The avalanche airbag in action

[kage69]

Somehow I had missed mention of these, just hearing about this Whistler event today from a ski resort buddy back in Maine. Sure enough it's on youtube.

How to ride an avalanche: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pCci4bMEQw Most likely would have gone a lot different without that airbag being involved. Someone throw that guy a drink and a snow bunny.

Anyone here have one of these devices?

 

[GagHalfrunt]

You're a hell of a lot more likely to need a personal safety bubble when crossing a street.

 

[crashtech]

Wild ride!

 

[kage69]

You're a hell of a lot more likely to need a personal safety bubble when crossing a street.

So? I agree the odds of an avalanche at a tended resort area are low, but out in the sticks? Whole different ball game.

Last time I checked about 300 people are lost in avalanches every year. This portable, probably affordable technology is a proven life-saver for those of us who go into areas like that. From both a victims and a rescuers point of view, I'll bet the difference in statistical frequency between the two types of events couldn't be more irrelevant. Sometimes avalanche victims are never found, or bits and pieces of them are later, months later as the snows recede. Maybe if car strike victims shared that kind of fate there would be a safety bubble for them by now, who knows? Still, people try to obey traffic laws for the most part and have assistance doing it in a variety of forms.

Old Man Winter, however, is not a known giver of fvcks.

I carry spare air with me when I dive, even though statistically I'm not going to need it. I don't see this is being much different. When dealing with environments which are not inherently welcoming to humans, I feel that kind of fore thought is no vice.

 

[kage69]

Wild ride!

Bet that was more eye-opening than any trail or roller-coaster he's been on before, ha! I'd say he hit about 70-80mph on the way down, judging by how fast those trees were flying by.

Time to talk to the manufacturer, that clip might be worth some advertising bucks!

 

[IronWing]

Neal Stephenson thought of everything.

* Anathem.

 

[Exterous]

Thats pretty crazy

 

[adairusmc]

I have one, a BCA Float 32, for when I am snowmobiling. Luckily I have not had a chance to use it in an actual slide, but I ride 3x a week or more during the winter and never leave home without it, my beacon, probe, and shovel.

Burning fuel and tracking up the steep mountains around me is the best winter pastime, especially with the winter we are having this year.

 

[kage69]

I have one, a BCA Float 32, for when I am snowmobiling. Luckily I have not had a chance to use it in an actual slide, but I ride 3x a week or more during the winter and never leave home without it, my beacon, probe, and shovel.

Burning fuel and tracking up the steep mountains around me is the best winter pastime, especially with the winter we are having this year.

That looks to be the one to get from what I've been reading, and they're not as expensive as I was expecting. Nice.

 

[kage69]

This clip has nothing to do with airbags, but I would like to know how this Swede gets his ski pants on with BALLS THAT HUGE...

Skip to like :40 into it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4_tY3by0-c

 

[adairusmc]

I have one, a BCA Float 32, for when I am snowmobiling. Luckily I have not had a chance to use it in an actual slide, but I ride 3x a week or more during the winter and never leave home without it, my beacon, probe, and shovel.

That looks to be the one to get from what I've been reading, and they're not as expensive as I was expecting. Nice.

I can give you the names of some dealers to call who can hook you up with some good pricing with or without a canister if you are in the market.