We post a lot of content here about Corbet’s Couloir at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and for good reason.
The trail is easily the most recognizable in North America, and it’s legend has spread across the globe.
Hell, JHMR hosts the Kings & Queens of Corbet’s every year to celebrate the iconic couloir.
It’s pretty common to see regular people wiping out on Corbet’s, and we thought it would be appropriate to show how to do it the ‘right’ way by entering from the goat path.
Check out the clip below of somebody doing it correctly followed by a list of tips for skiing the couloir by pro skier Owen Leeper.
Video uploaded to YouTube by David Schaverien.
Here’s the most important tip if you don’t feel like reading Leeper’s full list of tips further down below.
“…as soon as you drop in, keep your weight forward and over the front of your boots and instead of trying to stop right away, make the right turn toward the wall and then turn left, using that turn to slow down and regain control”
Full description:
Owen Leeper: For those ready to drop into Corbet’s Couloir for the first time, I have a few tips:
Even though it looks like you will instantly catch an edge and tomahawk all the way down, it’s actually quite doable, conditions permitting. It definitely takes some skill, so make sure you’re capable of skiing steep double black terrain before attempting it and, more importantly, wait for some new snow.
While my favorite way into Corbet’s is to backflip off the nose of the cornice, I don’t recommend that for your first drop into the couloir! When you’re ready and the snow is soft, head to Corbet’s from the top of the tram and watch a few people drop in first to see how they do it. The key is to approach the edge slowly and locate the goat path, which is the easiest way in and where everyone will be standing.
Slide as far as you can into the couloir sideways without losing your edge so you don’t come in with too much speed. Slowly creep your skies down sideways until you can see the path headed under the cornice to the skiers’ right. Once you get down low enough and you can see the turn, slowly rotate your tips downhill and into the couloir.
This is where most people go wrong – they lean back and turn uphill as soon as possible, trying to stop, but that puts their weight on the tails of their skis and they lose control, sliding the whole way down on their back. To avoid that, as soon as you drop in, keep your weight forward and over the front of your boots and instead of trying to stop right away, make the right turn toward the wall and then turn left, using that turn to slow down and regain control
Remember to stay safe out there, friends!
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