TETON VILLAGE, Wyo. — Buckrail’s Henry Quinn hit the slopes in a wig and his finest ski apparel to join Gaper Day at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) on Tuesday, April 1.
Quinn rode the gondola up to join the festivities and take some photos of the gaper scene. The weather was sunny at times on the hill, allowing for gapers to gather outside of Casper Restaurant to take a rest between ski laps.
According to POWDER Magazine, Gaper Day originated in the ’80s and ’90s, with an end-of-the-season Ski in Jeans Day to celebrate the closing of ski resorts. In 2023, JHMR began hosting its own annual Ski in Jeans Day on December 7, separate from Gaper Day.
Annually on April 1, local skiers and snowboarders celebrate Gaper Day to gently poke fun at inexperienced skiers. They’re the namesake of the “gaper gap,” the gap between the top of the goggle and the brim of the helmet, an easily identifiable marker of a newbie. This year, skiers who dressed up as pigs and gigantic waffles took the clueless beginner look to the next level.
Gaper Day also reflects upon the past generations of ski culture. Skiers and snowboarders typically hit Thunder Bumps run, off of the Thunder chair, to carve their best ’80s style mogul turns. Duos and groups of skiers can also be seen in powder-8 formation, paying homage to synchronized skiing from the ’90s. The era of the ’70s is also recognized with skiers and boarders wearing retro outfits, including colorful one-pieces, jeans, stretch pants and furs.
