today feb 7 2012 there is a video on weather.com showing a snowboarder pulling his airbag and floating on top of the snow in a avalanche .
snowboarder saved from avalanche with airbags
- Thread starter drypowder
- Start date
The air bag didn't do anything. They rode the board all the way down. Seen a better video of it the other day.
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EagleRiverDee
Well-known member
A link to that other vid would be nice, considering that this video is being used by BCA themselves as proof of a save by the airbag and the gal was interviewed as saying it was like "riding down a staircase on a mattress" which certainly seems to indicate she was laying flat on her back floating on the bag and not on her feet on her snowboard. She also credited the airbag with saving her. It was also on every major news outlet as an airbag save. Do a google on "snowboarder saved by airbag" and look how many hits you get to major news networks that reported it as a save. If you have proof that it wasn't a save by the air bag, you should post it up, because if that video is being mis-reported that needs to get out as I imagine that one video is going to sell a lot of airbags and might make some people overconfident.
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Rush44
Well-known member
As much as I would love to place the save in the hands of the airbag, I just can't. I've seen this video several times now and if you'll look at it terry is correct... the boarder rides the slide out on a slab about 2/3's of the way down and then deploys the bag when the slide finally breaks under her feet. If you'll notice the boarder speed before the bag is deployed matches the speed of the slide allowing her to better stay on top. I'm sure it's a positive to have the bag, but staying she "floated to the top" is nonsense.... she was never taken under.
The bag would have probably been a big help had the boarder been overtaken by the slide and pulled under. That is the footage I would like to see. Regardless, I never ride anymore without my bag and my other avy equipment... all tested and ready to rock.
The bag would have probably been a big help had the boarder been overtaken by the slide and pulled under. That is the footage I would like to see. Regardless, I never ride anymore without my bag and my other avy equipment... all tested and ready to rock.
I don't know where I seen it but the airbag did absolutely nothing. They stayed up on the board the whole way down. The video I watched showed the whole thing. It didn't cut out like this one. If bca is using it that is probably why half the video is missing because it clearly shows that she didn't fall down.
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bikerjustin
Well-known member
Those bags and the TSA have one thing in common. The illusion of safety. The $1000 it costs for one of those bags would probably be better used towards a life ins policy.
She fell when it came to a stop. Not buying the airbag saved her. Hey, I wear an airbag. I think everyone should buy one. Should you do stupid stuff because you have one, No. It isn't the cure all but anything you can do to increase your chances is a plus in my opinion.
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EagleRiverDee
Well-known member
That's simply incorrect. ABS bags, when deployed, have been successful in keeping avy victims on the surface 93% of the time. They are also being recommended heavily by the avalanche training centers. They are "new" technology for us sledders but have been around for years with skiiers particularly in Europe.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating that anyone go out and take additional risks because they have beacon or an ABS bag but the bottom line is that if you are buried in an avy you have a 50% change of dying. The ABS bag keeps you on the surface and some of the designs even protect your head and neck from trauma...which is the other major killer in avys. I believe there will come a time when they are pretty much standard equipment for people in addition to a helmet, beacon, probe and shovel. They will get less expensive as time goes on, as well. Everything does.
She fell at 19 seconds(when she pulled the handle). I'd say that was a win for the airbag.
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