Snow way! Skier who did astonishing backflip over highway says he thought it wasn’t going to happen when patrolman spotted him
- Josh Daiek, 36, did the historic jump at Highway 50, Lake Tahoe, California
- Daiek completed the leap last year but recently described it in an interview
- He said a highway patrol officer warned him against causing an avalanche
This is the heart-stopping moment a professional skier jumped clear of a highway from a 90-foot cliff, soaring over the traffic below.
However, Josh Daiek, 36, said the historic jump at Highway 50, South Lake Tahoe, California was close to not happening when his gear failed on the first landing and a highway patrolman issued a warning to him and his team on the second attempt.
Daiek, originally from Michigan, had long dreamed of making the jump but weather conditions had never permitted it, until last February.
After digging a ramp and a run in at 10pm to avoid suspicion, the skier, two friends and two videographers returned to the spot the next day, his first attempt hampered by a harsh bump of snow in the landing area.
‘My skis just exploded off my feet,’ he told the San Francisco Chronicle, exactly one year later.
Daiek, who said the jump is the ‘craziest thing I’ve ever done’, went back up the cliff for a second go, borrowing a friend’s skis.
Josh Daiek (pictured), 36, said the historic jump at Highway 50, Lake Tahoe, California was close to not happening when his gear failed on the first landing and a patrolman spotted him
Daiek, who said the jump is the ‘craziest thing I’ve ever done’, went back up the cliff for a second go, borrowing a friend’s skis then soaring over the traffic below
He and his group had already encountered one patrol car that thankfully moved on without trouble, but a second one pulled up alongside a California Department of Transportation vehicle whose driver had been watching the whole time.
Daiek told the publication that the trooper said: ‘You guys cause an avalanche, we’re coming after you. ‘Remember, that’s not a threat. That’s a promise.’
The officer then drove off and Daiek landed the huge jump successfully.
Daiek, pictured receiving iF3’s ‘Rookie of the year’ award in 2015, said a highway patrol officer warned him and his four man team about causing an avalanche
The skier’s view as he floated through the air, mid back flip. ‘It’s probably one of the biggest airs landed on skis, period,’ he said
In the video the 36-year-old (centre) can be seen hurtling down the pre-prepared run in before elegantly soaring over two lorries and some cars and landing perfectly on the other side
‘It’s probably one of the biggest airs landed on skis, period,’ he said.
In the video the 36-year-old can be seen hurtling down the pre-prepared run in before elegantly soaring over two lorries and some cars and landing perfectly in the bank at the other side of Highway 50.
‘It’s so cool to have accomplished something that you’ve wanted for years, that you didn’t know was possible,’ he said.
‘It’s so cool to have accomplished something that you’ve wanted for years, that you didn’t know was possible,’ he said