Skier fleeing avalanche pulls off epic backflip

By: Will Goodman
Topics: Winning!

(CBS News) Imagine this: you're skiing down the side of a mountain for a competition with an avalanche hot (err, cold) on your heels. Suddenly, you find yourself coming up on a hill jump where the only clear option for survival is - wait for it - a backflip! Yeah, that's right! Watch it all unfold in this insane video above. And the backflip escape action occurs at about 57 seconds.

So maybe he didn't need to do the backflip, but it definitely added to the drama that is this surreal moment in skiing. The skier in question is Sverre Liliequist, who accidentally triggered the avalanche during the Second Big Mountain run at the Swatch Skiers Cup 2013 in Zermatt, Switzerland.

Can I just say that you are the man, Sverre! This marks the second impressive backflip we've seen in 24 hours (and now gives us the backflip on boards trifecta of skiing, skateboarding and surfing). Just throwing that fact out there for those keeping track at home. And for more great videos and news from the Swatch Skiers Cup 2013, be sure to visit their website by clicking here.

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by bodettes February 18, 2013 4:46 PM EST: Great great run. I think the helicopter's noise and whirlwind started the avalanche. Thank heaven that man made it down OK.; Reply to this comment

by Jonseen February 14, 2013 4:34 PM EST

That mountain is insane anyway. More like cliffs. The way the snow was hanging from the top, the avalanche was inevitable. WHY are they skiing there??

I wonder if he even knew the avalanche was there. He was probably focused on what was ahead, planned the backflip... and the avalanche totally added to the drama.

Well... ALL of it is mindboggling. But it's great video. The fact that it's apparently all-too-real is very scary.

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by freezeski February 15, 2013 5:26 PM EST: There are a lot of people involved in the security of these events. Here is a piece with head guide Samuel explaining some of it. He is one of the best guides out there. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY7n1kL9XP0


by victor_2-1 February 14, 2013 1:47 PM EST: That is pretty amazing! Good job on that Sverre!; Reply to this comment

by hamrick99 February 14, 2013 1:05 PM EST

fake

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by itreeye February 14, 2013 3:33 PM EST: Are you one of those, so called, trolls?


by TheDexter425 February 17, 2013 4:23 PM EST: What's fake about it? Snow is chasing him, he's skiing, does a backflip - and someone in a helicopter records it. That about covers it, wouldn't you agree?