Heart-stopping video shows moment snowboarder slides down mountain while ... trends now
View
comments
Here is the heart-stopping moment a snowboarder gets caught in an avalanche on a Utah mountain, but manages to stay on top of the cascading snow and survive unscathed.
Blake Nielson was cruising down Big Cottonwood Canyon near Salt Lake City on Sunday when the avalanche began, and he captured the whole incident on a camera mounted to the front of his helmet.
The film shows the ground suddenly falling away from Nielson, who the struggles to stay on the surface using 'swimming motions' in the shifting snow. He finally managed to escape the slide after about 300 feet of downward motion.
Nielson said in a Utah Avalanche Center report he thought the avalanche was caused by a gust of wind which broke away a large slab of snow he was cruising over.
Blake Nielson trying to regain control as he's caught in an avalanche
Snowboarder Blake Nielson survived the avalanche on Sunday in Utah
In the clip, Nielson could be seen beginning his descent into the snow bowl, and calmly carving his way down for a few turns.
After one final turn, the snow beneath
