Meet Kaki Orr - our newest Babe Force recruit!

You may have noticed our Kaki ripping up the sidecountry this season.  This 27-year old former investment banker in New York City knew there was more to her life than moving money around. She moved to Jackson Hole in 2010 and proceeded to demonstrate the quintessential definition of babe-ness: epic adventure, facing fear, and sharing the stoke!

When Kaki was a kid her family moved to Switzerland and she learned her turns in Morzine, France.  She remembers, “back then I was always jumping, always showing off!”  That spirit followed her to Jackson.  She remembers her first winter here, the epic 2010 season.  It didn’t take her long to find a group of guys willing to take her OB. Her first excursions to Sarcophagus, Mario World and into Granite were her falling-in-love moments with Jackson Hole. “It’s like nothing else on the planet for shredding deep powder, the most amazing, steep, fun terrain you’ll ever see. It’s so hard to get here,” she says, “but once you’re here you find this amazing nucleus of people who don’t want to leave, and who love the outdoors, not just at the village but skiing the park, mountain biking, ice hockey, you name it.”

If 2010 was her education year, 2011 was her expedition year.  I have to tell you, this girl skied Central Couloir this past winter, twice.  Here’s the story.

“The first time was with Tigger, we climbed Cody and I was just going up to watch and learn, my plan was to ski Four Shadows. When we got to Central there were two guys there, and the first guy skied it and radioed up, ‘it’s the best I’ve ever skied it – it’s now or never!’ And the next guy skied it with one pole, and I thought, if he can do it I can! So I did it, I skied it, got to the crux and it looked like a more extreme Corbetts – on a good day. And – I just went in – it’s a double – a 10-footer then a tabletop and another 15-footer.  It was soft and deep and so worth it!” 

Kaki really caught my attention at the first Babe Force ski day.  “After that first day I saw that the Babe Force was all about blowing people’s expectations. When we all set out I thought, ok, we’re really going to ski with 40 girls? How is this gonna work? But it did, and when we all got to the lifts at the same time every run, clogging up the maze with this amazing ripping fast group of girls, I knew it was for me.”

Kaki’s favorite “progression session” this winter was putting skis on her friend Bailey from Tennessee, who had never been on them before, and within two hours teaching Bailey how to ski from the top of the Gondi. Kaki says, “her smile was the exact same as a girl who had just hucked Fat Bastard or skied Corbetts for the first time.”

This iconic Wyoming girl (and I’m a native so I can say that) also plays hockey for the Moose and is a wrangler in the summer for the Gros Ventre River Ranch.

Kaki said the best thing to me: “What’s I love about the Babe Force is that it was started for all the right reasons – it’s inclusive – those who want to inspire others are welcome. On the first ski day it was not only following the girls who were so fast – it was the girls who weren’t as fast, coming up to say, you inspired me – ‘cause that’s what I’ve been saying to boys my entire skiing career – thanks for showing me how to get down the mountain that fast and for showing me it’s possible. We girls love to ski with the guys, but we want to ski with the girls even more.”

Congratulations Kaki, I’m honored to patch you up girl!

-Dawn

Meet Natasha Krochina

I met Natasha at a yoga teacher training two winters. Everyday, without fail, on our lunch break she would pull on her ski socks and run out the door. While everyone else was eating and drinking tea or taking a nap, she was getting in a few tram laps. That is when I knew I had met a girl that was truly dedicated to the winter lifestyle of Jackson Hole. Natasha is one of the most genuine and inspiring women I have ever met and I am proud to have her as the recipient of my first patch. 

Natasha moved to Jackson the winter of 2008-2009, which was the year of the new tram. She grew up in Anchorage, AK and lived in San Diego before moving to Wyoming. She loved the beach but missed the mountains and riding. 

She began her career skiing in the third grade. "My dad would drop me off at the bus stop with a coupon book of tickets which I would use one for my bus ride, one for the rental, one for the lift ticket and one for the lesson," she said. 

It wasn't until the end of high school and the beginning of college that she started snowboarding. You can find her on the mountain, everyday, still doing both. 

"My favorite thing about the ski community in Jackson is how excited people are to be here. There are so many amazing people who are motivated to get out there and explore the beauty of the surrounding area," Natasha said. "I am really excited about joining the Babe Force and riding with some other amazing women who live here. It's nice to have a group to bring us all together and share our love for the outdoors!"

-Jessica

JHBF Patch Recipient Karissa Tuthill!

Karissa doing what she knows best!

Hiking Cody!

