ski



After a fantastic first few weeks of bookings at Pook Heli Lodges, the team have enjoyed a late start to 2013 with a brilliant day out skiing in La Rosiere. The sun was shining, pistes were empty and the mountain views from L'Ancolie restaurant were absolutely stunning. 

We have recently had a couple of mentions in the following articles which are worth checking out:


Set to be an amazing year in our local resorts, showcasing: The X Games, Brits and European Snow Pride in Tignes and the BMW Snow Polo Masters Tour in Val D'Isere. 

Pook Heli Lodges are only a 30 minute drive away from Tignes and Val D'Isere. We also have a driver on call 24 hours a day making this a perfect location for anyone wishing to make the most of the resort based events whilst also giving you the opportunity to take a step back, get away from the busy pistes and experience the beautiful off piste that this area has to offer. To help you make the most of your time at the events and staying with us, Val Heli Ski has drawn up an itinerary to make your stay with us a truly memorable one.

Dates and spaces remaining for 2013

13th -20th January Exclusive or shared chalet hire available, spaces available: Up to ten persons. This is also the week of the BMW Snow Polo Masters Tour in Val D’Isere and we have a great itinerary planned. 24 hour transfer to and from resort is included. 50% off the booking price (£1,495pp down to £750pp)

3rd – 10th February Individual or exclusive chalet hire available for up to ten persons. We also have spaces left on our one week heli ski programme.

17th-24th March Henry’s Avalanche Talk Week. There are still spaces available! This is the week of the X Games in Tignes for which we have put together an epic ski programme that will fit around the events in Tignes. 24 hour transfers to and from events included.

24th-31st March The Brits/European Snow Pride-Exclusive chalet hire for up to 16 people. This is the week of The Brits. You can watch the ski competitions during the day and enjoy the music scene at night. It's also European Snow Pride in Tignes. 24 hour transfers to and from Tignes will be included so you don’t have to worry about finding your way home. The lodges are only a 30 minute drive away.

31st March – 7th April Chocolate Easter Week- Individual or exclusive hire available for up to ten persons. We will be throwing in free childcare and have put together a children’s ski itinerary based around La Rosiere and St. Foy, ideal resorts for learning how to ski and excellent locations for making the most of the sunshine!

The chalets are not only available for people wishing to attend events in resort. You may fancy a ski week with mates or family, in which case we have plenty of other activities on offer; pampering at Pook Heli Lodges, snow shoeing to a wilderness yurt, organised on and off piste skiing in and around various resorts, drinks around the fire pit or in the hot tub and much more. Please feel free to enquire for more information. Contact details are situated at the bottom of the page.


Below is a picture taken by Dougal Kerr of his son skiing in St. Foy over Christmas whilst staying at Pook Heli Lodges


For more information on any of the weeks listed above or to make a booking please contact us at:

info@thepook.co.uk
info@valheliski.com
French No: 00 33 (0)6 45 48 08 59 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            00 33 (0)6 45 48 08 59      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Uk No: 01329 339 621


Val Heli Ski Website
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Méribel

One of the 3 Valleys resorts, Méribel is an hours drive from Pook Heli Lodges, or just a few minutes away by helicopter, therefore making it very accessible to the heli skiing we offer on the French Italian boarder. For heli skiing from the 3 Valleys, we require bookings of four guests so that we can fill a helicopter exclusively. For more information contact info@thepook.co.uk.


We work closely with Go Ski Méribel and SnoEscape, providing their guests with epic day trip heli skiing. We also provide heli ski day trips to Ski Marmalade clients. We also enjoyed an immense heli ski day with the instructors themselves last season!




Below we have included information from these Méribel partners:






"Quality catered ski & snowboard holidays in the heart of The Three Valleys"

 http://www.goskimeribel.com/


Go Ski Méribel is a friendly independent chalet holiday company offering superb ski & snowboard holidays since December 2008 in Méribel the heart of the Three Valleys.

Self catered apartments to mid range and luxury slope side fully catered chalets.  Our properties accommodate between six and sixteen guests and are all in great locations throughout the Méribel Valley.

Whichever chalet you choose, our aim is to ensure that our guests have the best ski or snowboard holidays!  From your first contact with us you will be dealing with the owner personally which assures you of a professional, knowledgeable and friendly service.  To make your holiday as stress free as possible we offer a pre holiday concierge service where all your lift passes, lessons, equipment and airport transfers can be arranged prior to your arrival.  In addition, when choosing a fully catered package you will also benefit from added extras such as an in resort mini bus service and complimentary bar.

We are proud to have achieved the number one spot on TripAdvisor for Méribel with Chalet Everest and now have more than 1000 happy guest under our belts.  We love skiing and snowboarding as much as our guests and love seeing people having a great time, so choose Go Ski Méribel for an exceptional holiday in one of the world's best ski resorts!







Fully established in 2007, SnoEscape is the future of the snowsports industry. Based in Méribel, the heart of les trois vallées, we provide a full concierge service for all activities available.

After browsing through our Catalogue of Events, and a given activity selected, our clients are visited by one of our SnoEscape activity specialists to run through the logistics and confirm the booking. Once booked in, our guests can relax knowing that they are being completely looked after with every attention to detail addressed.

Our SnoEscape driver collects them usually around 30 mins before the departure time to ensure that the correct equipment is brought them and that they reach their departure point in good time to get an understanding of what’s involved. Then time is allowed for a small practice and a few photographs before setting off on their high adrenaline, action packed activity.

Previous satisfied clients include various Royal family members & dignitaries, Ashley Highfield (VP of Microsoft & inventor or BBC iPlayer), Tim Henman (former UK tennis no.1), Jonathon Palmer (F1) & 12 lucky Lucozade Extreme Break winners. We, at SnoEscape, pride ourselves on giving our clients the best and safest possible activity experience whilst on their alpine holidays.




Hello, we are Marmalade Ski School and we’ll look after you from your first ever turn down a beginner run to some of the best off-piste in the Alps.
We are small team of 5 British ski instructors based at Méribel in the 3 Valleys. We all hold the top qualifications within BASI (British Association of Snowsport Instructors) and have many years’ experience skiing, teaching and coaching across Europe, North America and the Southern Hemisphere.
We offer
·        private ski lessons for any age and any ability
·        group performance clinics for blue run/parallel turners and above
·        kids ski coaching
·        off-piste guiding, snowboarding, instructor training, pre season camps and more.

As a ski school we are keen to distinguish ourselves as the natural choice for all skiers who have reached a good level but wish to keep learning. We are extremely passionate about the mountains and still love to ski for ourselves. We haven’t stopped learning and are continually striving to improve our own performance and coaching skills.
A lesson with Marmalade will show you some great skiing, how to get more from your skiing, a better understanding of how to improve and then finally a load of great fun and enjoyment along the way.