Photo: Wade McKoy - Tom Bartlett Hitting A Classic Drop With Cody Peak in the Background
Wade McKoy: Capturing the Evolution of Jackson Hole
Wade McKoy has been documenting the soul of skiing for decades, and if you’ve flipped through a classic issue of POWDER Magazine or seen iconic shots from the early days of TGR, you’ve probably encountered his work. His connection to Jackson Hole runs deep—so deep, in fact, that Todd and Steve Jones, co-founders of Teton Gravity Research, made it a priority to introduce themselves to him when they first moved to Jackson.
The TGR Connection
It was 1978 when Wade and fellow photographer Bob Woodall first got published in POWDER, a moment that put Wade on the map. When Todd and Steve arrived in Jackson, they tracked him down at the JHMR Hostel, knowing that getting in with Wade meant getting in with the best. Early mornings on the tram became a ritual, where Wade, Todd, and Steve would hustle to capture the money shots.
Steve was the first Jones brother Wade met, but Todd made an unforgettable first impression—by pretending to be Steve. Hood up, Todd snuck his way into an early-morning shoot with Wade, cementing the brothers' reputation not just as visionary skiers and filmmakers, but as guys who knew how to get things done.
“The Jones brothers are very good at picking out lines and working with us photographers while keeping the stoke high.” Wade recalls. That high-energy approach to shooting ski culture would help define TGR’s aesthetic for years to come.
Photo: Wade McKoy - Doug Coombs Leaning Into One
A Book 45 Years in the Making
McKoy’s latest project The Arc of Skiing Jackson Hole, 45 years behind the lens is a masterpiece that spans nearly half a century. His coffee-table book is more than just a collection of epic ski shots—it’s a memoir of the ski lives and stories behind them, chronicling the evolution of Jackson Hole and the sport itself from 1974 to 2019.
What makes it stand out? For starters, people are calling it the best ski book they’ve ever read. With a word count of 44,888, it holds a hidden meaning destined by fate—44,888 is a full house in poker, and the number eight carries a special significance in skiing, representing the artful turns left in fresh snow.
With its stunning visuals and deep storytelling, The Arc of Skiing Jackson Hole, 45 years behind the lens isn’t just a history lesson—it’s a love letter to skiing, Jackson Hole, and the moments that make the sport legendary.
Iconic photographs of Jackson Hole’s trendsetting skiers include Doug and Emily Coombs, Tommy Moe, Pepi Stiegler, Andy Chambers, and the Jackson Hole Air Force crew led by Benny Wilson, Howie Henderson, Jon and Rick Hunt, Tom Bartlett, and Adam McCool. Then along came Jason Tattersall, Rick Armstrong, Dave the Wave, Ty Vanderpool, Micah Black, Steve and Todd Jones, Dirk Collins, Kevin Brazell, Dave Miller, John Scott, Jeff Leger, Jeff, Jimmy, and Julie Zell, Mike Tierney, Paul Huser, Rob Haggart, Bissell Hazen, AJ Cargill, John Gute, Chris Leveroni, John Griber, Stephen Koch, Greta Gaines, and Cisco Oldani, and many others. The 21st century is well represented by local standouts Max Hammer, Hadley Hammer, Shroder Baker, Cait Zeliff, Lynsey Dyer, Jess McMillan, Charlotte Moats, Jessica Baker, Kit DesLauriers, Crystal Wright, Hannah Horigan, Teton Brown, Bryce Newcomb, Travis Rice, Rob Kingwill, Bryan Iguchi, Johnny Recchio, Dustin Varga, Kai Jones, Darell Miller, Ryan Halverson, Jason Strong, Andrew Whiteford, Derek Depiero, Tim Swartz, Jeff Annetts, Josh Langdon, Conor Horigan, Trevor Hiatt, Tucker Mead, Jason Prigge, Robb Maris, and Gary Mackenzie, among others.
Of course, Jackson Hole attracted marquee names, too. McKoy’s book includes photographs of Scot Schmidt, Seth Morrison, Shane McConkey, Glenn Plake, Frankie Bare, Kevin Andrews, Dan Egan, Rob DesLauriers, Jeff McKittick, Mike and Claudia Hattrup, Kristen Ulmer, Travis Rice, Tom Simms, Jeremy Jones, Chris Pappas, Jim Zellers, Victoria Jealouse, Hilaree Nelson, Suzy Chaffee, Todd Ligare, Jeremy Nobis, Kent Kreitler, Dean Conway, Cody Barnhill, Julian Carr, Kina Pickett, Griffen Post, Rachel Burks, Eric Roner, Jamie Pierre, Darian Boyle, Robbie Cappell, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Thomas Diet, Dan Treadway, and David “Captain Powder” Moe.
The Jackson Hole Ski Patrol is well represented, too, with a 14-page feature.
Photo: Wade McKoy - JHMR Ski Patrol Firing The Recoilless Rifle Into Rendezvous Mountain
Bringing the Vision to Life—With Your Help
To bring The Arc of Skiing Jackson Hole to print, Wade has launched a Kickstarter campaign, giving ski fans a chance to be part of this legendary project. This isn’t just a book—it’s a time capsule of ski history, a tribute to the athletes who shaped Jackson’s freeride scene, and a must-have for anyone who’s ever chased powder dreams.
Check Out The Kickstarter Fundraiser and Donate Now!
Photo: Wade McKoy - Doug Coombs Mule Kicking Into Rendezvous Bowl
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February 18th, 2025
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