Doug Coombs
A site about heli skiing wouldn't be complete without a page devoted to Doug Coombs.
As a personal memorabilia, I have some original brochures from the '90s from Valdez Heliski Guides...my ode to Doug...
Coombs was a living legend at the time - hard to accomplish that kind of rep in an extreme sport, at a time when corporate sponsorship wasn't yet driving the train.
Born on April 27, 1959, in Bedford, Massachusetts, his destiny was etched in the snow-covered peaks of the world's most treacherous mountains. Doug literally blazed the trail...pioneering extreme skiing and carving lines that danced on the razor's edge of exhilaration and danger. Yet, tragically on April 3, 2006, in the relentless pursuit of his passion, Doug was trying to save a friend who had fallen off a cliff and met a similar fate on the steep slopes of La Grave, France, where the mountains he loved so fiercely would become his final resting place.
Coombs was no ordinary skier; he was the embodiment of audacity on skis, conquering the untamed giants of the Alps and the unforgiving wilderness of Alaska. His life's purpose was to defy gravity, to chase adrenaline, and to dive headfirst into the abyss of endless powder and sheer vertical drops. With every descent, he pushed the boundaries of what was conceivable in the world of skiing.
This is a touching video epitaph...
In Memory of Doug Coombs
Doug Coombs Life and Career Facts & FAQ
Coombs was a pioneer of the steep! Gaining his original skiing chops at Bridger Bowl, near Bozeman, MT, then graduating to the Couloirs of Big Sky and Jackson Hole, he was famous for skiing down incredibly steep and challenging terrain, often in remote and avalanche-prone areas.
Then came the Chugach in AK and the Alps in Europe, where he pushed the boundaries of what was considered possible in the sport.
In 1993, he hand his wife Emily founded Valdez Heli-Ski Guides. At the time when extreme skiing was exploding, this grew to one of the premiere heli skiing operations in Alaska. To this day, Valdez Heli-Ski Guides is still a thriving operation. I've had friends who've skier there multiple times.
Doug was in about a dozen ski films, including Teton Gravity Research and including at least four Warren Miller films:
- Cold Fusion (2001)
- Storm (2002)
- Journey (2003)
- Off the Grid (2006), which includes a special tribute to Doug.
April 3, 2006, Doug Coombs died from a 1500 foot fall at the Couloir de Polichinelle in La Grave, France. He was trying to recue his friend Chad VanderHam, who had also fallen. Coombs was found dead and VanderHam died from his injuries.
Doug Coombs Legacy Lives On
Doug Coombs, the fearless maestro of extreme skiing, left us too soon, but his legacy lives on in the hearts of those who dare to defy gravity and dance with the mountains. He remains an epitaph to the exhilarating, perilous, and ultimately transcendent world of extreme skiing, where the pursuit of freedom and adrenaline knows no bounds. R.I.P. Doug Coombs.
Doug and Emily have a son David. In 2013, The Doug Coombs Foundation, Coombs Outdoors was established to offer children from low-income families the equipment and opportunity for ski.
Reviews & Comments
Please share a comment or review, if you have skied here! This REALLY helps the heliskiing community! Thank You!
BRADY
5/9/23
Brady is an avid skiing & backcountry enthusiast, aging "big wave" surfer and is totally addicted to heliskiing!
VIEW BIO
