The lore around Jackson Hole, WY’s Central Couloir is unparalleled. A short hike from the inbounds skiing at Jackson Mountain Resort, Central is an ultra steep gash down the middle of Cody Peak, a no-fall zone couloir that ends in a mandatory cliff huck. It’s a badge of honor for Jackson Hole skiers, and it’s visible from nearly anywhere on the south side of the resort.
Central is a line that Veronica Paulsen had looked at for almost a decade, since moving to the Tetons in 2015. But she never felt quite ready. It’s a line that takes careful timing—ski it too early in the season in softer snow, and the choke and cliff at the bottom are massive. But ski it too late in the year and it’s easy to get caught in a no-fall zone in bulletproof conditions. Whatever way you slice it, you have to air out of it. There’s truly no easy way to ski Central.
In her latest short film, Paulsen joins Teton legend Andrew Whiteford to tackle the infamous line, diving deep into Whiteford’s story and their process as they wait for the perfect day to finally accomplish a 10-year goal.