A skier's embarrassment on the slopes has lasted longer than he probably expected, with photos of his mishap posted online and seen around the world.

The unlucky man was on a high-speed lift in Colorado, when he partially fell through the seat; it's thought the fold-down section wasn't in the proper position.

According to The Smoking Gun website, "His right ski got jammed in the ascending chairlift, and that kept him upended since his boot never dislodged from its binding."

He was apparently left exposed for several minutes, while other skiers took photos of his uncompromising position. The lift was stopped and the man was dislodged.

In a statement released this afternoon, Vail Resorts, which operates the ski area, reported that the skier was not injured. There were no details about how the accident happened, except that "the man was caught on the chair."

See more pics on The Smoking Gun