WORDS: KYLE CLANCY
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Jack Wiley throws a crippler in the setting sun at Wednesday Night Lights.
P H O T O S : J E F F M O R A N / J H S C F R E E R I D E P R O G R A M , W I L LY MCMILLON
After 76 years, our little town ski hill is finally growing up. Snow King has been sowing the seeds during the last few seasons to become a real training ground for aspiring young athletes. With its weekly Wednesday Night Lights contest series, expanding terrain parks, and unique natural terrain features, the King is undergoing an overhaul that will introduce new amenities for everyone. The Building Our Base campaign (BOB), which has raised almost $3.6 million dollars of its goal, is a collaboration of Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club and Snow King’s management to facilitate major changes at the King. This project has allowed Snow King to install a state of the art snowmaking system as well as an upgraded, more efficient lighting system that uses 40 percent less energy than previous lights. The result will be an earlier opening date for our Town Hill with improved alpine race training and a world-class terrain park. “The improvements to Snow King will double the amount of slopestyle training my athletes get every season,” noted Jeff Moran, director of the Jackson Hole Ski Club Freeride Program and former pro-rider for K2 Snowboards.
king reigns
What this means for you and me: Shredding after work or school on a fully lit slope, plenty of snow for terrain park features and filled in runs regardless of weather. Ever notice those long lift lines at Snow King in the evenings? Me neither. Better lighting means no more shadows, less residual light leaking into the night sky and more visual on the snow. The new lights are optimal for night filming too. Night skiing here is like nowhere else in the country. While you’re riding the lift, glance back at the town of Jackson gleaming in the night with that unique Western feel and you’ll know what I’m talking about. It’s romantic. I said it. Snow King’s terrain park is also in good hands. We’ve got J.P. Martin, veteran park builder and owner of Parkdiggers.com, handling the initial
