Owen Leeper’s highlight video can do one of two things if you know what riding steep, wild snow feels like (and even if you don’t): it can inspire you to go huge and take chances, or it can scare the living hell out of you. Or both, of course.
Owen, You can see had a pretty insane season last year, mostly because the Western U.S. had a pretty insane season as far as snow totals go. But Leeper’s was on another level. The man absolutely scored what seems like every single powder day in the Jackson Hole backcountry. And it always seems like the man is in the right place at the right time. He bagged the Middle Teton in August after a random storm in 2018. He loves big, tight lines, and last year, he even got to see what happens when those lines become too gnarly. And lived to tell about it.
“In early February, I was caught in an avalanche and dislocated my shoulder,” he wrote. “I was lucky enough to only take a few weeks off doing physical therapy, and was able to finish the season. The doctor said that if I were to crash on my arm, I would likely need surgery right away and my season would be over. So the remainder of the winter was mellow for me, with no huge cliffs to jump off, but still managed to ski a bunch of fun lines. (Overall, the year) 2023 was a huge winter in Jackson Hole. We skied powder more days than I could count, it was amazing.”
Owen Leeper is truly one of Jackson Hole’s most iconic modern characters. He has his own signature line of skis, deservedly so as the caps depict his favorite mountain range, and he’s basically carved out a pro-skiing career as a Teton specialist. Browsing his YouTube channel, you’ll understand why.
