I'm an avid snowboard. Based on the article, he didn't do anything unusual. Even if he took precautions beforehand, what happened to him could happen to anybody who's out there doing diamond or powder runs. Snowboarding and skiing are not 100% safe, not even close, and therein lies the adrenaline rush. If you don't want to take that risk, then stay on the green runs or stay in the lodge where it's safe.

I will criticize his snowboard buddies. Even if they couldn't get to him themselves, they should have known his general location so that a rescue team could get to him within a half hour or so. Sixteen hours rescue time is ridiculous. I want to know who his companions were, so that I don't make the mistake of making them my buddies.

Yes, take your survival gear with you, but good buddies are the most valuable survival "tools" to have out there...by far, no comparison, been there, done that, have the T-shirt.