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Doug Coombs

Douglas Brown Coombs (1957–2006) was an American pioneer of extreme and big-mountain skiing, celebrated for his bold first descents on steep, uncharted terrain across five continents and for popularizing adventure skiing as a disciplined, accessible pursuit for recreational athletes. Born in Bedford, Massachusetts, Coombs grew up immersed in New England's ski culture, honing his skills at Tuckerman Ravine and earning the Dual County Skimeister Award in 1974 while attending Bedford High School. He later graduated with a geology degree from Montana State University in Bozeman in 1981, where he deepened his passion for mountainous landscapes. Coombs rose to prominence in the as a competitor and innovator, winning the inaugural U.S. Championship in , in 1991 and repeating in 1993, events that doubled as the World Championships. He also claimed three National Powder 8 titles and completed over 250 first descents on couloirs and extreme snowfields, often featured in ski films that showcased his technical precision and fearless style. As a certified International Federation of Mountain Guides Association (IFMGA) guide, Coombs began leading trips in , , in 1986 and founded Steep Skiing Camps Worldwide in 1993, offering intensive training in , , , and beyond to bridge the gap between intermediate skiers and elite big-mountain adventurers. In 1994, he and his wife, Emily, launched Valdez Heli-Ski Guides, the first commercial helicopter skiing operation in Alaska's , which he sold in 2001 after establishing it as a hub for extreme descents. His systematic approach to safety and progression democratized high-risk skiing, influencing gear design and inspiring generations through his humble, hardworking ethos. Coombs' life ended tragically on April 3, 2006, at age 48, when he fell approximately 600 feet to his death in the Polichinelle Couloir at , , while attempting to rescue his friend and fellow guide Chad Vanderham. He was survived by and their young son, , and was posthumously inducted into the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2009 for his enduring legacy in the sport.

Early Life and Education

Childhood and Introduction to Skiing

Doug Coombs was born on September 24, 1957, in , to and Gordon Coombs, members of a middle-class family without a deep-rooted tradition in competitive . His parents, who had known each other since and married in 1950, occasionally took family trips to ski areas in neighboring states, exposing young Doug and his siblings—older sister Nancy and brother Steve—to recreationally. Growing up in the suburbs of , Coombs spent much of his early childhood engaged in outdoor activities, including and exploring wooded areas near home, which fostered an early affinity for nature and physical adventure. Coombs' introduction to skiing began in his toddler years, when he first strapped on skis in the family's backyard and nearby "Suicide Six" woods, learning the basics through playful, self-directed experimentation amid New England's frequent snowfalls. By around age 7 to 10, he progressed to family outings at local resorts in , , and , where he honed fundamental techniques on varied terrain, including early ventures to challenging spots like on . His passion for the sport was evident early; in his high school yearbook, he famously declared, “There’s no such thing as too much ,” reflecting a budding obsession that often led him to skip school for impromptu ski days. By high school at Bedford High School, Coombs had rapidly advanced from novice to competitive racer, joining the ski team and excelling in slalom and cross-country events. He demonstrated remarkable versatility, dominating regional junior races and earning a reputation for pioneering off-piste routes despite occasional setbacks, such as a neck injury sustained in a 1974 fall at Waterville Valley. In his junior year, Coombs achieved a standout honor by winning the 1974 Dual County Skimeister Award, recognizing him as the top all-around junior skier across the league's multiple towns. These formative experiences at local New England resorts laid the groundwork for his lifelong dedication to skiing, transitioning him toward more structured competition in his later teenage years.

College Years and Early Competition

Coombs enrolled at in Bozeman in 1977, majoring in while competing on the school's alpine ski team. His college years provided a structured environment to refine his technical skiing abilities, focusing on alpine racing disciplines such as slalom and . As a team member, Coombs trained rigorously in the challenging terrain around Bozeman, including hike-to lines at Bridger Bowl, which foreshadowed his later affinity for steep and ungroomed slopes. Over four years on the MSU ski team, Coombs built a strong competitive foundation, though detailed results from regional NCAA events remain sparse in records. He earned recognition for his prowess in powder skiing competitions, securing three national titles in the Powder 8 Championships, an event emphasizing fluid, linked turns in deep snow. These early successes, including notable finishes in endurance-style races like the 24 Hours of Aspen, highlighted his emerging talent and versatility beyond traditional racing. During summers, Coombs sought additional experience by working at ski resorts in the West, where he first encountered and heli-skiing opportunities that expanded his horizons beyond organized competition. After graduating with his geology degree around 1981, he briefly worked as a but soon opted to commit fully to , relocating to , , to focus on big-mountain pursuits.