I am in the  backcountry at the JHMR with a bunch of girls doing some powder filming shots when I see Karissa and a bunch of boys hitting a jump doing different tricks. The girls and I stop to watch as Karissa lines up and goes bigger than the boys throwing a huge back flip. I met Karissa at the beginning of the season, because she was coming off a major injury that she sustained while mountain biking. Karissa fractured her sacrum, fractured her L 1 and had to have cartilage cleaned out of her knee. She was lucky to be alive because she had fallen about 70 feet down an embankment into a river. Karissa had compted in mogul skiing the last couple years and wanted to try big mountain competitions,so I was excited to help get her strong and help her with competing in big mountain. For those of you that do not know Karissa her smile is contagioous and she is one of the most positive, exciteable people I have ever met. I could not believe that she was ready mentally to try and compete after sustaining serious injury in August. She has worked super hard to get strong again and is skiing better each day! In the last competition she threw a back flip in a place that a lot of boys would never try, just 5 months after the injury and never really competing in a big mountain compeition. This was very inspiring to me and a lot of other women! She also showed a ton of support to all the ladies on Babe Force ski day, which was inspiring for the other ladies. Karissas support of the other woman and pushing herself physically and mentally earned her one of my first patches.

-Crystal Wright

Birthday Ski on Jackson Peak

Since moving from New York to Colorado in December 2004, I (Julie Weinberger) have made it a point to ski on (or just about on) my birthday. This year, it fell on a Monday (May 14), so my friend Alex and I set out for Jackson Peak the Saturday before (May 12).

Neither of us had skied the towering peak in the Gros Ventres, across the valley from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, before. But, we had collected enough beta from friends to make us comfortable with the endeavor. At 5:30am on Saturday morning, we started out on the Goodwin Lake Trail under starry skies. Before we knew it, we were seeing sunrise over the Tetons. Suddenly, being up that early and hiking in the cold could not have been any better.

About 45 minutes in: the start of a wonderful day!

Since we started super early, the snow was totally frozen which made the walk out there easy. We didn’t really know where we were going, so we stuck to the Goodwin Lake Trail as Alex had hiked it in the summer. She knew it would get us to Jackson Peak even if it was not the most direct route. 

Cruising up toward the bottom of the East Face of Jackson Peak with a Frozen Goodwin Lake in the background. The snow was firm, yet tacky, we were able to hike in sneakers for most of the hike.

And, it did. By the time we got to the east face of the peak, we were roasting in the sun. A quick water break, and were making the final skin approach to the top. 

Skinning up the lookers right side of the East Face with some beautiful peaks as our scenery

Almost there! Skinning up the final bit of the northern ridge. Our ski line was slightly lookers left of the nose.

By about 10am, we summited Jackson Peak. The day could not have been more stunning. We wanted to ski the north face as the pictures we had seen of the chutes tickled our fancy. Even though the east face we had skinned up was nice and corned up, it was clear the north aspect would need some time. So, I did what any good daughter should do: call her paranoid mother from the top of big mountain!

Yup, that's right, I am on speaker phone with my mom on the top of Jackson Peak!

After a mandatory summit photo shoot and some lunch, we dropped in around 11:30am. The snow was still really firm so we took our time skiing down. Regardless, it was such a gorgeous day for this kind of adventure, and a reminder that it's all about having fun in the mountains with friends.

Cautiously skiing since the snow was so firm, but the background kind of says it all! Incredible.

Because you have to be a little silly!

Thank you Alex for actually bringing a camera (photos by Alex de Sherbinin) and not just an iPhone like I did :-)

Meet Jessica Pierce! Patch Designer and team Member!

Jessica moved to Jackson after graduating from college in Colorado in graphic design! Jess met Sara and Crystal working at the Calico and that is when they started brainstorming and the JHBF was born! Jess, having the experience in graphic design volunteered to design the patch with a lot of rough drafts and input from some other people Jess was able to figure out what her and the team of ladies thought the perfect patch! Jess also represents the snowboarding ladies population, the force never wants to disregard the ripping snowboarder ladies! Jess is also a certified Yoga instructor and teaches at the Yoga Chalet and the Teton Mountain Lodge. She also has a huge passion for mountain biking! The team is so lucky to have her!

Ladies Full moon Glory Hike

Hadley, Brigid and Caroline did a ladies trip up Glory Bowl for the full moon on Tuesday night! Just thought I would share their photos! Nice Ladies! Lets see how many ladies we can get out next time!!

A Tribute to Sarah Burke

Thanks Sarah for inspiring and standing up for women's skiing! You will never be forgotten. RIP. Your spirit is exactly what we want to embrace with JHBF. Love to you always.




Earlier this month, we lost a role model and icon. Sarah Burke was a pioneer in women’s freestyle skiing. Sarah was the recipient of four gold medals at the Winter X Games and won many other super pipe events. There was an overwhelming outpour of love and support from her fellow athletes during last weekend’s Winter X 16. Sarah’s life and legacy embodied the true spirit of progressive skiing and her spirit will live on in all of us. Our hearts go out to her family, friends and husband.

JHBF