Whistler Snowboarder Releases Large In-Bounds Avalanche
This past weekend, on Saturday, January 6th, snowboarder Bryce Bugera was caught in an in-bounds slide at Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia.
Bugera shared a video of the incident on Instagram which captures the avalanche in motion.
Bugera said this avalanche occurred "along the traverse to Grey Zone" near Blackcomb's Glacier Express Chair.
In the video, two avalanche paths are shown.
Avalanche Canada—a Canadian avalanche forecasting group—reports that avalanche danger in the region is "considerable." With the arrival of new snow tonight at Whistler Blackcomb, Avalanche Canada predicts they will become "high" on Tuesday in the alpine.
Whistler Blackcomb has received 27 inches of new snow in the past 72 hours. The resort calls its current conditions "packed powder." Avalanches happen most frequently during or just after heavy snowfall.
Whistler Blackcomb shared the following statement with POWDER regarding the incident:
"The incident on Saturday, January 6, 2024, remains under investigation.
Whistler Blackcomb places the highest value on the safety of our guests and employees. Ski Patrol regularly performs avalanche mitigation work, monitors snow conditions and weather forecasts, and evaluates terrain to the extent possible as conditions change.
As a reminder, it is part of the Alpine Responsibility Code to notify a ski area employee in the event of an incident or collision. Guests should immediately notify Patrol of any on-hill incidents and emergencies, either directly through the My Epic app, or by calling 604-935-5555.
The safety of guests and staff is our top priority. As the snow continues to fall and terrain expands, please obey all signage, respect others, and ski and ride with care."
It's worth noting that in-bounds slides—avalanches within a ski resort's boundaries—aren't widespread. At nearly every ski resort in North America, ski patrol teams avalanche control with bombs and other tools before opening any given area so that skiers can enjoy the slopes without avalanche gear and training.
However, avalanches can happen within ski resort boundaries during storm days or post-storm days, as proven by this video from Bugera.
What are you supposed to do with that information?
For one, if a line you're about to ski feels off and shows signs of instability, don't ski it, even if it's in-bounds. Good old-fashioned gut checks apply on and off-piste. Two, heading to the ski resort with your avalanche gear—beacon, probe, shovel—never hurts after a storm. Finally, heed ski resort signage and safety procedures. Playing by the rules in a resort is the best way to stay safe.
Related: Whistler Skiers Complaining About Brutal Powder Day Lift Lines
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