10-Nov-2014 Source: Atomic skis
As a part of the partnership, Atomic will provide CMH a full fleet of award-winning men’s and women’s skis including the Automatic 117, Automatic 109 and Century 109.
“Based in the heart of the Alps, Atomic has always taken pride in being a brand that is rooted in the history of skiing while also progressing the sport and creating the best equipment for skiers,” said Atomic Canada’s brand manager Virginie Murdison. “In CMH, we see a company with similar values and goals.”
Founded in 1965, CMH (Canadian Mountain Holidays) invented heli-skiing in Western Canada and now operates 11 lodges in the winter with access to more than three million acres of terrain.
“In the 50 year history of CMH HeliSkiing, we’ve become known for the legendary powder skiing that we offer,” says Jeremy Roche, CMH director of marketing and retail. “Partnering with Atomic and giving our guests the opportunity to ski on the world’s best powder skis was a nobrainer.”
The partnership strengthens Atomic’s position as an industry leader in alpine skiing and reinforces CMH’s reputation as a top quality service provider for avid skiers and adventurers.
Million foot jacket from Arc’teryx
Arc’teryx and CMH Heli-Skiing have been working closely together for several years. CMH heli-skiing guides wear Arc’teryx clothing and are also involved in product development. For example, the Arc’teryx Heli Guide jacket is result of a close co-operation with CMH that began in 2006. It has features such as a super tall, snow shielding storm collar with a stowable hood and an easily-accessible radio pocket with dual zipper pulls. Some of these ideas were also incorporated into the Stinger Jacket.
CMH shops sell a wide selection of Arc’teryx products, but the most desired jacket is not available for the general public. This special item is the famous sky blue Million Foot Jacket, available only to heli-skiers who have exceeded one million feet in total vertical descent. Reaching this figure takes approximately ten heli-skiing trips.
Gate to heli-heaven
In the early sixties Austrian ski and mountain guide Hans Gmoser found the ski terrain of his dreams in the remote Canadian Bugaboo mountains. The mountains had everything he could hope for – peaks over 3 000 meters, vast glaciers, open ski areas, steep tree-line routes, stunning views and above all, heaps of snow. ThHans Gmosere average snowfall in Bugaboos was and still is well over 10 meters.
Gmoser had only one problem. The mountains were so remote that it took days to hike to the best skiing areas. How could he get to the slopes more easily? Why not try a helicopter, a customer once asked. He looked into the possibility and, by winter 1965, the first helicopter leased by his company was already flying skiers up to the peaks of the Bugaboos. In 1968, Gmoser built his first lodge, naturally located at his beloved Bugaboo mountain ridge.
CMH set standards to heli-skiing and today, 50 years later is still the market-leader. It has 11 ski areas: Bugaboos, Cariboos, Adamants, Monashees, Bobbie Burns, Gothics, Revelstoke, Galena, Kootenay, Valemount and McBride.
