California and Nevada ski resorts have released dramatic footage of a skier flailing around buried in deep snow as a warning to visitors. Ski California, a non-profit trade association including 36 resorts in California and Nevada, posted the video on Monday.
The video, which warns snow-sports enthusiasts of the dangers of deep snow, includes terrifying real rescue footage. Footage was taken from skiers and mountain enthusiasts Francis Zuber and Riley Flynn.
In one of the clips, a skier almost entirely swallowed up deep white snow as only their legs and skis are seen flailing in panic before someone came to their rescue. The rescuer was forced to dig the surrounding snow away from the skier until they managed to wiggle free.
Multiple other clips showing similar scenarios – skiers buried in snow having to be dug out of the traps – were included in the awareness video. Alongside the terrifying footage were warnings telling skiers how to stay safe on the slopes.
‘Ski/ride with a partner,’ the video advised, suggesting visitors avoid tree wells and gladed areas, if tired. Ski California also warned skiers to use appropriate equipment – including wear a helmet. ‘Ski California’s 36 member resorts in California and Nevada regularly see storm totals that are measured in feet, not inches,’ Mike Reitzell, Ski California president, said in a news release.
‘Our goal with this video, the fifth in our Mountain Safety Guide series, is to educate skiers and riders about what they need to do and be aware of to avoid deep snow immersion situations that can be life threatening.’
Snow immersion suffocation (SIS) can happen when a skier or rider falls into an area of deep snow and becomes immobilized and suffocates. Deep Snow Safety found that 90 per cent of people in research experiments testing these situations could not rescue themselves.