Is a Triple Backflip Possible In Corbet's Couloir? Parkin Costain Thinks So

Originally posted on Powder | By Izzy Lidsky | Last updated Jun 25, 2025 8:57 AM ET

Picture this: the year is 2020 (pre-pandemic), there's 111 inches of snow in Rendezvous Bowl at the top of Jackson Hole, XXL ski pants haven't quite come back into style yet, and the idea of anyone landing a double backflip into Corbet's Couloir is still novel.

Then, in the blink of an eye (or a three hour competition in freezing temperatures) two of skiing's best buds made history as one after the other, Jake Hopfinger and Parkin Costain, landed the first and second double backflips on skis into the formidable in-bounds couloir. Five years later, the two returned to the top of the couloir in the summer to reminisce on a hallmark day in both skier's careers.

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In just the third year of the Kings and Queens of Corbet's Competition at Jackson Hole, some of the biggest names in skiing and snowboarding flocked to the Tetons to try their hand in the couloir.

At the time, Parkin Costain and Jake Hopfinger had just started to 'wow' the world of skiing with their individual styles, on-camera charisma, and massive tricks. Alongside Costain and Hopfinger that year were skiers like Sam Kuch, Arianna Tricomi, Sander Hadley, Karl Fostvedt, Caite Zeliff, and Veronica Paulsen.

Hopfinger and Costain recalled building up a lip on the run-in to the couloir and getting funny looks from other competitors. In order to get the amplitude for a double backflip, a little extra kick off the edge of the couloir was necessary, but clearly Costain and Hopfinger knew what they were doing.

Costain ended up taking the King of Corbet's title that year, and the competition proved to be pivotal in both of their careers as they went on to film with Teton Gravity Research and sign sponsorships with major brands.

It's been a few years since Costain and Hopfinger graced the couloir with their presence, but it seems like seeing the beast of a run in the summer sparked some ideas for the two of them.

Perhaps a triple backflip attempt is in Costain and Hopfinger's future.... Costain at least seems to think that with the right conditions in the couloir it's possible.

For the time being, you can just enjoy watching these two mountain bike- as it turns out, both Costain and Hopfinger are maybe as talented on two wheels as they are on skis.

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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