Seaba Heliskiing - A World Class Heli Skiing Experience
How it All Began at SEABA...
At the young age of 20, Scott Sundberg "Sunny" began his quest for the best mountain experience on earth.....in Alaska. After years of trial and unrelenting determination, skiing 10 of Alaska's Mountain ranges. He settled on the Chilkat Mountains of Haines, Alaska and began delivering a world class ski experience. He founded SEABA in 2002 and to this day Sunny continues to put Haines heli skiing on the top of big mountain skier's hit lists.
Over the past 20 years, Seaba guides have flown and pioneered almost every mountain range in Alaska, from Valdez to Knik to Cordova. They continue to migrate to Haines each winter with purpose of delivering the experience that people only dream of and they are in the business of making dreams come true.
While other operations might have 50+ guests skiing at once with multiple large groups per helicopter, at SEABA, they max out at 4 groups per heli and maintain a 4:1 or 5:1 client to guide ratio, ensuring a unique and personal ski experience where you’ll truly feel like a first descent pioneer.
Who Can Heli Ski with SEABA?
Over the years SEABA has gained the reputation of having a high caliber guide staff that safely guides clients in some of the most technical, steep, and variable terrain in the world. What most skiers don't know is that the majority of their terrain is filled with moderate 35-45 degree slopes with high quality Alaska "blower" powder. There is a huge amount of varied terrain for all abilities: long sweeping intermediate runs that will satisfy the desires of the blue square connoisseur and challenging summit descents for experts. If you can comfortably ski or snowboard black diamonds at a resort in Western North America or the Alps of Europe, you will enjoy heli skiing with us. There is never any pressure to ski terrain outside of your comfort level. SEABA guides stay in tune with client’s abilities and the type of heli ski experience they desire.
Interested in More Challenging Terrain?
Clients interested in more challenging terrain have a place at SEABA too. However, your guide will first need to assess your fitness level, ski and/or snowboard ability and backcountry knowledge on runs of a lower ability level than you might be looking for. If you pass the guide's checklist and snow conditions and group dynamics allow, they will try to ski you in these unique areas.
SEABA encourage guests seeking higher paced adventures to bring themselves to peak physical condition and put in as many hours at the ski hill prior as possible. This is mission-based skiing with challenging objectives; the more serious you take training for your trip the higher your probability for achievement.
SEABA Heliskiing Location
SEABA Heliskiiing is located in Haines Alaska, a remote and beautiful coastal village 75 miles north of Juneau. Haines is one of Alaska's Inside Passage’s most scenic communities and a crucial link between the roadless communities of the Inside Passage to the Alaska Highway.
Traveling to Haines, Alaska
Traveling by Air
There are a few options to getting to Haines, Alaska. You can fly into Juneau, Alaska on a commercial Airline, then
book an Alaska Sea Planes flight form Juneau to Haines *Be aware of the Alaska Airline flights from Seattle to Juneau that stop at coastal towns on the way. Avoid this by looking for the shorter flight times, around 2 hours.
Delayed Flights
If flights are delayed, don’t worry. If the airlines are not flying, the helicopter is most likely not either. Give SEABA a call if your arrival to Haines changes. There are plenty of hotel options in Juneau that have complimentary shuttle service to the airport and ferry terminal. Taking the ferry would be another option worth looking into. We recommend staying near the airport.
Traveling by Ferry
You can take a ferry to Haines from either Juneau or Seattle. This is a much longer journey than flying, but it's very beautiful traveling here by water.
Check the sailing calendar for The Alaska Marine Highway here>>
Traveling to Haines through Canada
Another option is to fly into Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. This option
generally is not available until April. This works well for flying over the north pole from Europe, saves lots of time. You then can rent a vehicle and drive to Haines direct which takes about 4 hours. Or drive to Skagway, Alaska and take the ferry to Haines (2 hour drive to ferry terminal)
SEABA Terrain & Snow
The TerrainSEABA has access to over 100,000 acres of terrain in Haines, Alaska. Their heli skiing tenure area extends from the salt water all the way to the British Columbia / Yukon border; nearly forty miles to the northwest. SEABA, stage operations along a 40 mile corridor from three strategically spaced heliports: Mile 10, Mile 26, Mile 33. Each port has distinct weather influences and terrain options, allowing them the best options to get to the blower powder.
Additionally, the tree line in Haines (2,500 to 3,000ft) is higher than any other Alaskan heli skiing destination, giving its clients access to epic tree lines even when the peaks are fogged in. SEABA provides everything from mellow rollers to spicy steeps. Rest assured there is heli skiing terrain for all ability levels from intermediate & above.
The SnowHaines benefits from a unique set of meteorological and geographic circumstances that create a skiing and snowboarding experience second to none. We are surrounded by some of the highest coastal mountains in the world: the massive Fair-Weather Range with peaks as high as 15,325ft, the Saint Elias Mountains with peaks up to 18,008ft and the sub-Arctic Yukon Steppes to the North. The Aleutian Low, one of the world’s great storm nurseries, resides directly upwind providing some of the most reliable snowfall on the planet. Magic happens when those bitter cold artic temps meet the relatively warmer ocean air masses. The moisture that moves inland slams into a virtual wall of relief and provides dumps so massive they leave no question in your mind that Ullr, the God of winter, is real. The weather clears early and often and the snow quality is unrivalled.
The combination of Arctic and Maritime influences make the snow in the Haines area some of the driest and most stable on earth, enabling us to ski and snowboard from almost 8,000 feet to sea level!
SEABA Terms & Conditions
Heli Skiing Cancellation & Refund Policy
There will be no refunds. Any participant may transfer their trip at anytime. If cancellation occurs within 90 days of your trip we will keep your deposit. Credits will be available if SEABA was unable to provide for the service you purchased based on mechanical breakdown or other acts of God like cancellation of service because of instabilities in the snow pack that force SEABA to shut down operations. This does not apply to general weather. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU ACQUIRE TRIP INSURANCE TO PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT. SEE BELOW!
Trip Insurance
If you are concerned about getting weathered out and not being able to recoup your monetary losses, then we HIGHLY suggest purchasing travel insurance. We recommend buying "Trip Interruption Insurance" from the following companies: www.travelexinsurance.com or www.travelguard.com. These options allow for monetary recoup of your trip if no services were offered or if your trip gets canceled because of natural disaster or force de majuere. Typically insurance costs are 4-6% of trip cost. SEABA will support your insurance claim.
Cat Skiing Cancellation & Refund Policy
If you cancel 7 days or more prior to your scheduled departure for this adventure you will be able to reschedule. If rescheduling is not possible, you will be reimbursed the total amount, net a 15% administrative fee. If any cancellation is made less than 7 days prior to your scheduled departure for this adventure you will lose the complete value of your monetary investment. If your adventure must be canceled due to circumstances outside of your own (ie. weather), the outfitter will work with you to reschedule for no extra fees.
Multi-Day Plane Skiing Cancellation & Refund Policy
If you cancel 14 days or more prior to your scheduled departure for this adventure you will be able to reschedule. Unfortunately, reimbursements will not be given. If any cancellation is made less than 3 days prior to your scheduled departure for this adventure you will lose the complete value of your experience and the ability to reschedule. If your adventure must be canceled due to circumstances outside of your control (e.g. weather, size of party, mechanical breakdown), the outfitter will work with you to reschedule for no extra fees. If rescheduling is not possible, you will be reimbursed the total amount of your purchase, net a 15% administrative fee.