Kuzma claimed third place in the World Freeride Tour at the Verbiers Extreme event, but could only watch as her sister was swept almost 200m down the mountain and buried up to her waist in snow by a grade two avalanche during the snowboarding competition.
Maria was unharmed and had dug her way out of the snow by the time competition ski-patrol guides arrived to help her.
With her sister safe and sound, Janina was free to celebrate her eventual third-placed ranking on the Freeride World Tour in her first full season on the northern hemisphere circuit.
Fresh snow had fallen before the event, which is held on some of the world-renowned cliff-face ski runs of the Petits Bec de Rosses, and organisers were forced to close a section of the course for "security reasons".
The world's top 15 men and seven women competed in the freeski event.
An estimated 7000 spectators were on hand to watch the athletes take on the 600m face.
Kuzma's successful claim of a 10m cliff face jump was not enough to oust Swedish freeski sisters Janette and Christine Hargin from their top two placings on the world tour.
Maria's close call meant she was unable to improve her snowboarding ranking and join her sister on the Freeride Tour podium.
She held on to claim the world's fourth ranking in the women's snowboarding category.
Janina paid tribute to the support of a vocal Kiwi contingent of skiers and snowboarders, who travelled to cheer her on during the tour.
"I had an amazing crew cheering me on and I am so stoked to finish third. It's been a long season competing and it's finally all over," she said.
