Behind the Lens with Ski Photog Icon

There aren't many folks who have had the truly insider perspective that Wade McKoy has enjoyed over the past half-century of skiing in Jackson Hole. McKoy has not only been active in the big mountain ski culture since the 1970s, but established himself as one of the area's most innovative and talented photographers. His work has yeilded a compelling visual and written record of ski culture in the Tetons during some of its most exciting and transformative years. 

These stories and photos are now coming to life in McKoy's stunning new coffee table book: The Arc of Skiing Jackson Hole, 45 years behind the lens. The 384-page, hard cover book is as expansive and inviting as the mountains themselves, standing 12” tall and 10” wide. It features over 500 photographs, chosen from 20,000 images initially selected from roughly a half-million pictures — a lifetime of work.

We caught up with McKoy to find out more about this project and get some tips for snapping great shots on your next ski day. 

What was the inspiration for this amazing project?

The book is something I’ve wanted to do for a while, 10 years maybe. I couldn’t put in the time, though, because I had a full-time job publishing our magazines, The Jackson Hole Skier, The Teton Yellowstone adventure Guide, and the Dining Guide, for which we did much of the production work and content generation ourselves, Bob Woodall and me. So, in 2019 when we sold those magazines, I dove into my book project. Five years later, I’m going to press.

What sets your perspective — and your book — apart? 

The five decade timeline is unique. That may explain the other out-sized elements — the 230-ish different skiers and snowboarders pictured in the book might be an unusually high number and many of those skier’s achieved a high level of accomplishments in the ski world. The page count, 384, is higher than normal. 530 photos, 44,888 words, all exceed the norm for this type of book.

As we come into March, what are your tips for spring skiing?

Spring skiing these days runs the gamut from powder to corn to frozen coral reef to slush. No snow is bad snow, so go skiing regardless of conditions. Safety first, pay attention to the changing conditions, let your plans change accordingly. Stay cool and keep it fun.

What tips do you have for others looking to sharpen their ski photography skills?

Find your crew. The athletes who you photograph are the most important parts of the complicated equation. All team members must be serious about the work. Have fun with it, of course. But don’t mess around in the mountains. Make informed decisions. Calculate risks. No loose cannons allowed. 

The Arc of Skiing in Jackson Hole is available for pre-order now! Just head over to the website and look forward to receiving your copy in June.