Boston skier fail @ Corbet's Couloir
Boston skier fail @ Corbet's Couloir

Every winter skiers from across the country come to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to see how the skills they have developed at their locals hills translate to some of the toughest inbound terrain on the planet and there is no better crucible than Corbet’s Couloir.

North America’s most legendary chute has a tendency to make either heroes or victims of those who step up to the edge and make the 20 foot drop to a 50 degree pitch and this skier from Boston firmly falls in the later category.

Cheers to the skier for giving it his best shot. If you are thinking of attempting Corbet’s here is some sage advice from local skier 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.

About Corbet’s Couloir:

Jackson Hole offers diverse terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all levels, but no discussion of this iconic destination would be complete without mentioning Corbet’s Couloir. With a 20-foot drop and 50-degree pitch, it’s one of the steepest ski slopes in North America. Known as one of the craziest ski resorts, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort brings skiers from around the world to test their limits on this legendary terrain. The Aerial Tram cruises right by Corbet’s on its way to the top, offering skiers/riders a glimpse of the famed couloir. And if you’re hungry for waffles, check out the famous Corbet’s Cabin.

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