Historically, skiing 8s in powder is a huge element to freeskiing’s DNA: it wasn’t alpine racing or bump skiing or any discipline that was controlled by one of the sport’s official entities. It wasn’t in the Olympics. It was pure expression, in skiing’s most important and joyful realm: riding pow. It was also the basis for cult classics, like Aspen Extreme.
Last month, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort reinvigorated the Powder 8 competition at Cody Bowl, where two skiers lay perfect figure eights in pow. Steve Andrews was there for The Inertia last month. And Lynsey Dyer and AJ Cargill were embedded in the contest. Here’s an inside look at one of skiing’s most classic competitions.
