As a warning to visitors, ski resorts in California and Nevada have released dramatic footage of a skier flopping around in deep snow.
Ski California, a nonprofit trade association that includes 36 resorts in California and Nevada, released the video on Monday.
The video, which warns snow sports enthusiasts about the dangers of deep snow, features frightening, real-life rescue footage.
The photos were taken by skiers and mountain enthusiasts Francis Zuber and Riley Flynn.
In one of the clips, a skier was almost completely swallowed by the deep white snow, with only his legs and skis flailing in panic before someone came to his aid.
As a warning to visitors, ski resorts in California and Nevada have released dramatic footage of a skier flopping around in deep snow
The video, which warns snow sports enthusiasts about the dangers of deep snow, features frightening, real-life rescue footage
The rescuer was forced to shovel the surrounding snow away from the skier until he managed to free himself.
The educational video included several other clips showing similar scenarios – skiers buried in the snow had to be rescued from the traps.
Alongside the frightening footage were warnings informing skiers about how to stay safe on the slopes.
“Go skiing or skiing with a partner,” the video says. Visitors are advised to avoid tree wells and clearings when tired.
Ski California also warned skiers to use appropriate equipment – including wearing a helmet.
“Ski California’s 36 member resorts in California and Nevada regularly experience storm totals measured in feet, not inches,” Mike Reitzell, president of Ski California, said in a news release.
The photos were taken by skiers and mountain enthusiasts Francis Zuber and Riley Flynn
“Our goal with this video, the fifth in our Mountain Safety Guide series, is to educate skiers and snowboarders on what they need to do and be aware of to avoid deep snow situations that can be life-threatening.”
Snow Immersion Suffocation (SIS) can occur when a skier or skier falls into an area of deep snow, becomes immobile and suffocates.
Deep Snow Safety found that 90 percent of people in research experiments testing these situations were unable to save themselves.