Terrifying footage shows moment skier triggers dangerous avalanche after cutting into the slope in Canada
Video captures a large slab of snow sliding down after the skier performed the risky defensive tactic
JAW-DROPPING footage shows the moment a skier triggered a huge avalanche in Canada.
Video captures a large slab of snow sliding down after the skier cut into the slope.
The incident happened when the man was skiing on Mount Lipallian in the Lake Louise Banff National Park, Alberta.
Skiing website reports the region has gained 15 inches of snow in the past week "substantially increasing" the danger of an avalanche.
"A tactically placed ski-cut triggered the rather large avalanche on a southerly aspect when the rider struck a weak point at the shallow layer next to a protruding rock," said a report on Snow Brains.
A 'ski cut' is a "defensive" tactic used by experienced skiers to test an area where an avalanche could occur, according to the .
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It said: "The idea is that if you trigger an avalanche you want to do it on your terms.
"That is, you want to do it with your speed built up and heading for an island of safety so that, in theory, if the slope does fracture, your momentum will carry you off of the moving slab."
The video above shows the obvious dangers, as the breaking snow in the avalanche moves swiftly towards the cliff edge.
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