Snowboarder Saved During Avalanche Thanks to Airbag
- Posted on February 5, 2012 at 1:21am by
Liz Klimas
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For snowboarders and skiers, avalanches on infrequently traveled slopes can happen without warning. But, there is technology that can help save their lives in the event of an avalanche: an airbag system.
Meesh Hytner in the avalanche.
Gizmodo reports that Meesh Hytner, a professional snowboarder, was caught in a Class 3 avalanche during a backcountry competition in Colorado on what it describes as “virgin slopes”. The Avalanche Center describes a Class 3 avalanche as having the ability to “bury a car, destroy a small building, or break trees.” Fortunately, she was wearing a Backcountry Access Float 30 backpack.
Backcountry Access Float 30 (Photo: Backcountry Access)
Watch the footage and see the airbag as it’s deployed:
The Backcountry Access Float 30 pack Hytner was wearing reduces the depth the wearer could get buried in during an avalanche. According to its website, will keep the wearer “at or near the surface, minimizing excavation time.”
Hytner described wearing the pack during the avalanche as “riding down the stairs on a mattress.” She credits the airbag system with saving her life.
Hytner was picked up by a snowmobile after the avalanche. Here you can see the airbag clearly.
Here’s another video of the airbag in action:
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OklahomaBound
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:47pmSponge Bog Square Airbag.
Report Post »Scooder
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:20pm@MICMAC, Well said! I’m glad your daughter is OK. That must have been 4 days of complete HEll.
Report Post »DD313
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 8:22amThis airbag is similar to the one now available for surfers, and appears to be a potential lifesaver, even if it looks a little goofy. Better an airbag than a body bag if you are into such sports.
Report Post »supressorgrid
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 7:37amThis is a good anology for the president, a big bag of air that is on my back.
Report Post »notreally
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 7:35amBet the inventor of that bag will become part of the hated 1%.
Report Post »johnpaulkuchtajr
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 6:32amAnd why does some adventure junkie leave a perfectly good cup of hot chocolate at the lodge to assault a mountain side knowing he has a good chance of precipitating an avalanche?
Report Post »Firefighter 538
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 5:17pm• And why does some adventure junkie leave a perfectly good cup of XXXXXXX hot Spice Rum at the lodge to assault a mountain side knowing he has a good chance of precipitating an avalanche?
Better?
Report Post »Afungi
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 8:04pmI used to do a lot of back country, cross country and alpine skiing had a few close calls. If you are the reason the avalanche slid your in a river of snow and this will work but if your in the middle or bottom of the slide the impact would likely kill you anyway. When the snow stops it is very hard and suffocation can be because of presser on chest. Being just a few inches under the snow can make you completely helpless. It will not replace good judgement and training, but it is a very good idea.
Report Post »Wilbur Longshank
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 5:35amI’m sorry, but I watched this video twice. she did that on purpose. she stopped twice at the top turned her board sidways to push on the snow to start it to flow, and then slid into the middle of it.
she could have went to the right and stayed out of it, but it is pretty cool to see that they do have a blow up air bag just in case.
This was no accident it was intentional
shakedowncrews
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 3:13pmWilbur Longshank, that’s just stupid. No one in their right mind will purposely set off an avalanche. I don’t see the events as you describe them, I think she hesitated when she felt the snow slide, she might have wisely sensed the snow was about to release and wanted to be at the top of the slide, not below it. I take it from your brilliant analysis you are an expert back country snowboarder…or NOT.
Report Post »shakedowncrews
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 3:16pm@ Wilbur Longshanks: in fact, after observing the video two more times, I’m convinced you are just not that bright. At 5 seconds while she is carving turns, you can see the snow above her release. Her hesitation came as the snow was sliding out from beneath her, she was struggling to maintain her balance. Why do people who have no idea what they are talking about insist on making such unsupported allegations?
You could reasonably state that it’s stupid to take such risks on back-country sports, but to say she purposely started the slide, now that’s just goofy.