Professional Skiing Career

Entry into Extreme Skiing

After graduating from in 1981 with a degree in , Doug Coombs relocated to , , in 1986, immersing himself in the burgeoning community at . There, he connected with local pioneers shaping the sport's evolution from groomed racing to untracked, high-consequence terrain. This move marked Coombs' departure from his competitive alpine racing background, where he had honed technical skills during college, toward the raw challenges of big-mountain exploration. Coombs quickly ventured into the of the , undertaking his first significant trips to navigate steep couloirs and chutes beyond the resort boundaries. Through self-directed study of snowpack stability—leveraging his education—and guidance from seasoned locals, he mastered essential avalanche assessment techniques and rope-based rappelling for accessing remote lines. These experiences built his foundational , emphasizing observation of wind patterns, slab formation, and terrain traps in the volatile Teton snowpack. By the early 1980s, Coombs extended his pursuits to Alaska's , where he joined initial expeditions pushing the limits of steep descents in heli-accessed terrain. A notable milestone came in 1983 with his solo run down a 50-degree face, showcasing his growing comfort with isolated, high-exposure amid unpredictable weather and remote logistics. These trips refined his approach to committing to lines with minimal margin for error, often involving bootpacking or short roped sections to stage drops. To tackle technical couloirs and narrow gullies, Coombs adopted shorter —around 180-190 cm, compared to the longer models—enabling tighter turns and quicker edge control on ice-hardened . He also cultivated a fluid, low-impact style, characterized by smooth, arcing traverses that minimized snow disturbance and preserved , a technique that contrasted with the aggressive of traditional racers and reduced triggers. Coombs' innovative pursuits gained early visibility through features in magazine, which spotlighted his progression from slalom gates to vertiginous gullies, capturing the essence of his seamless adaptation to extreme freeride. These profiles helped elevate his profile, illustrating how his Tetons and forays were redefining skiing's boundaries for a new generation.

Championships and Notable Descents

Coombs established himself as a dominant force in extreme skiing competitions during the early 1990s. He won the inaugural World Extreme Skiing Championships in 1991, held in Valdez, Alaska, where he navigated some of the steepest and most committing lines in the Chugach Mountains. This victory showcased his precision on terrain exceeding 50 degrees, solidifying his reputation among peers. He repeated as champion in 1993, again in Valdez, demonstrating consistent mastery over variable snow conditions and high-speed descents. Earlier in his career, Coombs secured three National Powder 8 Championships during the late 1970s and 1980s, events that rewarded fluid, linked turns in deep powder and highlighted his foundational freestyle skills. Additionally, he earned second and third-place finishes in the endurance-focused 24 Hours of Aspen race, completing multiple laps on challenging terrain under grueling conditions. Beyond competitions, Coombs pioneered over 250 first descents across remote and technical alpine environments worldwide, often approaching lines via routes and slopes averaging 35 to 55 degrees. In Alaska's Range, he established numerous couloirs that became benchmarks for , emphasizing rapid traversal to manage avalanche risk and mandatory air drops of up to 30 feet for line continuity. His technique prioritized controlled speed on ice and variable snow, allowing him to link turns on near-vertical faces while maintaining balance through precise edging and body positioning. Representative examples include early 1990s explorations in the , where he skied untouched gullies requiring both technical and high-consequence descents. Coombs's contributions extended to international frontiers, with notable first descents in and remote Arctic regions that pushed the sport's boundaries. His approach integrated speed for momentum on exposed pitches and adaptive control to handle crust, powder, and rock bands, influencing subsequent generations of big-mountain skiers.

