The Director’s Cut: Todd Jones on Bringing ‘Back to Corbet’s’ to Life

Our latest project, Back to Corbet’s: The Untold Story of Jackson Hole’s Historical Double Backflip isn't just another showcase of incredible action; it’s a journey to bring Parkin Costain and Jake Hopfinger back to Corbet’s Couloir—the very site of their historic double backflips—to tell the untold story behind one of Jackson Hole’s most iconic moments. With the snow gone and the mountain exposed, they reflect on the line that truly changed everything. To dive deeper into how this unique vision came to life, we sat down with TGR co-founder Todd Jones.

Beyond the incredible action, what was the core story you wanted to tell about JHMR, Parkin Costain, and Jake Hopfinger?

Todd: We were talking with Jackson about doing something that showcased the bike park and we wanted to bring in a unique angle. I've always been fascinated by the story of the first ever double back flips into Corbets that happened in Kings and Queens with Jake Hopfinger and Parkin Costain. That was an incredible achievement, even featured on ESPN's Top 10. And I think it unlocked what we're seeing: the future of tricks and things that are happening in Corbet's. So, anytime as a filmmaker you can preserve history and tell the deeper story behind it, that's a super important thing.

 Right when I called Parkin, he was like, "That would be super sick," and he and Jacob were ready to head down there right away. So, the shoot came together really quickly and naturally. What drove it, I think, was seeing their deep love and connection to Jackson Hole, through both winter and summer. A lot of people feel that way — Jackson has two distinct seasons, but it’s always a place to get outside and live life.

What inspired this concept of blending summer and winter in this short film at JHMR?

Todd: I thought it would be really cool for them to take their bikes up the tram, ride down to Corbet’s, and revisit that moment. We made sure to capture their raw reaction. Seeing Corbet's in the summer looks totally different; it's hard to believe people ski there, let alone build a giant jump for double backflips. It was a beautiful way to combine their biking, skiing, and place in Jackson Hole's history, showcasing the resort's high alpine beauty and connecting it to the mountain bike park below.

How did the idea for this shoot first come together?

Todd: The idea really sparked from that iconic double backflip moment in 2020. I hadn't heard a lot about the story of Corbet’s and that historic day. Right when I called Parkin, he was like, "That would be super sick," and he and Jacob were ready to head down there right away. So, the shoot came together really quickly and naturally. What drove it, I think, was seeing their deep love and connection to Jackson Hole, through both winter and summer. A lot of people feel that way — Jackson has two distinct seasons, but it’s always a place to get outside and live life.

How was the shoot day with Parkin and Jake?

Todd: Shoot day was great with perfect weather. Watching them pull up to Corbet's and see it for the first time in summer, seeing their reactions were super cool. One thing that was super cool was seeing them identify the landmarks where they had figured out how to build the jump. The night before, they'd realized that if they backed the jump up it would allow them to start their rotation almost above the lip and catch the transition off the double backflip, which was a huge part of their success.

Parkin’s been a recurring name in TGR history – how did your working relationship with him start?

Todd: Parkin won the TGR Grom Contest in 2015, putting him on our radar. I later saw an edit he did for Quiksilver Young Guns and was incredibly impressed because he had filmed the whole thing himself, navigating the backcountry to get high-caliber shots. For someone doing that professionally for so long, that's nearly impossible. Parkin was young, but I could tell he had grown up in the mountains, was a really good kid, and had incredible drive and talent. I invited him to come join the TGR team and film a segment for the big film. Now it's cool because I got to watch him and my son, Kai, come together, become friends, become riding partners.

How is it filming Parkin and Jake on their bikes versus their skis? How is it behind the lens?

Todd: I'd say both Parkin and Jake are ripping bikers and skiers. Parkin's really insane at everything he does, whether it's riding a snowmobile, riding dirt bikes, riding his mountain bike, driving really fast cars on racetracks. He's just really talented. So any opportunity to film him in any of those disciplines is pretty incredible.

Photo: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

Jackson Hole has been a long-time partner of TGR’s. As a producer, how do you approach new angles or fresh perspectives to avoid repeating what’s already been done?

Todd: Jackson has so many facets; it’s a dynamic place. Even though I’ve skied here for 35 years, the mountain bike scene is relatively new. They’ve been building more and more trails with some of the best trail builders in the world, staying on the cutting edge of downhill mountain biking. And so that's a really, fresh space. In general, Jackson is just so big, with so many rich characteristics and incredible stories that deserve a new angle of storytelling. It truly feels like there’s a never-ending plethora of cool stories and angles to tell here.

For the groms watching, what do you hope they learn from seeing a project that showcases high-level skills across two sports?

Todd: I think the outdoors exist to have fun, to go out and play. I'm always a little depressed when the snow melts and I can't find my gravity in that manner on my skis or snowboard, but then I grab the bike, and the flow is back. It's like, here's the gravity, here's the flow. And so, I think it's just important to enjoy the outdoors and work hard. Everything those guys are doing in this film is pretty gnarly and it takes a lot of skill and training and practice. So, be ready for all those things, but most importantly, have fun.

Big thanks to Todd for sharing the story — we’re stoked to see it come to life!

Don't miss out on this unique film. Watch Back to Corbet’s: The Untold Story of Jackson Hole’s Historical Double Backflip here!