Report Post »AngryK9
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 5:21pmAfungi…..the word is you’re. Not your. If you’re in the middle or bottom. Just sayin’.
Afungi
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 5:56pmDear Mr. WIBUR LONGSHANK
Report Post »I beg to differ it looked like new snow in a slide area. She was making a slow decent when you see a crack develop about 10′ above her all the way across the face. At that moment, you see the snow sheet sliding and start to turn liquid. That was the point she new she was screwed. There was no safe spot across the whole face. Less than a second later the whole sheet turned liquid. Then it is like trying keep your balance in heavily aerated water. A really expert surfer might pull it off for a short time and she did very well. I do not know if the Gal new it would slide and I hope she sold the footage to the bag company. Poor judgement on her part making a run that had no safe zones to stop in. You are right she caused the slide. But most slide victims do. Also most slide victims are a few feet down hill from where they are last seen, where they get pushed to the bottom. The bag prevented that. If a slide starts 50′ above you it is like being hit with a wall of snow going 70 mph. Usually it is shattered bones and exploded organs that kill you. The distance shot showed even more dangerous slides above the run she made. A scary place to ski.
Please Mr. SHAKEDOWMCREWS be kind not everyone is as skilled as you are.
And ANGRYK9 Looks like we have a unemployed english lit major here. I do not think I do to bad considering my dyslexia. If it was not for spell checker I could not write at all. Is that handle long for mad dog? How appropriate!
sensible99
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:26pmGo one better and fill it with helium so that the skier could just float above until the avalanche stops and then slowly release the gas lowering themselves gently back to Earth.
Report Post »Capsaicin
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:41amahhahahahaha. Thanks for that. You get “Post of the Day” honors from me.
Report Post »Heb4Seven
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 4:10amNever skied in my life…but, that’s what I wondered….Helium….Makes sense to me!!.. How could just air keep them afloat above the snow?…Was it causing them to just ‘bounce’ out of it?
Report Post »teddlybar
Posted on February 7, 2012 at 1:58pmCute idea, but not enough volume. You’d need a balloon (airbag) about 100 meters across to support the weight of a human in the air. It might however give you more buoyancy and help keep you nearer the surface. I’m not sure, but helium might also be more compressible than air, so you’d be able to get away with a smaller tank for the same amount of inflation.
@HEB4SEVEN – I suspect it keeps you up because the snow in an avalanche would have properties similar to a liquid. That’s why in an earthquake, certain types of soil undergo liquefaction and actually let buildings sink into the ground. The airbag likely gives you just enough effective buoyancy under those conditions to help you “float” near the surface of the sliding snow, because it‘s acting more like a fluid than a solid while it’s moving.
Report Post »Afungi
Posted on February 10, 2012 at 6:29pmVery good! If the vent hose went their mouth they could scream like Donald Duck!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 1:04pmPreventitive/Protectionist… Helmets, Safety Belts & Air Bags… for all retards!
Report Post »TxSon
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:26pmSays the guy with brain damage from one too many bumps on the head.
Report Post »THXll38
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 7:32amThey start at around $650.00 and go up to about $800.00. Not cheap, but worth it if you’re into this type of crazy stuff.
Report Post »mharry860
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 11:58pmShould probably be the price of admission. I ride dirt bikes and wear $450.00 boots, $600.00 knee braces and another $500.00 worth of protective gear. If you don’t wreck, your not going fast enough! I also have to to work on Monday and not in a wheel chair.
Report Post »LDSmommy
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 5:34ammharry860-My ex-husband had our son on dirt bikes by 4. He used minimal protection and learned the hard way. He had our son with him on the bike, just doing little jumps at his parents ranch. Right before he wiped out, he threw our boy off safely but shattered his own leg, etc. Thank God my son saw the result of that stupidity and when he got *his* son on dirt bikes at 3, he was fully protected. He wouldn’t dream of putting my grandson in the position he was in. I agree with you, price of admission!
