{"id":126695,"date":"2026-02-08T08:31:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T08:31:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/126695\/"},"modified":"2026-02-08T08:31:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T08:31:10","slug":"kings-and-queens-of-corbets-2026-preview-tristen-lilly-is-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/126695\/","title":{"rendered":"Kings and Queens of Corbet\u2019s 2026 Preview: Tristen Lilly Is Back"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dropping into Corbet\u2019s isn\u2019t something you ease into; it\u2019s something you commit to. Last year,\u00a0Tristen Lilly<\/a>\u00a0did that, throwing a hand-drag 720 into the most watched couloir in skiing and left with third-place at Kings & Queens of Corbets; and maybe the most mind melting trick of the entire contest.<\/p>\n

This year, he\u2019s back in the mix, set to drop 14th. Older, a little more settled, and still chasing the same feeling that pulled him west from Bethel, Maine in the first place. Less about labels, more about floating. Less about expectation, more about what feels right when it\u2019s time to go.<\/p>\n

We caught up with Tristen ahead of this year\u2019s event to talk about last season\u2019s breakthrough, competition versus play, mental prep, and sharing the pressure with someone close.<\/p>\n

\"\"Photo: Amy JimmersonTristen LillyWhattup Tristen! Let\u2019s start by telling the people about yourself, your background, and what you\u2019re chasing within skiing.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m from Bethel, Maine. I live in Salt Lake and I\u2019m a skier. I grew up racing a bit, and skiing park for fun but dreamed of skiing out west and made it happen as soon as I could. More than anything, what I\u2019m chasing in skiing is still that feeling of floating, mindless, full control. And the laugh you get when words won\u2019t say how sick it was.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Next important question, favorite ski movie\/video?\"\"Photo: Rocko MenzykLast year you took third place at Kings & Queens of Corbet\u2019s with that nutty hand-drag 720. How did that moment come together for you, and did it go as expected?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

I think we can credit third place to making it the whole way down on my feet for run two hahah. That being said, yeah that moment was crazy. Hard to say what happened but I think I got fully caught in the fever dream that it is to watch that comp from the top of that venue. Watching everyone go mental I got inspired to deviate from the plan. Still didn\u2019t go quite how I expected but felt meant to be.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve been mixing it up, also being seen in a recent SLVSH matchup; how has playing around outside of strict competitions fed into your freeride confidence and\u00a0<\/p>\n

I haven\u2019t really played inside of strict competition much. Any organized comps I\u2019ve done don\u2019t give strict vibes. I am definitely competitive though and at the moment I’m definitely driven by winning. And since you brought up the slvsh, getting a little competitive with Ross that day was the most fun shit ever. Idk maybe I should be competing more. I think all of it feeds into who I am as a skier whether I’m in a start gate or in costume, beer in hand. Historically falling closer to the costume side of that spectrum I\u2019d say skiing well every day and having fun with it feeds into my confidence and style more than a label or a comp ever has.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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How much does mental preparation factor in for you ahead of this event? Has that changed from your rookie year?<\/p>\n

Yeah coming in on a years notice feels a lot different than two weeks notice. Not yet sure if knowing what to expect is an advantage for kings and queens hahah. I\u2019ve been focusing on the skiing and traveling I’m doing now until it\u2019s time to lock in up there.<\/p>\n

You and your girlfriend, Piper Kunst, are both in the mix this year. What\u2019s it like sharing that space and pressure together?<\/p>\n

First off, love that girl, what a crusher. But yeah what a crazy thing it is to share that situation with a partner, grateful to get to experience it. I hope I ease her nerves because she helps mine for sure. She\u2019d probably say differently but she navigates calm and collected when shits tense, good person to have in your corner. <3<\/p>\n

\"\"What are your goals for this year\u2019s Kings & Queens? Is there a trick in mind?<\/p>\n

The goal is to win the thing. And yeah there\u2019s always tricks in mind\u2026<\/p>\n

The podium is history now. What remains is the feeling Tristen Lilly keeps chasing; the one you don\u2019t plan for, the one you commit to. Another drop into Corbet\u2019s is coming. Everything else will sort itself out.<\/p>\n

Watch Tristen drop Corbet’s, live streamed on Jackson Hole’s Youtube account found here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\"\"Photo: Chris Furey\"Chris<\/a>Chris Furey<\/a>Editorial Writer<\/p>\n

I\u2019m an extreme sport athlete focused on speedflying, foiling, wakesurfing, skiing, and climbing. I\u2019m deeply interested in extreme sports films, videos, and media; especially the role storytelling plays in capturing progression, risk, and the realities behind heavy moments.<\/p>\n