Always deploy your airbag in an avalanche?

On another thread it was posited that you might move faster downslope once the bag is deployed. If true, then you might hit trees much harder with the bag deployed. On the other hand, you may not have as much force from snow pushing you into the tree if you are on top of the flow. I do not know enough about the dynamics in play to have a strong take either way on this notion, but given that I mostly ski trees in mid-winter, it at least got me pondering...

I'm not convinced by the theory that you will move quicker on the surface and therefore hit the tree with more force. I'd like to hear from somebody who understands the flow dynamics of an avalanche and the science.

It is interesting that in the recent Steven's pass slide, from what I've read...the skier who deployed an airbag ended up 50 ft from the buried victims which would suggest they were travelling at the same speed.

I think the point being missed is that in ANY avy in treed terrain, you have a very good chance of dying from trauma whether you have an air bag or not and that if you manage to miss the trees by chance , by luck whatever...it would better not to be buried but on the surface.

Perhaps we need a tree specific airbad that has a kevlar cover to prevent puncture... PPABS (Ping Pong Air Bag System)

Sorry- I forgot that TAY doesn't do sarcasm well, I sort of meant exactly this.

I think the point being missed is that in ANY avy in treed terrain, you have a very good chance of dying from trauma whether you have an air bag or not and that if you manage to miss the trees by chance , by luck whatever...it would better not to be buried but on the surface.

Ping Pong Air Bag- I can't remember who I was talking about a full body airbag with last weekend, but instead of Ping Pong, we used Pachinko instead... PAB.

body airbag with last weekend, but instead of Ping Pong, we used Pachinko instead... PAB

I like it... unfortunately it is already in existence.. on the brightside we can just ditch the skis/snowboard and Zorb it!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Zorbing.jpg

In all seriousness, why wouldn't you deploy an ABS??? Yeah, it MIGHT get shredded, but you might as well pull the cord and get a bit of cushion out of it while getting strained....

Pachinko Air Bag Survival Tool - PABST

Plinko Air Bag Survival Tool - PABST

*edited for correct spelling