Welcome From el Presidenté!

"I have skied and snowboarded around the globe. First as a ski bum in Europe and the USA then as a guide in British Columbia and later as a film and photo shoot coordinator to the pros."

 

I have always kept my eyes open for a place to start a helicopter skiing operation...a place which would suit my demands and special needs. It did not take long before I realized that this would be somewhere in British Columbia's vast mountain ranges, to be precise, in the B.C. Coast Mountains. I was not just looking for big mountains with a lot of snow. I was looking for a lifestyle suited to my, shall we say, picky character. It took me 20 years but I did find it. I found my Shangri-La in Bella Coola!

The mountains here are on steroids, the snow is reliable and deep and there are unlimited possibilities for outdoor activities. There is an abundance of wildlife, lots of clean water and clean air as well as a rich native culture and local history. It even has ocean and ranch country access.

My luck did not stop there! To start a helicopter skiing operation you need more than just snow and mountains. You also need easy access from metropolitan areas, a reliable helicopter operator and a good lodge. A quality hospital and reliable day to day service providers are also assets. Well, I found all this already in place! Then to top it all off the government granted me the exclusive use of all this area in one of the largest tenures ever awarded to a helicopter-skiing operation in B.C. To put that in perspective, our ski terrain is 5,700 sq/km, that's over 200 times the size of the Whistler/Blackcomb ski resort.

My old pals Beat Steiner and Christian Begin came on board as partners true skiers in heart and soul. I contacted my friends in the guiding and hospitality industry and we soon had a highly professional operation up and running. Folks, we were ready for business! But don't get me wrong lots of hard work since then has gone into creating a quality product with service as our number one goal.

Our mandate has always been, and still is, to create a product designed by skiers for fellow skiers. We offer you quality skiing and snowboarding in big mountains for small groups with small helicopters combined with a private wilderness Lodge atmosphere. We are not, and never will be, interested in flying large groups in 'tour bus size' helicopters and run 'cruise ship' style lodging with a line up to the buffet table.

Finally, on behalf of all our staff, my partners Beat Steiner and Christian Begin I would like to extend a warm welcome to all to visit us in Bella Coola and a big thank you to all our returning friends. Please share our Shangri-La and experience true B.C. wilderness adventures. Leave your cell phones and busy life at home. Let us pamper you and show you a holiday experience that we hope you will remember for a lifetime!

Your Friend and Host,

Peter "Swede" Mattsson

P.S. Fisherman! Don't forget to bring your rods!! We host the best darn winter river fishing you can imagine. What can be better than Fat Pow & Fat Trout. Well, no more details for now.....that's Top Secret!