Olympic Valley, CA — We would like to join GoPro in saluting Carson Schmidt and Erik Masuda who didn’t hesitate when the saw a skier in a dire situation between KT22 and Olympic Lady at Palisades Tahoe back in February.
The Masudas acted quickly, remained calm under pressure, and heroically performed a life-saving rescue by digging toward the victim’s face to clear their airway. Snow immersion suffocation is incredibly dangerous and this pair may well have saved a life that day in Tahoe.
The video earned the pair a GoPro Award which typically payout around $1000 but the real reward is knowing that they prevented what could very easily turned into a tragic situation.
Remember folks, when your out at a ski resort and you see a possible person in distress, don’t expect someone else to handle it. You may well be the only witness and first on scene. Use commonsense, do the best you can to help and alert ski patrol immediately. Cheers to the Masudas!
Ski & Snowboard Safety Reminder:
- Always ride with a partner on deep powder days
- Keep each other in sight at all times
- Be aware of tree wells and deep snow hazards
- Act FAST in an emergency—every second counts
If you ever face a situation like this, stay calm, assess quickly, and prioritize clearing the airway immediately. For more information on winter safety, head to https://safety.skicalifornia.org
