Snowboarder Hans Mindnich crowned King of Corbet’s 2022 at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Yuki Kadono places second
Have you ever dropped into Corbet’s Couloir? How about dropping into it when its filled with subpar snow that vacillates from chundery ice balls to sheer ice sheets, with some semi-soft spots sprinkled in? How about during wild mountain weather with howling wind and wafts of snow gumming up your visibility?
How good did you make it look?
Did you drop in during a livestreamed event that’s broadcast out to the world via 15 cameras, including three FPV drones, run by an army of cameramen and support teams who work tirelessly to transmit your run into livestreams that are accessible to every Jerry from here to Timbuktu? Have you hit Corbet’s in front of a swelling crowd armed with their iPhones capturing your run from the bottom, which they quickly upload to social networks for all to gawk, jeer, and cheer at?
If you’ve done this, than you’re a badass (and one of the 24 invited competitors that were brave enough to show up and throw down at this year’s Kings & Queens of Corbet’s at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort).
Now in its fifth year, Kings & Queens has steadily grown up, and established itself as one for the gnarliest freeride competitions of the year. Unlike any other event, it pits snowboarders and skiers head-to-head. The number of planks or poles or boards one has under their feet doesn’t matter. All that matters is how stylishly and impressively each competitor can huck their meat into the sea of snowy uncertainty. There is no judging panel. The judges are the riders and athletes themselves. They are not only tasked with riding well but also have to meticulously decide which of their peers should take the crowns as King and Queen.
Kings & Queens of Corbet’s is inherently nuts. Read on and be awed. Shout of to all the riders and competitors and especially Hans Mindnich and Yuki Kadono for taking first and second place for the men, respectively. But everyone, from the organizers to the event staff to the on-hill support and beyond, is a King and Queen in my book.
Photo Gallery
Rider: Hans Mindnich Competitor comment: @Sanderhadley they had the same trick on the bottom jump. It was a tough one to judge but in the end it was the fact that Hans laid down a mostly clean first run and stomped the bottom jump on his first run where Yuki went down on the bottom jump in his first run. So sick to see the snowboarders absolutely lay it down this year! Photo: Keegan Rice
Rider: Hans Mindnich Fan comment: @nomoguls YOU COULDN’T PAY me $10,000 to drop into Corbet’s…. Never.Photo: Keegan Rice
Rider: Cooper Branham Fan comment: @ChesterArthur Awesome comp! Jeff Moran on the announcing… not so much! Yeah, we beg to differ, there, Chester. MORAN for President de shred!Photo: Keegan Rice
Rider: Hans Mindnich Judge comment: @Sanderhadley they had the same trick on the bottom jump. It was a tough one to judge but in the end it was the fact that Hans laid down a mostly clean first run and stomped the bottom jump on his first run where Yuki went down on the bottom jump in his first run. So sick to see the snowboarders absolutely lay it down this yearPhoto: Keegan Rice
Rider: Madison Blackley Fan comment: @DieselDabz710 Ya well try boarding on a sheet of ice and see how well you do kid.Photo: Keegan Rice
Rider: Yuki Kadona Fan comment @connordever to @c_gar278 the ground is as hard as concrete. It’s snowed about 3 inches in the last 6 weeks. Gnarly.Photo: Keegan Rice
Would you drop into this? Fan comment @MasaharuMorimoto Gnar-Kill this year!! interesting to see a difficult entry year as opposed to super soft landings.Photo: Mark Epstein
Fan comment: @TomArietti 😢😭😫 is 90% of the comments. Want some cheese with your freaking whine. The comp was raw and rowdy!!Photo: Keegan Rice
Rider: Hans MindnichFan comment: @misterfunnybones Impressive, given the conditions. Locally in Whistler, risk aversion has closed many high alpine steeps due to hard-packed snow. Self-arresting would be impossible unless equipped with an ice axe & proper training/practice.Photo: Keegan Rice
Results:
MEN
1st – Hans Mindich – snowboarder
2nd – Yuki Kadono – snowboarder
3rd – Parkin Costain – skier
WOMEN
1st – Piper Kunst – skier (you have to see this backflip!)
2nd – Juliette Willmann – skier
3rd – Molly Armanino – skier
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Full Red Bull replay here:
Check out the action from past Kings & Queens of Corbet’s events here!