This is the heart-stopping moment a freestyle skier plunged off the Matterhorn in Switzerland in a competition that rewards bravery . Loic Collomb-Patton , from France , was captured dropping off the huge ledge in an effort to win one of the world 's most prestigious skiing events . The Skiers Cup sees Team Europe and Team Americas compete against each other at the end of February - and this year saw Europe win the title . Freestyle skier Loic Collomb-Patton , from France , drops off a huge ledge while competing in the Skiers Cup in Switzerland at the end of February . Skiers hit speeds of more than 60mph in temperatures around minus 15 degrees , meaning one slip could result in devastating consequences . As well hidden crevasses , cliffs more than ten metres high and deep powder , the competitors also had to battle with 40mph winds . In one image Seth Morrison , the 42-year-old captain of the United States team , is captured pulling off a 30ft-long backflip making it the biggest and longest jump of the competition . Intrepid photographer David Carlier captured the athletes on camera by using a helicopter to track the skiers from above . Sverre Liliequist , from Sweden , performs a backflip on the Matterhorn against a clear blue sky . Mr Liliequist competed for Europe , which won the annual cup for the third time . Seth Morrison , captain of Team Americas , is captured upside-down as he attempts a backflip . The 30ft-long jump was the biggest and longest of the competition . With bright yellow poles sticking out either side Logan Pehota , competing for the US , drops over a ledge into deep , powdery snow . Mr Collomb-Patton attempts the same jump but looks a little more unsteady on his feet as snow and ice tumble around him . Despite the athletes taking more than an hour in a chairlift to reach the peak of the mountain , whose summit is 4,478 metres ( 14,692 ft ) high , they reached the bottom in less than a minute . Mr Carlier said : 'It is very unusual to have such an amazing group of riders ski on the Matterhorn at such a high level and in such great snow conditions . 'Actually , it has never been done before as this is the first time they could ski to the bottom of the Matterhorn , just under the North face . 'It was jaw dropping to witness the size of the jumps and the speed the riders reach in virgin , untracked , deep powder snow . Mr Morrison is photographed throwing himself into the beginning of his backflip with his legs behind him . The 42-year-old regularly enters ski competitions . Nicolas Vuignier , from Switzerland , is pictured against the thick snow , which is clear aside from a few old ski runs . Mr Pehota , from Canada , tries to make his way down a near vertical cliff face . Team Americas has won the cup twice in five years . Dana Flahr , competing for the US , gets a huge amount of air as he jumps over a ridge just down from one of the mountain peaks . Cody Townsend is captured on two separate runs . Left , he attempts to navigate rocks after dropping off a ledge . Right , he keeps his cool on a vertical cliff face . Competitors make their way towards the peak of the Matterhorn . It takes more than an hour in a chairlift to reach the peak but less than a minute to come down . 'It requires so many skills to perform freestyle tricks in such an uncontrolled environment . 'It takes only one hour from the last lift to reach the start of the contest but then it takes them less than a minute to go down . ' Nicolas Hale-Woods , freeride world tour general manager , said : 'The level of skiing is amazing – but what strikes me most is the good spirit between the teams . 'It has been really interesting to witness how the guys helped out each other . That 's the spirit that makes this event so special and we will do our part to keep it that way . ' Europe has won the crown three times , with America taking home glory twice .
Team Europe and Team Americas compete against each other in the Skiers Cup with Europe winning this year . The captain of Team Americas achieved the longest and biggest jump of the competition with a 14,692 ft .