An owner of a Haines heli-skiing operation avoided serious injury Wednesday after he was buried by an avalanche while assessing conditions for an upcoming competition, according to Alaska State Troopers.
Scott Sundberg, 40, was skiing in the Telemark Ridge area of the Kicking Horse Valley west of Haines when he made a hard curve and triggered an avalanche. Snow covered most of Sundberg's body, including his head, said Megan Peters, troopers spokeswoman.
A 911 caller reported the avalanche to troopers around 11:30 a.m, saying one skier was missing, Peters said.
Sundberg co-owns Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures. He was wearing safety gear on the mountain Wednesday, including an air bag, Peters said.
SEABA personnel were able to quickly find and rescue Sundberg, Peters said. "(They) unburied him and cleared his airway and he started breathing," she said.
Sundberg was taken to a Haines health clinic. He did not suffer life-threatening injuries, Peters said.
A person who answered the phone Wednesday at SEABA declined to comment on the incident.
The Freeride World Tour, an international ski and snowboard competition, is scheduled for Haines this month. The nine-day weather window for the event begins this weekend.
Tom Winter, the Freeride World Tour's Americas manager, said the Telemark Ridge area is one potential slope for the competition. A venue will not be chosen until risk assessments are completed on all potential areas, he said.