Skier Shocked As Avalanche Nearly Sweeps His Friend Away
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Ian Greenwood
Krister Kopala and Nikolai Schirmer are a dynamic Nordic backcountry skiing and riding duo. They tackle steep lines at blisteringly high speeds and have released some of the most exciting backcountry skiing content in recent years.
However, to get those viral clips and amazing videos, the pair sometimes brushes against one of the backcountry’s greatest risks: avalanches. In this video, Nikolai watches as Krister is nearly swept away by a slide.
Total nightmare fuel.
This video, shot last season in Tignes, France, is an important reminder that avalanches are an ever-present threat on steep, powder-laden slopes.
At first glance, the actions that led to this avalanche could appear irresponsible. After all, if you’re doing everything correctly, you shouldn’t encounter slides in the backcountry, right?
For the most part, the answer to that question is yes. However, the more nuanced answer is this: it depends. It depends on your skill level, risk tolerance, and terrain management knowledge.
Krister Kopala, in the comments section of this video, wrote:
“The line i was going to ride was in another aspect and further down from this loaded slab. We where prepared for the slab to release and the outrun of the avalanche where clean.”
In short, Krister knew about this line’s slide potential. To mitigate risk, he made a swift left-hand turn after leaving the potential avalanche start zone, which worked.
Do I recommend that anyone reading this article attempt something similar? Absolutely not. Pro skiers and snowboarders, unsurprisingly, play by a different set of rules in the backcountry than us mere mortals.
To explore the semi-controversial discussion of skiing possible avalanche zones, check out this Instagram post from Jonnie Merrill. His assessment of a similar situation provides further insight into pro skiers willingly skiing slopes with avalanche potential.
To reiterate, don’t do any of what you just watched at home or in the backcountry. I consider myself an advanced to expert skier, and I’ve never, to my knowledge, skied a slope that had a chance of sliding.
Pros are pros for a reason — they have different goals than you or me. As such, many of them navigate the backcountry in a unique manner that amateurs should never replicate under any circumstances.
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