- Ian Greenwood
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- powder.com
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- December 31, 2025
How do you shake off the cobwebs when the ski season starts? I tend to make a few groomer laps. Then, after getting my ski boots under me, I might start venturing into tougher terrain.
That approach, I assume, will look similar to most skiers. Isaac Kaufman, however, prefers the equivalent of a quadruple shot espresso—mixed with a bit of Monster energy, for good measure.
Only days after Palisades Tahoe, California, received enough snow to open its upper mountain, Kaufman ventured to McConkey’s, a feared line visible from the famous KT-22 lift. The rocks and the thin snow cover didn’t bother him, apparently, and he launched a front-flip to get back to solid ground.
Tap or click to watch Kaufman’s stunt below.
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McConkey’s is one of those lines.
It’s wickedly steep and leaves little more room for error, living in similar territory as Jackson Hole’s Corbet’s Couloir or Whistler Blackcomb’s Air Jordan. All three lines are blockbusters and regularly draw skiers looking to test their mettle. As its name implies, McConkey’s was named for the legendary skier Shane McConkey, who passed away in 2009. Previously, the line was called Eagle’s Nest.
That brings us to Kaufman’s latest venture. McConkey’s is, by most measures, better suited for late-season endeavors. By then, the snow will have piled up, covering some of the rocks that pepper the steep slope. That hardly makes McConkey’s easy, but a bit more coverage never hurts.
The alternative, as Kaufman’s video shows, is dodging geographic formations that, given the chance, would gladly put a hole through your skis. His frontflip—which had a near vertical takeoff, mind you—is the cherry on top. He found what might be the most hellacious run at Palisades Tahoe right now, and went for it, scoring some bonus points for air and style.
What a way to ring in the season. Personally, though, I’ll be sticking to the groomers and low-angle powder for a bit longer.
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