Terrifying footage shows moment skier triggers dangerous avalanche

JAW-DROPPING footage has emerged showing the moment a skier triggered a massive avalanche after cutting into a slope in Canada.

JAW-DROPPING footage shows the moment a skier triggered a huge avalanche in Canada.

According to The Sun, the incident happened when the man was skiing on Mount Lipallian in the Lake Louise Banff National Park, Alberta.

Skiing website Snow Brains reports the region has gained 40cm 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 National Avalanche Centre.

It said: “The idea is that if you trigger an avalanche you want to do it on your terms.

Footage shows the start of an avalanche with the snow breaking apart after the skier performed a defensive cutting move. Picture: Viral Hog

“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 shows the obvious dangers, as the breaking snow in the avalanche moves swiftly towards the cliff edge.