Triple S CEO Finds Fun in Heli-Skiing 

As the President and CEO of Triple S, the Nashua, New Hampshire-based buying group, Kevin Chow has in many ways climbed to the summit of the jan/san industry. It’s only fitting that he spends his free time gliding back down. 

An avid skier for 62 years, Chow routinely takes advantage of living just 90 minutes from snow-packed mountains. However, in recent years, he’s embraced a more unique form of skiing that makes him feel like that same kid who first hit the slopes with his dad decades ago. 

Chow began heli-skiing in 2020 as a “bucket list kind of thing” and has since made it a frequent pastime. When he describes his first experience with the off-trail, back-country adventure, it’s easy to see why. 

“When skiing is your passion, and you’ve been dreaming about this kind of experience all your life, it’s a little nerve-wracking,” he explains. “You want to have the experience, but you have a lot more apprehension than with traditional skiing. You really need to be confident in your abilities. The quality, texture, and weight of the snow is different, and the terrain is unknown, dangerous, and unlike a typical ski run in a resort.”   

Heli-skiing is different than regular skiing because it involves a helicopter, which gives a skier access to untouched, crowd-free peaks, and otherwise inaccessible terrain featuring deep, fresh powder. It’s also more than what the name suggests. 

“Everybody thinks that heli-skiing means that you jump out of a helicopter,” Chow says. “The helicopter delivers us to the mountaintop. On one side, we might be next to a sheer drop-off, but on the other side, there is pristine, beautiful snow.” 

Skiers don’t just wake up one day and decide they want to try heli-skiing. Chow underwent (required) avalanche training to learn how to use a beacon in the event he was caught in such an emergency. Heli-skiers also must know how to use a probe to help find someone if they’re caught under the snow. Chow took additional training in risk management to address such events. 

Then there’s physical preparation. Chow says he trains a year in advance so that he has the proper strength, flexibility, and stamina necessary for this activity. 

Despite all the preparation, Chow obviously finds the sport to be worth the wait. 

“When you’re doing something you’ve dreamt about for years, you want to make it the best experience possible,” he says. “The first time I heli-skied, I felt exuberant. I don’t know if I can actually explain my feelings—it was just pure joy. As we mature and realize that life is fragile, we learn to cherish the little—and big—things more. I want to live life to the fullest for as long as I can.”   

Gretchen Roufs, a 25-year janitorial supply industry veteran, owns a marketing and public relations company in San Antonio. To suggest someone you think should be featured in “Freetime,” contact her at Gretchen@GretchenRoufs.com.