A Utah man’s snowboarding trip took a terrifying turn when he was attacked by a mountain lion on the slopes of Beaver Mountain. Charlie Duffy recounted his harrowing experience on Instagram, detailing how he used his snowboard to fend off the large cat on Sunday, February 4.
Duffy was walking along the snowy trail when he noticed fresh paw prints, which immediately put him on high alert. Not long after, he spotted a mountain lion just a few steps away. Duffy described the chilling moment he saw the mountain lion preparing to pounce.
Thinking quickly, Duffy grabbed his snowboard and swung it at the mountain lion as it leapt towards him. He described the adrenaline-fueled moment, saying his fight response kicked in instantly. His swift action knocked the mountain lion to the ground, but the encounter was far from over.
Duffy reported that the mountain lion, which appeared to be starving and was injured from the snowboard strike, got back up and continued to approach him. He managed to keep the animal at bay until it eventually ran off, disoriented.
Duffy escaped the encounter with only a few minor scratches and a torn jacket, evidence of the mountain lion’s attack. He shared photos of his damaged gear on Instagram, where his story quickly gained attention.
In response to Duffy’s ordeal, snowboard companies Nitro and 686 reached out with offers to replace his damaged gear. Nitro Snowboards commented on Duffy’s post, expressing relief that he was okay and promising to send him a new board. Similarly, 686 pledged to repair the damage to his gear.
Duffy’s encounter serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers that can be encountered in the great outdoors, even during recreational activities like snowboarding. His quick thinking and use of his snowboard likely saved him from a more severe outcome.