Raising Rippers: Kit DesLauriers’ Guide to Jackson Hole
The closing segment of this year's Warren Miller Entertainment film Timeless, presented by Volkswagen, ends in iconic Jackson Hole, Wyo., with a family of skiers.
Ski mountaineer Kit DesLauriers has traveled the world in pursuit of mountain adventures—as if being the first person to complete ski descents from each of the Seven Summits doesn’t give that away. In 2001 DesLauriers, along with husband and fellow ski mountaineer Rob, settled down in Jackson Hole’s mountainside Teton Village and set forth on a different kind of adventure: parenthood.
Not surprisingly, the two DesLauriers girls, Grace, 11, and Tia, 10, are total rippers. They joined their folks in front of the camera on their home slopes alongside athletes Forrest Jillson, Cam Fitzpatrick, Caite Zeliff, and Jess McMillan to film a segment for Timeless, making the business of appearing in ski movies a true family affair.
Despite being arguably one of the most successful and prolific ski mountaineers ever, Kit DesLauriers says that she’s never pushed her kids to compete. “I was given the opportunity to become who I am because of the way my family raised me,” she explains. “I want them to have the latitude to decide what their passions are. I’m not driven to make my kids ski race.” Both girls tried it, but it didn’t stick. Grace has recently started getting into the backcountry (with mom’s guidance) and Tia enjoys Nordic skiing in a local program. “I would like them to ski race because it provides a good foundation, but they don’t have the competitive spirit for racing, at least right now.”
That’s not to say that the girls are not driven. Grace climbed the Grand Teton last summer at age 10, and Tia has already bagged the Middle and South Tetons. And the family has traveled all over the world, plowing pow in Japan, carving turns in the Dolomites, and trekking to Everest Base Camp when the girls were only 6 and 8. “It’s so important to us that our kids understand our mountain tie,” DesLauriers says. “This culture of a welcoming tribe of people has been so impactful in our lives, and we want them to know this kind of hospitality.”
At the end of the day, the kids know that they need not venture too far from their front stoop to find all the adventure a girl can dream of—adventure that can sometimes result in playing hooky from school. “The day Grace decided to ski Corbet’s, she was heading out to school and she looked at the clearing sky and said, ‘It’s been snowing for three days, I bet it’s a good day to do it,’” says DesLauriers. That was winter of 2017-18. This past winter she got her first touring setup and can now skin up Teton Pass with mom and dad. Not too shabby.
Yet none of that holds a candle to Grace and Tia’s favorite thing to do at Jackson Hole.
Raising Rippers: The DesLauriers Family
The DesLauriers have wasted no time introducing daughters Grace and Tia to the wonders of the outdoors, from skiing and climbing missions right outside their Teton Village back door to far-flung adventures in Japan and Italy.
The DesLauriers have wasted no time introducing daughters Grace and Tia to the wonders of the outdoors, from skiing and climbing missions right outside their Teton Village back door to far-flung adventures in Japan and Italy.
The DesLauriers have wasted no time introducing daughters Grace and Tia to the wonders of the outdoors, from skiing and climbing missions right outside their Teton Village back door to far-flung adventures in Japan and Italy.
The DesLauriers have wasted no time introducing daughters Grace and Tia to the wonders of the outdoors, from skiing and climbing missions right outside their Teton Village back door to far-flung adventures in Japan and Italy.
The Deslauries Family’s Jackson Hole Tip Sheet
We asked Kit to share some of her family’s favorite spots in town and at the mountain.
Fave On-Mountain Lunch
“Hands down Piste Bistro, at the top of the gondola. If we want to have a special lunch, or have family or friends visiting, we hike the headwall then ski down to Piste for lunch. The girls love it.”
Date-Night Dinner
“You can’t beat Il Villagio Osteria, in the village. Great menu and ambience. For something more casual, we love OYG [Old Yellowstone Garage].”
Great Family Hotel
“Teton Mountain Lodge [disclaimer: husband Rob helped develop it]. The food is amazing at Spur, you can eat there for a week and be happy. The indoor pool is great, the location is so easy, it’s such a comfortable family place—nice without being over-the-top luxe and unattainable.”
Grace and Tia’s Favorite Terrain at JHMR
“It’s evolved over the years, but right now I’d say Thunder. They love to lap Thunder. Then this season, we had so much snow, they really enjoyed skiing the powder on the lower faces.”
The Making of Warren Miller Entertainment’s “Timeless,” presented by Volkswagen — Jackson Hole, Wyo.
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Sneak Peak: Review of Warren Miller Entertainment’s “Timeless,” presented by Volkswagen
Originally published in the print version of SKI Magazine’s Special Edition for “Timeless,” presented by Volkswagen. Find out when the movie is coming to your town and buy tickets.