“Austen Sweetin had hit this diving board a couple times in the first week of March. Both times, he frontside 360’d it and over-rotated just a bit. On this morning after another reset, he went front 7 and landed clean. Then the landing slid a couple feet deep. Luckily, he was able to ride for a hundred feet or so before the avalanche caught him, swallowing his hat and goggles. He was partially buried in the flats but was able to self-extract. It was a sober reminder of how serious the terrain is within sight of Chair 8. In retrospect, there had been significant wind with the storm the day before. We gained false confidence watching a few others ride similar aspects and elevations with no propagation. Still, a frothy crew on the bootpack and up top sped up his decision-making. It shows how the human factor is magnified in the backcoun-try close to the resort and was one of a few close calls off the same ridge over the course of the season. We’re glad he made it out OK and will continue to process and learn from the experience.” Photo: Colin Wiseman
The Snowboarder's Journal The Snowboarder's Journal 19.1: Page 89
