Watch: An ode to Mike Wiegele, the father of heli skiing

Born in a rural canton in the Austrian Alps in 1938, Mike Wiegele took heli skiing from the outermost fringes of the sport into the mainstream. Wiegele died last week at the age of 82, but his legacy is forever cemented in the annals of skiing history. He hosted the first ever Powder 8 World Championship in 1978, a few years after founding Mike Wiegele’s Heli Skiing in Blue River, BC. Known for an unparalleled commitment to safety and skier experience, Wiegele’s became renowned worldwide. Even those who never experience the motorized skiing experience will recognize Wiegele’s name; it stood for integrity and commitment to the sport. The heli op produced an excellent documentary on Wiegele a few years ago. We bring it to you again here in honor of Mike.