Kaçkar Mountains are on their way to becoming a heli-skiing center in Europe

While there is not enough snow in the Swiss Alps and in many of the world's ski resorts this year, the Kaçkar Mountains, which have become the center of heliskiing sport in Turkey, are full of activities that will last for 13 weeks.

Heliski, one of the extreme sports branches in which athletes slide down the slopes after being dropped off to the summits by helicopter, is held in few centers in the world.

This sport, which is as exciting as it is dangerous, has been carried on since 2005 in Çamlıhemşin district of Rize, in the Kaçkar Mountains of Turkey.

Heliski sport, which is held in Ayder Plateau and Kaçkar Mountains of Çamlıhemşin district, is carried out by Turkey-Ayder Heliski Aviation and Tourism Company, which is a partnership of Turkey-Switzerland.

Kaçkarlar increases its value every year with its proximity to Europe and its snow quality.

Domestic and foreign pilots and mountain guides who have been working in search and rescue activities in different countries for a long time take part in the heliski operation in Turkey.

The teams, who spent most of the season in helicopter skiing operations in Turkey and in different countries, are among the professional rescue teams.

After the completion of the technical work in the region, the teams carried out their activities in the first week with three helicopters as the weather conditions returned to normal.

In the first week of the activity, a group of 16 athletes from Switzerland, including an Indian family, participated and enjoyed the snow under favorable weather conditions in the Kaçkar Mountains.

The safety was kept at the highest level for the athletes skiing in the region where the snow thickness was over 1 meter.

For the first time this year, young athletes took part in the group. Children aged 6 and 10, who participated in the activity with their families, enjoyed the snow in safe areas in the Kaçkar Mountains.

Athletes spent time full of adrenaline among the snow-covered pine forests as well as the peaks.

- "All measures are taken with the smallest detail in mind"

Esra Alemdaroğlu, Director of Rize Culture and Tourism, made inspections in the area where the activity was carried out, and received information about the security measures from the company officials.

Esra Alemdaroğlu said that the 2023 activities have started at the heliski, and after the research and examination, it was determined that Kaçkarlar had the most popular track and snow quality.

Stating that the demand for Kaçkars is increasing every year, Alemdaroğlu said, "Last year, 432 applications were made. Over 400 applications are seen again this year. We observe that there are applications generally from Switzerland, European countries, Russia, Canada and Turkey. The snow quality of our track, The beauty of our valleys comes to the fore. Athletes experience both excitement and pleasure in the valleys." he said.

Alemdaroğlu pointed out that the necessary legal permissions and security in heliski activities are extremely important, and said:

"All measures are taken with the smallest detail in mind. We are also conducting the necessary investigations. The fact that our Rize-Artvin Airport has been built has added a special value. We transport our guests who come to the airport to the area where they will stay, and from there to the area where the organization is held."

Stating that the season is progressing very well, Alemdaroğlu said, "When we examine the activities in the region, we can see that it is progressing very well. Whether the tracks in the world are the Himalayas, the Alps in Switzerland, France and Italy; when we observe the last years, Kaçkars have now taken their place in the world as a brand." used the phrases.

- Heliski season will be 14 weeks in 2024

Heliski Operations Manager Celal Özkan said that the organization is very important for Turkey and that security is provided at the highest level.

Emphasizing that the most important factors in choosing Kaçkarlar are the professional team as well as the beauty of nature, Özkan made the following assessment:

"The world's best pilots and ski guides are working together. We have an incredibly beautiful product like Kaçkar Mountains. The quality of snow is very good, the slope of the mountain is ideal for heliskiing activity. It is very close to Europe. Athletes; Rize-Artvin Airport has been very effective for the growth of the operation. Athletes reach the destination area with an hour's journey. The airport effect will continue to increase from now on."

Özkan, reminding that many heliski fields were closed during the Kovid-19 period, while the activities continue in Turkey, said:

"With our safe and quality work during this period, the number of athletes increased. The athletes who came and saw the region left incredibly happy. We have started to sell the reservations for 2024, which is full of 2023. We have planned the season as 14 weeks in 2024 and set a date range. Its sales are also going very well. We are moving forward by building on it. Indeed, Kaçkar Mountains are one of the best places in the world for heliski operations. The only drawback was that it was not known, but we gradually started to introduce it to the world with our activity."

There are 500 natural heliski tracks in Kaçkarlar

Roland Brunner, who has been working as a pilot and ski guide since the first day of the activity, said that the geography of the region is very beautiful and that he is working with pleasure.

Stating that they have identified areas to ski in the region since 2005, Brunner said, "There are an average of 500 tracks in the region. Excellent heliski ski route. The quality of snow is very good and light. This is because of the weather conditions in the Black Sea in January and February. The conditions for the heliski are very good. Since there is no snow in the Alps this year, it is very difficult to operate there." he said.

Explaining that the athletes preferred to explore the region in the first years, Brunner concluded his words as follows:

"Turkey was not a place known as skiing, athletes are really surprised after they come and discover it. They cannot imagine such snow quality and such a slope in their minds. Since they know Turkey as summer tourism, the returns are very good. Athletes come again because they leave very satisfied. "The one who comes wants to come again. That's why we're extending the season. Many skiers in Canada and the USA have started coming here too. Many come back as 'the best ski I've ever done'."