Guiding and Business Ventures

Establishment of Valdez Heli Ski Guides

In 1993, Doug Coombs and his wife founded Valdez Heli Ski Guides in , creating the first commercial operation dedicated exclusively to extreme heli-skiing in the . This venture capitalized on Coombs' expertise as a two-time World Extreme Skiing Champion, transforming his competitive success in the region into a structured guiding service for advanced skiers seeking steep, untracked lines. The couple's partnership, rooted in their shared passion for big-mountain skiing, positioned the business as a pioneer in high-consequence terrain access. The initial setup centered on securing helicopter contracts with local pilots experienced in Alaska's volatile weather and rugged landscape, while establishing operations at the historic Tsaina Lodge on Thompson Pass as a central hub for lodging and logistics. Coombs prioritized developing rigorous safety protocols tailored to extreme descents, including avalanche awareness training and procedures, drawing from his background to mitigate risks in glaciated, avalanche-prone zones. These measures were essential for navigating the steep couloirs and remote peaks that defined the operation's offerings. Valdez Heli Ski Guides adopted a emphasizing small client groups of 4 to 6 skiers per , enabling customized, high-risk itineraries that prioritized over volume. This approach focused on educational elements, such as on-mountain briefings for and hazards, to empower clients in extreme environments while maintaining low guide-to-client ratios like 4:1 or 3:2 for personalized oversight. Early operations targeted elite athletes and adventurers, leveraging the area's reputation from the World Extreme Skiing Championships to attract international participants. In its formative years, the company experienced steady expansion, evolving from modest seasonal trips to a cornerstone of Alaska's heli-skiing scene by the late , with Coombs and continuing to lead guides through 2005 after selling the business in 2001. Growth included custom expeditions to untouched peaks, building on initial runs to access over 1 million acres of terrain. However, the early phase presented challenges, including financial constraints in a nascent market and regulatory navigation with federal agencies like the FAA and for and land-use permits in sensitive areas. These hurdles were overcome through Coombs' competition earnings and persistent innovation, solidifying the operation's foundation for long-term success.

Global Guiding Operations

In 1993, Coombs founded Steep Skiing Camps Worldwide, initially based in , , to provide intensive training for advanced skiers in steep terrain. Following the success of his Alaska-based operations, Coombs expanded the camps internationally in the mid-1990s, partnering with European organizations to offer advanced steep skiing descents in the . These collaborations began with camps in Chamonix, France, around 1995, where Coombs introduced clients to high-consequence terrain through structured instruction emphasizing technique and . In the late 1990s, Coombs relocated to , , establishing a permanent base for his steep camps on the La Meije , which offers over 2,100 meters of vertical descent. There, he and his team provided both guided and unguided runs tailored to advanced skiers, focusing on couloirs and open faces that demanded precise control and skills. Coombs innovated client training by progressively building skills—from managing steeper pitches to navigating expert-level features like narrow chutes—using clear, confidence-building directives to ensure safe advancement. His global efforts extended to expeditions in remote regions, including , , and , where he combined commercial guiding with opportunities for first descents on untouched lines. By the mid-2000s, Coombs' operations had guided over 1,000 clients across continents, maintaining a spotless safety record through meticulous planning and judgment until 2006. This blend of professional trips and personal exploration solidified his reputation as a pioneer in international guidance.

Personal Life

Marriage and Family

Doug Coombs met Emily Gladstone during his college years at in , where both were involved in the local steep-skiing scene on Bridger Ridge. Gladstone, an accomplished skier, went on to win the women's division of the inaugural World Extreme Skiing Championships in , in 1992, the year after Coombs claimed the men's title. Coombs and Gladstone married in 1994. The couple co-founded Valdez Heli Ski Guides in 1993, with Coombs serving as the lead guide and public face of the operation, while Gladstone contributed to its establishment and management, helping to pioneer professional heli-skiing in Alaska's . Their shared passion for shaped their partnership, as they balanced the demands of guiding seasons with personal adventures. In 2004, their son, David Douglas Coombs, was born in La Grave, , named in honor of family heritage. The family integrated into their daily life, often spending mornings together on the slopes before Coombs and Gladstone pursued more advanced descents, emphasizing safety and enjoyment in their shared outdoor pursuits. This commitment to work-life balance allowed them to maintain guiding operations while fostering family traditions centered on and during off-seasons.

Lifestyle and Interests

Doug Coombs maintained his primary residence in , , from 1980 to 2005, choosing a modest home near Teton Village to ensure convenient access to the slopes for his daily routines and guiding operations. In 2005, Coombs relocated to , , where he acquired a chalet-style home, allowing him to fully immerse himself in the year-round alpine culture and unrestricted terrain that aligned with his passion for . Beyond , Coombs pursued , often summiting peaks purely for the ascent without intending to ski down, as seen in his climbs in the Tetons and ; he also enjoyed fly-fishing in Alaskan rivers during off-seasons and reading adventure literature that inspired his exploratory mindset. His health and fitness regimen included daily sessions to enhance flexibility and weight training focused on building endurance for demanding descents, while he avoided entirely during ski seasons to maintain peak performance. Coombs demonstrated early philanthropic leanings through personal donations to ski access programs for underprivileged youth in , supporting equipment and lessons well before the establishment of any formal foundations in his name.

