East Vail has some sick back-country skiing.

Fresh lines, uncut trails, pillows, powder, kickers and cliffs all yours for the taking. But, of course, as with any backcountry endeavor, avalanches are an ever-present danger.

As this snowboarder and his pals found out just this week. They were coming down in East Vail, just outside the resort. It was a powder day and they found a rad little cliff and were tajking turns sending it. But, as the second snowboarder came down into the powder field beyond the rock, the snow beneath him cracked and started sliding…

No doubt, it was a terrifying experience for the guy. But it also made a pretty sick video.

Stay safe out there people…

(A few notes about avalanches: 1) never stand under the slide zone when you’re watching people drop in above you like the first boarder did, and 2) If snow starts sliding underneath you get out of the way, cut across the mountain and get to safety. But don’t do what this guy did and charge all the way down the mountain. If someone in your group gets buried behind you, there’s no way you’ll make it back up to search for them, or to locate them before they suffocate.)