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 20^th-22^nd 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 24^th year and is being held between from the 23^rd-30^th 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:

info@thepook.co.uk

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!

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:

Email: info@thepook.co.uk

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:

Email:info@thepook.co.uk

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.