Meesh and company had snowmobiled up to snowboard the northeast faces, some of which had already slid. She was very lucky to have survived unscathed. “Thank you” she said, “this thing saved my life. It’s proof that this product works.”
I think it's proof that if you give people enough safety kit they're more likely to put themselves into silly positions.
And it proves nothing; we don't *know* that she would have died without it - though it presumably would be correct to say "this greatly reduced my chance of death".
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Looks like there was already a slide to lookers right. Very very lucky.
Lots of stupid behaviour in the US this season from experienced backcountry users. Latest blogstorm is around a Jackson Hole guide who ski cut a popular face in very risky conditions triggering a slide that completely buried a popular recreational exit route further below, fortunately no-one hurt.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
fatbob, looks like they have a sketchy snowpack everywhere outside the PNW
After all it is free
After all it is free
James the Last, looks to me that the bag actually was floating her at one stage.
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James the Last wrote:
I think it's proof that if you give people enough safety kit they're more likely to put themselves into silly positions.
How do you know she wouldn't have boarded/skied it without an airbag?
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
DB wrote:
James the Last wrote:
I think it's proof that if you give people enough safety kit they're more likely to put themselves into silly positions.
How do you know she wouldn't have boarded/skied it without an airbag?
"Because" she proved that it saved her life
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
James the Last wrote:
Quote:
Meesh and company had snowmobiled up to snowboard the northeast faces, some of which had already slid. She was very lucky to have survived unscathed. “Thank you” she said, “this thing saved my life. It’s proof that this product works.”
I think it's proof that if you give people enough safety kit they're more likely to put themselves into silly positions.
And it proves nothing; we don't *know* that she would have died without it - though it presumably would be correct to say "this greatly reduced my chance of death".
Totally, one of the most obvious danger signs is fresh avalanches on similar aspects.
You cannot tell that safety equipment works based on one anecdotal example, you cannot replay the incident without the equipment. It's a good indicator though which in this case is backed up by the combined statistical data AFAIK. I think the amount of time she managed to stay on her feet also played a part. The bed surface looks super nasty!
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Wheres the best place to buy an abs backpack? Also how much should they cost?
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
I agree with Joeuski one of the contributors, also was her helmet or something not allowing her to hear the commotion from above.
Something has to happen in skiing to change the new "no rules" culture of skiing/boarding. Skiers are being flattened on piste in Tignes; off-piste skiers/boarders are being threatened by idiots not understanding obvious danger points. Has it got worse really? Yes it has. I give junior skiers a copy of the ten rules of piste safety and they need to know them off by heart to achieve their ski award star points. Perhaps all skiers/boarders must know them even if they have not had proper lessons where these should have been emphasised.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
I guess that you can buy all the safety equipment on the market but you cannot buy good judgement.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
She actually seemed to pull pretty late. Armchair ref but I think I'd have wanted to pull as soon as the slope started moving.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Yeah I would have pulled earlier..does she end up face down? surely thats not ideal either in some situations. Also a bit further right she probably would have been nicely shredded on those rocky bits..
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Looks to me she slowed a bit to check out her line as the crown broke, committed and then noticed the avalanche, tried to make it out to skiers right (which rips anyway) but is going too slow and right in the centre of the slide, falls and pops the airbag. She ends up riding the slide head up, facing downhill and sitting/lying down. Apart from choosing to ride that line in the first place I don't think she could have done anything better.
You can see two other tracks heading into the same line and at about 17 seconds avi debris just lookers left of the screen. There also seems to be a lot of previous debris at the foot of the slope on lookers right.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
As we all know just because there are other tracks doesn't mean its safe
The missing context here is that this was a spectacularly bad choice of slope for a freeride comp.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Too angry to read everyone's comments, sorry. BCA posted this as some kind of promotion, I think it just makes the girl (& crew she was with) look stupid. I also don't think it proves much, she stayed on top of the slab, I've ridden (much smaller) slabs with the same effect.
I just bought an ABS bag for the rest of this season. Got the Vario with an ultralight 18lt bag. Big enough for food, avi kit and a jacket but can still sit on chair lifts with it. Not too heavy with the carbon cylinder.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Boredsurfing, You can end up getting one for £530 after 5% club discount and claiming £50 on return of test cylinder. Worth the upgrade to carbon though for an additional £75.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
i've watched this a few times and i really don't think she would have been buried without the bag.
i'd love to hear why she/her crew thought it was a good idea to ride that line
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Ski the Net with snowHeads
Agree that it is not proof, but think it did help her and the airbag stats do look good.
Americans are not the only ones who can get lucky with poor terrain choices with unstable snow
Interview with the "pro". Hahaaaaaaa Now she wants to keep people out of the backcountry this season, because she's an idiot! I'm really pleased she's alive but wow is she full of poo-poo.
"I was really p1ssed to be riding my sled in conditions like that". "I didn't even think about avalanche danger". "Is my logo big enough in this photo".
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
OK I know I am biased the youtube clip below does show how airbags work, and for people who know me from my gear and skis its a little spooky as the helmet cam is not me!! but wow when I first saw this I said I am sure I didn't film that, same skis same jacket and same Snowpulse!!!!!!!!
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
I've been skiing with an ABS since 2008, no need to convert me. I know they work. There should just be an IQ test when people buy them. More importantly, the companies that make them should be careful with their marketing and promotion. IMO BCA should not have posted that the first video on their Facebook page >> it just says: if you are stupid we have the perfect product for you. Which isn't really a great message for such a great tool like the Float.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
parlor,
Quote:
IMO BCA should not have posted that the first video on their Facebook page
BCA's Social media is a little off the mark, but I am sure they are trying to make up for it
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
livetoski, scary how long it takes to dig someone out that's floating on top let alone under the snow.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
fatbob wrote:
She actually seemed to pull pretty late. Armchair ref but I think I'd have wanted to pull as soon as the slope started moving.
I caused a small (but big enough to have been buried) slab avalanche a few years ago and I didn't realise the slope was sliding.
The issue is that if you're looking ahead then your brain doesn't have any points of reference - so can't work out that you're moving down the slope faster than you're skiing. I suspect that the bigger the slope then the harder it is to pick out relative references.
The thing that alerted me was that a rock to my right was moving at the "wrong" speed relative to me. I knew it was wrong, but couldn't figure out why until I heard a scream from above. Fortunately, at that point, my brain put two and two together and I managed to ski off the side of the avalanche.
There was a classic terrain trap at the bottom and would almost certainly have been buried, but would have been unlucky to been buried. There were six people above me who all had arva kit and knew how to use it.
The irony, of course, is that the reason the six people above me knew how to use their kit is that it was five instructors and a guide who I was leading as part of the assessment on my BASI Mountain Safety Module.
The big lesson I've learned from the experience is to have strength in my own convictions. I had been talked into skiing the slope, against my judgement, by the guide who was assessing me. A shallower slope on the same aspect just before the pitch was very slabby and the slope was obviously steeper and in the late 30 degrees. I'd decided to ski a line at 90 degrees to the pitch instead. The guide asked why I didn't want to ski the pitch and I explained my reasoning. "Of course" he said, "with your experience you'd think that, but I've been a guide for 20 years and can assure you that it's not going to slide". Ten minutes later he'd talked me into it.
It slid on my second turn.
Did he apologise? Did he f*(k.
I passed the course and he marked me 1 mark up on "Snow Awareness".
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
FlyingStantoni, Guide was just glad to have a test poodle for a change
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
fatbob, "Stick FlyingStantoni on it. If it holds we're all safe..."
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