Death

The 2006 La Grave Incident

On April 3, 2006, Doug Coombs joined friends Chad VanderHam, Matt Farmer, and Christina Blomquist for an off-piste ski day on the La Meije face in , , a location where Coombs had previously guided expeditions for over a decade. The group targeted the de Polichinelle, a series of three interconnected, no-fall-zone chutes known for their extreme exposure. Under cloudless, windless skies, the terrain featured 50-degree slopes lined with rock, culminating in traverses above 450- to 600-foot cliffs, with soft snow in the shaded couloir but icy patches on surrounding exposed areas. The skiers descended the first two couloirs without incident, with Coombs and VanderHam leading. Entering the third and final chute in the late afternoon, VanderHam went first, followed closely by Coombs and Blomquist. VanderHam soon lost control, sliding uncontrollably and disappearing over the cliff at the chute's end. Coombs immediately halted, shouted for a from the others, and began sidestepping down the steep, rock-strewn slope to locate and assist VanderHam, proceeding without safety gear or in hand. As Coombs maneuvered to peer over the precipice, his caught on exposed , causing him to lose balance and tumble over the same cliff, plunging approximately 490 feet to his death. There was no risk in the stable spring conditions, but the accident highlighted human error on ungroomed, high-consequence terrain lacking immediate backup equipment like ropes, where even minor slips could prove fatal.

Rescue Efforts and Aftermath

Following the fatal falls in the Polichinelle Couloir on April 3, 2006, a helicopter from the French mountain rescue service, the Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne (PGHM), arrived at the scene within 20 minutes. Rescuers were lowered to the site, where they found Doug Coombs unresponsive with no pulse; he was pronounced dead on location at age 48. His skiing partner, Chad VanderHam, received initial treatment before being airlifted, but he succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital at age 31. Emily Coombs, Doug's wife, was notified of the accident shortly after it occurred and traveled to handle arrangements, including the identification of remains and coordination of repatriation to the . She assumed full responsibility for their ongoing operations, including the Steep Ski Camps in , which were temporarily paused for the 2006 season amid the tragedy. An official investigation by French authorities, detailed in an account provided to the American Alpine Club and a report filed with the American Mountain Guides Association, concluded that the incident resulted from an involuntary fall due to loss of balance during Coombs' attempt to assist VanderHam, with no evidence of mechanical failure in equipment. The skiing community conducted reviews emphasizing the inherent risks of buddy rescues in extreme terrain, noting how and impulsivity can exacerbate dangers in such scenarios. Memorial services included a private family gathering in , , and a public commemoration in on April 8, 2006, where friends and fellow skiers paid tribute to Coombs' contributions to the sport. A memorial fund was established to support initiatives in his name.

Legacy

Awards and Posthumous Recognition

In 2009, Doug Coombs was posthumously inducted into the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2009, recognizing his pioneering contributions to and his role in advancing adventure skiing techniques. The induction ceremony took place in , honoring Coombs alongside other notable figures for his influence on the sport's evolution. Following his death, major skiing publications issued extensive tributes, including cover stories and feature articles in Ski Magazine and Powder Magazine. Ski Magazine published pieces such as "The End of Flow" and "Death of a " in April and June 2006, respectively, detailing Coombs' impact on . Similarly, Powder Magazine featured a major tribute in its September 2006 issue (Volume 35.1), with ongoing annual remembrances, including a 2016 retrospective marking the 10th anniversary of his passing. In 2016, the biography Tracking the Wild Coomba: The Life of Legendary Skier Doug Coombs was published by Mountaineers Books, authored by Robert Cocuzzo and drawing on interviews with Coombs' family, friends, and fellow skiers to chronicle his career and . The book highlights his achievements through firsthand accounts, emphasizing his technical innovations in extreme descents. To mark the 10th anniversary of Coombs' death, a memorial ceremony was held on April 3, 2016, in , France, where he perished, attended by friends and fellow skiers and organized by his friends to honor his legacy. The event included gatherings on the slopes and reflections on his guiding influence in the area.

