Unbeliveable Footage of Snowboarder Riding an Avalanche Is Tough to Watch
While skiing and snowboarding are popular activities this time of year, participants often have to be wary of potential avalanches. The risk of an avalanche is minimal on well-maintained resort slopes, but backcountry skiing/snowboarding is much more sketchy. In the wilderness where snow levels aren't carefully maintained, it doesn't take much to set off an avalanche.
Utah's official @fox13utah TikTok account shared a terrifying video of snowboarder Blake Nielsen getting caught in a sudden avalanche. With no way to escape the snowslide, Blake was forced to ride it out!
Miraculously, Blake managed to stay on top of the snow and ride it safely all the way down the slope! He was extremely lucky here. While the avalanche seemed relatively small, if he had become overwhelmed by the snow, he could have been injured, buried, and disoriented, putting him in a potentially life-threatening position. This experience was the ultimate test of his skills, and luckily, he came out on top- literally!
According to the video's description, Blake's avalanche incident took place in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah. While Big Cottonwood Canyon is home to a couple of ski resorts, he seems to have been backcountry boarding here. Like Blake, backcountry skiers and boarders have to accept these risks for the sake of their sport. Still, it must have been so terrifying to finally experience an avalanche firsthand! We're incredibly relieved that Blake escaped seemingly without a scratch!
"You take that risk in the back country. But it looks like he had his head about him and it was a "small" slide," commented @jaekirkwoodpond. "He did well. easier said than done to cut out, seems like he had already lost his footing. Stayed calm, stayed afloat and communicated updates," @marksalv_ admired Blake's cool head in a terrifying situation.
"That’s something pretty bad*ss to survive and tell a story about. Also very smart of him to wear all the visible gear he has like that orange helmet," praised @better.than.average.dude. High-vis gear is a must for any skier or snowboarder, especially in the backcountry. If he had been buried by the avalanche, his bright clothes would make him much easier to find!
Through a mix of practiced skill and sheer luck, Blake lived to tell the tale. However, these video stands as a reminder to those who plan to try backcountry skiing or snowboarding. Be prepared- you never know when an avalanche may strike!
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