Report Post »THXll38
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 7:30amCool device. Plus you look like a human billboard.
Report Post »80mesh
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 6:40amfirst i thought what the heck was that guy doin with an obummer ear costume on ….. then seeing the wingspqan of that contraption i realized it was mooshells negligee …knowing that we could put one on each coast to save us from the liberal avalance of stupidity … ya think?
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 4:38amI think i would rather be on the snowmobile to begin with…. cuz i cant ski worth a damn… Cool device and good for her !!!
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 4:32amAnd, where was this invented?
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 4:49amThe technology was actually invented in switzerland where they have avalanches all the time, but that particular one is from a small company in colorado.
Report Post »rsanchez1
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:32amNice, simple, and effective. I like it!
Report Post »waspanglosaxon
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:24amWell, you know what they say about an ounce of prevention.
Report Post »Captain Crunch
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:49amGreat Idea! I hope they make lots of money from their idea.
But knowing our government and how they interfere in our businesses they will probaby try to charge a CO2 tax and a sporting tax and an environmental disturbance tax and a fun tax…
No laughing alowed in the USA dammit!
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:59am@CAPTAIN CRUNCH……you make valid points. And, I would imagine the “fun tax” on this item will be considerable, since you are wearing something that looks like a giant whoopee cushion…excessive fun is pretty much mandatory.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 4:34am@captain
Report Post »And medical device tax !
Baddoggy
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 5:25amWorse yet…make it mandatory.
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 11:23pmThe EPA will soon be involved, fining you for displacing high quantities of mountain snow.
Report Post »Slowman101
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:11amWhat a cool invention. I am sure it will help save the lives of many people in the future.
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:40amDue to my lack of dexterity when it comes to skiing, I think I would keep that thing on and inflated all the time, since it might cushion my numerous wipe outs….lol…….and yes, I may go down the mountain backwards and sliding on my rear, but I do it with considerable style…..
Report Post »AxelPhantom
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:43amWhat are you saying TX? That Texans can’t ski? ;)
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:53am@AXELPHANTOM……no, most Texans can ski, I think……I just don’t happen to be one of them…….but I can fall like a professional…..:D
Report Post »AxelPhantom
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:58amTx,
Report Post »It has been my experience they ski well on water, just not the frozen variety (my kids are included in that catagory)!
TXPilot
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 1:42amOk, now that is a very cool item. I too, would like to save snowboarders, so I am willing to donate the two government installed airbags that came with my car. I’d rather have them save a life, than blow my face off in an accident.
Report Post »Do The Right Thing
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:25amWell said, Tx. At the dealer, I asked the salesman if I could delete all the airbags, and the seat belts in all but the drivers position, on a 2010 Challenger R/T. He looked confused, well, I said, take a picture of someone with 3 people sitting in the backseat, and call me, I‘ll come back and we’d talk, I simply can‘t believe my phone hasn’t rung, that was 2 years ago.
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 2:38am@DO THE RIGHT THING……..lol……I couldn’t get rid of the air bags either, so I did the next best thing, I gave that car to the wife, and I now drive an old jeep….made back in the days, before seatbelts, airbags, computers and plastic bumpers. It’s made of real metal, a normal person can work on it with standard tools, and as an added bonus, due to the lack of computers, if we have an EMP attack, my old vehicle will still be running.
Report Post »B_rad
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 2:32am@TX, only if it has points. Any electronic ignition is worthless after an EMP. You may know that, but just wanted to point it out. Gotta be pre 1973 (I think – at least for GM). But if yours is pre seat belts, I‘m sure it’s pre electronic ignition.
Report Post »Levinite
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 2:43amI love the comment. That said, I was in a pretty bad accident in 2009 and walked without a scratch. I’m no crash analyst or adjuster, but I’m fairly confident my airbags made that possible.
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