Backcountry
40-year-old Owen Leeper is undoubtedly one of the best freeskiers to ever come out of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. His latest video part Stoked clearly backs that up. In a written correspondence with Leeper, we found out more about his latest project and some of the magic behind the ‘stoke.’
What line or moment are you most stoked on in this edit?
I’m pumped on the opening clip, Mega Gothic couloir, a tight chute with a mandatory rock you have to air over at the end and it rarely fills in enough to ski. I waited for about 25 minutes at the top for the sun to pop out. I only had about 30 seconds to ski it before the clouds came back in, and it skied so good.
Where was your favorite spot to ski this season?
Haley and I had our first kid in December, so I was in Jackson all winter, but it’s a pretty awesome spot to be. I was able to score the biggest powder day of the season in Chile this summer which was all-time.
Did anything go wrong behind the scenes that didn’t make the cut?
There are always a few lines that didn’t go as planned; I hit a 40-footer on a perfect bluebird powder day, but the landing had slid and refrozen overnight, so I hit much harder than planned and couldn’t hold on. I skied away uninjured, which is the most important thing, but always tough when you watch a cliff all season and only get one go at it.
How long did it take to film the whole thing?
It takes many tries to get these lines to make the final edit—even on the best days in Jackson Hole. The avalanche danger has to be safe, there has to be good vis, and also plenty of snow for many of these lines to even be attempted, so I’m pumped how many of them I was able to ski by the end of the year.
What are you already dreaming up for next season’s edit?
This year I’m planning a couple of trips, a ski traverse over in Europe and a few spring missions accessed by horse. The snow will determine which ones work out, but always fun looking for new places to ski.
Stoked proves that Leeper’s edge is still as sharp as ever. His precision, patience, and respect for the mountains shine through every frame—each line a demonstration that true mastery isn’t about chasing viral moments, but about the lifetime of skill, instinct, and humility it takes to earn them. As Leeper looks toward another season of high-consequence skiing and new terrain abroad, one thing is certain: the stoke that drives him isn’t fading anytime soon.
Follow Owen Leeper on Youtube and Instagram for more adventures this winter.
