Surprising wind slab fracturing and near miss off of Relay Peak today

Gale force winds last night caused a dense wind slab (2-18inches deep) in larger than expected wind effected areas on top of 20+ inches of very light fresh cold snow.  This created a dangerous layer between wind slab and cold light snow beneath.  We were aware of the danger created by recent snow type and wind but the wind slab formation extended much farther than expected from typical wind loading area/ridgeline.  We approached the slope with much caution as we had seen some of the wind layer facturing in wind loaded areas of the trees on the way up.  We believed we were out of danger away from wind loaded area and in anchored snow when one skier in our group slowly left a forested area and proceeded out in to a 25-30 degree slope.  15 feet out from trees while ski cutting in to the slope multiple fractures 12+inches deep formed above and below skier and collectivley slid 6 inches downhill with skier before stoping.  Luckily skiier was able to back out of exposed area and we proceeded in safe terrain down the remainder of slop.