US man skis wearing homemade propeller backpack

A Californian man has invented a somewhat questionable method of skiing involving the use of a custom-made propeller backpack. 

Santa Cruz creator and flight instructor Samm Sheperd revealed the device in a post to his YouTube page yesterday.

The video shows him cruising down a snow-covered road at a brisk clip while the motor roars behind him.

“The feeling of power pushing and twisting into your back is so addicting,” he can be heard narrating.

Assembled out of a range of basic components such as a 50cc motor, a propeller and a battery, the device is worn attached to a backpack and controlled with a handheld transmitter. 

Several YouTube users have pointed to the additional risk Mr Sheperd faces using the device with an unsecured transmitter.

“This way if you drop it, you’re stuck with the propeller at full throttle,” foobar201 commented.

Mr Sheperd has not yet announced any plans to further develop the propeller backpack for commercial use.