Montana Athletes Take On America’s Scariest Ski Run

Montana isn’t the only place in the West that has seen its ski season struggle. Jackson Hole, Wyoming, hasn’t had the best ski season. That turned around last week just in time for one of the most intense ski and snowboard competitions around.  

While the Winter Olympics were underway, other professional athletes were competing in a very different style of ski and snowboard event. The Kings and Queens of Corbet’s is not like any Olympic competition.  

Since 2018, this competition hasn't t taken place on pristine groomed runs. It takes place at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s Corbet’s Couloir, a double-black-diamond run that's been described as “America’s scariest ski slope.” The run starts with a freefall of 10-20 feet and has a 45-degree pitch. 

What Makes Corbet’s Couloir So Dangerous?

On Friday, February 13, 24 of the bravest professional skiers and snowboarders competed for the title of King or Queen of Corbet’s. There were four categories: men’s ski, women’s ski, men’s snowboard, and women’s snowboard. The winning rider in each category won $5,000 for first prize, with an additional $5,000 to the King and Queen, a total of $10,000 for the top two athletes.   

Four professionals from Montana competed: skier Quinn Wolferman from Missoula, snowboarder Elijah Singer from Big Sky, snowboarder Erika Vikander from Bozeman, and snowboarder Quinn Boutot, who is based in Big Sky.

READ MORE: Montana Skiers Shine in Armada’s Epic New Ski Movie

This competition is also different in that the competitors are judged by athletes after the competition. Judges review footage from GoPro cameras attached to the competitors and drone footage of the runs. The winners were announced the next day.  

According to Unofficial Networks, which focuses on skiing around the world, they said it was one of the “best we’ve ever seen.” 

Montana Athletes Step Up to the Challenge

Wolferman got the competition invite the day before and was battling an ear infection at the time. That didn’t stop him from putting down an epic run, and it was enough to place 5th in the men’s ski competition. Vikander placed 4th in women’s snowboarding. Singer and Boutot did not place.  

READ MORE: Montana’s Tanner Hall Invited to Elite Alaska Ski Showdown

Who Won the 2026 Crowns?

The 2026 crowns went to skier Tristen Lilly, who was crowned King, and skier Piper Kunst, who was crowned Queen.   

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The competition was streamed live on YouTube.