The videos from Kings & Queens of Corbet’s Couloir don’t do the competition justice. Watching as these athletes launch themselves out into space down into the gut of this iconic feature of Jackson Hole is a sight that’s hard to wrap your head around in person. From the bottom, the couloir looks much steeper. The athletes look like ants standing atop it. And when they come sailing over the edge, it’s hard not to let your jaw fall open.
Kings & Queens is one of the most impressive live-action sports events I’ve ever witnessed. This year, the athletes really put on a show. From double backflips to 30-foot cliff drops, tomahawk crashes, runaway skis, and tons of big air stomps, there was not a dull moment from the first run to the last.
After the powder had settled and the athletes had cast their votes, Tristen Lilly and Piper Kunst were crowned the 2026 King and Queen of Corbet’s.
Lilly, 24, who GearJunkie spoke with before the competition, had his sights set on taking the crown from the start. When asked what his goal was, he said without hesitation, “To win.” Then, he added, “My main goal is just to walk away proud. No matter what.”
It seems Lilly was successful on both counts. This is the first time he’s been crowned a Corbet’s King.
Like Lilly, Kunst, 25, has competed in Kings & Queens before; however, this is not her first time wearing the crown. Kunst was Corbet’s Queen of 2022 and returned this year with a vengeance to win back the throne. She threw a perfect backflip on her first run, stomping the couloir landing and becoming the second female to ever do so.
Oh, and did we mention that Lilly and Kunst are together? This couple was crowned King & Queen on Valentine’s Day — something that’s never happened in the history of this competition.
Meet Your 2026 King & Queen of Corbet’s
Being crowned King and Queen of Corbet’s is an honor and a big accolade for any skier or rider’s reputation. It isn’t an official qualifier for other freeride competitions like the Freeride World Tour, but it sure looks good to have a Corbet’s crown on your resume.
More than that, Corbet’s offers a prize purse, not just for the winners, but for all who podium in each category (men’s skiing, women’s skiing, men’s snowboarding, and women’s snowboarding). First place receives $5,000, second place receives $3,000, and third place receives $2,000. The King & Queen also receive an additional $5,000 each.
Because Lilly and Kunst took first place in both their categories and were crowned King and Queen, they walked away with $10,000. We caught up with the lucky couple to discuss how they feel post-competition, what it was like launching into that infamous couloir, and how they’re going to spend their prize money.
Queen Piper Kunst
GearJunkie: This is your second time taking the throne at Corbet’s. How does it feel to be crowned queen again?
Piper Kunst: My first time was in 2022, and that felt a little more exciting, I think. Because I was not on the map yet. I think I’m more excited to have landed a backflip than to be crowned Queen, if that makes sense.
GJ: How long had you been planning/practicing for that backflip into the couloir?
PK: I’ve been doing backflips for a while. It’s my most comfortable trick, I guess. I tried to do them last year and did not succeed. So I came back this year with the intention of landing one.
GJ: Your first run was killer. But you crashed at the very end off of the money booter. What happened there?
PK: Yeah. I just am not good at park jumps, I guess. I don’t know. In years past, I’ve avoided practicing on the park jump because … I just don’t like them. This year, I actually hit it a lot. I was sessioning [the practice] for a couple of hours. And I just — I have some weird mental block with them that I could not execute on comp day, even though I knew how to. Like, I know how to do a front flip on a park jump, but just — I don’t know.
GJ: So you’re more comfortable throwing yourself off a massive cornice into an ungroomed couloir than hitting a park jump?
PK: Absolutely.
GJ: What was it like being crowned Queen at the same time your boyfriend is crowned King? That’s never happened before.
PK: It’s so cool. That was the coolest thing ever. And the fact that it was Valentine’s day too … It’s really special. And I’m just stoked for [Tristen]. It’s cool that I’m up there too, but I’m really, really excited for him.
GJ: The world wants to know what you’re going to spend your prize money on. Are you going to go to Disneyland?
PK: No. I was actually really good the last time I won the prize money — the big pot — I put some of it away, but I used it mostly on rent. I think I’m going to buy some sled accessories because I need a sled rack and maybe a tunnel bag and a new radio … some little ski stuff, but most of it I’m just going to put away. I know that’s not a very fun answer.
King Tristen Lilly
GearJunkie: How does it feel to have won a legendary competition like Kings & Queens?
Tristen Lilly: So crazy. I mean … Let’s go! Winning was the goal, right? Goal accomplished.
GJ: There were a fair number of Salt Lake–based skiers and riders on the podium this year, including you and Piper. Was that surprising?
TL: I wouldn’t have been surprised to know that like four other Salt Lake [athletes] would be on the podium. There are a lot of riders in the comp from Salt Lake, and the pool of competitors from Salt Lake is just ridiculous.
GJ: Any plans for how you’ll spend the prize money?
TL: Well, dude … Right now, I’m doing everything I can to try to maybe not spend it. *laughs* Save it. Save it all! … Me and Piper were also talking about maybe buying a truck and a sled deck. I’ve been running a kind of jank setup, but it works.
GJ: What was your favorite part about the competition this year?
TL: My favorite part this year was my favorite last year, too, which is just making some new friends. It’s pretty cool how close you can feel with somebody whom you just met after doing something like this, having a sick week together.
GJ: How was the afterparty?
TL: It was good. Every time I went to the bar, I wasn’t allowed to not do a tequila shot, so… Yeah, I think I had quite a bit of tequila.
GJ: Did you know you have any idea that you were going to win, after you watched the runs back?
TL: I don’t know. I guess watching it made me feel a little better. It’s hard to … you kind of black out and don’t really remember much of the run. But after I think I saw the full thing, all the way through, I was like, “Oh, damn. That actually was pretty clean.”
2026 Kings and Queens of Corbet’s Couloir Results
In the snowboarding categories, Jack MacDougall and Ellie Weiler took first place and earned $5,000 apiece.
The rest of the 2026 Kings & Queens of Corbet’s Couloir results are as follows:
Men’s Skiing
1st – Tristen Lilly
2nd – Kelly Hilleke
3rd – Alex Hackel
4th – Wyatt Gentry
5th – Quinn Wolferman
Women’s Skiing
1st – Piper Kunst
2nd – Valerie Festavan
3rd – Wynter McBride
4th – Ana Eyssimont
Men’s Snowboarding
1st – Jack MacDougall
2nd – Yuki Kadono
3rd – Nate Bromley
4th – Windham Miller
5th – Mike Bogs
Women’s Snowboarding
1st – Ellie Weiler
2nd – Madison Blackley
3rd – Sarka Pancochova
4th – Erika Vikander
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