Influence on Extreme Skiing and Foundation Work

Doug Coombs is widely credited with advancing safety standards in heli-skiing through his founding of Valdez Heli Ski Guides in 1993, the first commercial operation in Alaska's , which emphasized rigorous protocols and contributed to the establishment of high operational benchmarks in the heli-skiing industry. His approach prioritized avalanche awareness, group spacing, and terrain assessment, setting a model for risk management in remote, steep environments that influenced subsequent operators and reduced incident rates in the industry. Coombs' victory in the inaugural World Extreme Skiing Championship in 1991 at helped legitimize freeride as a competitive discipline, paving the way for its evolution into modern events like the (FWT), where athletes now compete on untracked big-mountain lines with similar emphasis on technical precision and safety. Coombs' technical innovations in steep skiing, particularly his "folding pole" method—which involves dynamically adjusting pole position to maintain and on pitches exceeding degrees—have been integrated into guide training curricula worldwide, including those offered by the Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA). This , along with his advocacy for adaptive skier positioning over rigid form, professionalized guiding by promoting controlled descents in variable conditions, as recognized in posthumous tributes from organizations like Exum Mountain Guides. His overall contributions to steep terrain mastery elevated the sport's standards, inspiring a generation of guides to prioritize skill development and environmental awareness in certifications. In the realm of philanthropy, the Doug Coombs Foundation, established by his widow Emily Coombs in 2012 to honor his legacy, initially focused on providing ski lessons and equipment to low-income youth in , , enabling access to the outdoors amid rising participation costs. Renamed Coombs Outdoors in 2017, the organization has expanded to year-round programs including , soccer, and , serving over 400 participants annually by fostering confidence and through adaptive . By 2025, winter programming alone enrolled more than 450 youth, with summer initiatives reaching 300 participants across skill-building camps, reflecting sustained growth in local impact without venturing into global online offerings. Coombs' pioneering descents and safety ethos have permeated popular media, inspiring books like Tracking the Wild Coomba and documentaries that elevated 's visibility, drawing broader audiences and encouraging diverse entrants into the sport. Emily Coombs, a two-time World Extreme Skiing Champion herself in the women's division, has further amplified this influence through her advocacy, participating in women-focused events like the Sisters' Meeting in the Mountains and promoting steep skiing as accessible to female athletes, contributing to gradual increases in women's involvement in big-mountain competitions post-2000s. Her foundation work extends this by including girls in introductory programs, indirectly supporting pathways into advanced freeride pursuits.

Filmography

Commercial Films and Stunts

Doug Coombs made notable contributions to mainstream productions through his stunt work and minor roles, drawing on his renowned skills as an extreme skier to perform demanding sequences. In the 1993 drama , directed by , Coombs served as a skier, executing high-speed downhill runs that formed the core of the film's racing scenes filmed in and locations such as Snowmass and Telluride. His involvement included doubling for lead characters in powder turns and maneuvers on challenging terrain, alongside fellow skiers and Scott Nichols. Coombs also performed uncredited stunts in the 2005 superhero film , directed by , contributing to action sequences that required his alpine expertise. In addition, he appeared in a brief as himself in the 1997 adventure documentary , serving as a background skier during mountain sequences that showcased global freeriding expeditions. These film opportunities allowed Coombs to apply his technical proficiency in steep and variable conditions, often involving close collaboration with stunt coordinators to adapt equipment and techniques for cinematic demands while prioritizing safety protocols.

Ski Films and Documentaries

Doug Coombs was a prominent figure in ski films and documentaries, where his expertise in and big-mountain was captured through daring descents and insightful commentary on the sport's evolution. Over his career from 1985 to 2006, he accumulated more than 15 credits in ski-focused productions, often collaborating with (TGR) to highlight uncharted terrain and innovative freeride techniques. In TGR's The Continuum (1996), Coombs featured prominently skiing in , demonstrating first-descent strategies amid steep, remote couloirs, with his narration emphasizing risk assessment and line selection in big-mountain environments. The film, shot across , , , and , earned awards at international festivals and helped define the freeride genre by showcasing Coombs' fluid style on technical faces. Coombs took a lead role in Further (2000), another TGR production, executing high-consequence descents in remote locations to illustrate the physical and mental demands of big-mountain . The film highlighted his role in pushing expedition boundaries, blending with freeride aesthetics in challenging settings. Harvest (1997), also from TGR, included extended segments of Coombs tackling custom-designed runs in the , , to accentuate freeride highlights such as variable navigation and aerial maneuvers on iconic peaks like Pyramid Peak. These sequences underscored his influence on North American freeriding, integrating local terrain knowledge with cinematic storytelling across four continents. Following his death, the documentary Steep (2007), directed by Mark Obenhaus, incorporated posthumous archival footage and interviews with Coombs, portraying him as a foundational pioneer of through reflections on his first descents and guiding philosophy. The film traced the sport's history from early icons to modern athletes, using Coombs' segments to bridge eras and emphasize safety in high-risk lines. Among his later works, The Big One (2006), a TGR compilation of Jackson Hole highlights, featured Coombs' runs as a tribute to his enduring impact on the freeride community. This appearance encapsulated his transition to European steeps, serving as a poignant capstone to his on-screen legacy. Other notable appearances include Groove: Requiem in the Key of Ski (1991), Extreme Winter (1990), and multiple Warren Miller films such as Steep and Deep (1985) and Extreme Winter (1996).

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