With all the big controversies from the X Games and sad stories about people being killed in avalanches in the US and Canada this season this video is a welcome arrival. Pro snowboarder Meesh Hytner is very glad that she had her Float 30 airbag with her the other day while riding in Colorado, it might have saved her life. I have never seen one of these bags is action, and I have always had my doubts about their effectiveness. As they say “The proof is in the pudding.” And this pudding seems to do a good job of keeping you on top.
This footage was taken Jan. 25, 2012, in the backcountry near Montezuma, Colorado. It features female pro snowboarder Meesh Hytner being caught in a sizeable (~class 3) avalanche and deploying her Float 30 avalanche airbag before taking a long ride.
That thing is fucking bad ass, kenny!
I want to get into the airbag business.
The real story should be on why the hell they were having a backountry snowboard competition out there last week. With the snowpack we have in Colorado right now it kills me to see individuals out pushing it in the backcountry, nevermind someone having an organized event. A bigger name, more responsible comp (ie FWT) would have never gone off in those conditions.
I’ve skied that area a bunch and it gets a ton of windloading. Last year, there were 20 foot cornices in spots. Mix the wind slabs with a consistent +35 degree pitch, add in some depth hoar, and there was no way this wasn’t going to be the outcome.
Those bags are great, and their success seems to be proven more by the day. However, it seems like they end up using avalanches like this as advertisements when many times people should be admonished for putting themselves, and the other members of their group, in those types of situations.
Well if they were cheaper, I would buy one.
Really? How much is your life worth? Sounds like a senseless argument from your point of view. It’s funny though, you really don’t need one with good education and decision making, but stacking the odds never hurt for that one day when you fucked up. I remember about 3 or 4 years ago arguing with one of summit counties premier patrollers and controllers about bags. He told me he would rather have his dog. Anyway, they are here to stay, but they will never replace your brain, and I am thankful for the technology even though I still don’t have one. But if they could ever carry my kit for the mountain I will use one. They just don’t carry that well yet, but they are getting there, and I want one. I just wish I could design it. But no one gives a shit about what I think because I am not a pro, LMFAO!!
They are expensive and not everyone who skis the backcountry has an extra 600 bucks laying around. I would agree that the brain is the best tool and it is free.
good luck getting blood from a stone
The avalanche bags should cost about 400 bones.. not 1000
Epic marketing for BCA.
Aaaand me. I have a brand new one for sale, here at my house in Squaw. BCA Float 30. Make me an offer. 530-320-1018
The real question is:how is she “pro”?
Because she’s a woman. We don’t need that much to become a pro. maybe a gopro and a 540.
Lmao, so true.
Uh, she was on the surface the entire time. Results would have been the same with or without the baggie.
Great idea but this little lanche didn’t sell me on it.
Are you kidding? Do you wonder why she was on the surface? Think the airbag might have had something to do with that?
NOPE, not kidding. She was NEVER under or even in danger of being under. Her snowboard which does NOT have a nice little baggie full of air was on top the whole ride.
The baggie could be useful sure. But in this case it was not.
Right, she was “never” in danger of being under after getting hopelessly trapped in a class 3 avalanche. Those things aren’t dangerous at all. The argument is moot, but don’t be foolish and pretend you could possibly know what could happen if there was no airbag. You can’t and nobody else can.
I’ll just catch and release this one………to small
Fake. If it was real, this would have taken place in a kitchen.
Heyoooo
Uh, who says “…the proof is in the pudding”? Bill Cosby? The expression is “the proof is in the putting” as in “putting” something into action. There is no proof in pudding, only sugar and gelatin made from boiled cow bones.
Pudding
owned
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?v=TVApHh5Rax4
Just put the proof on the table!
Can someone explain how that can works in physics?!? I have never heard of such a thing before..
If it was in a liquid like water it would be just on top due to buoyancy and surface tension that would stay in top..but snow is solid following solid’s rules…
Now if the airbug had some gas like helium that would make her lighter than air it would be very asteble due to the snow that would give you extra weight.. and ofcourse you need to have a inflation machine..
The only thing that I can see this thing does and could help is to have a large surface but when you are talking about an avalanche does that make any difference…
BTW Im a europian I haven’t seen that things ever again and I just google about it and I couldn’t find anything like that except sites from usa saying that this is being used in europe for many years.. : / ..Maybe in other countries but still I couldn’t find one europian site talking about them..Moreover I don’t see any major brands Black Diamond, Giro, Protec, tecnica etc to have anything like that..strange..
The airbags work on principle of inverse segregation. If you shake a bag full of sand and pebbles, the pebbles will rise to the surface as they have more volume than the sand grains. In avalanches, making yourself bigger can help keep you on the surface, and air bags do that by inflating a bag which increases your size.
Boarding down a >30 degree slope in considerable or high avalanche conditions and relying on your airbag pack to save you is about as smart as driving through red lights in your car and relying on the airbag to save you.