After the three required catches, the freestyle segment begins to earn points: 1 point per handle catch 2 points for a 360 handle-catch or under-the-leg 0-5 points for freestyle (props, performances, costumes, stunts, party tricks, and various consumables permitted).

Round Three: Quaffer must spin a 360 or do an under-the-leg catchįinals: Complete one catch of each: handle, 360, under the leg.

Round Two: Quaffer must spin a 360 post-pitch.

Round One: 1 point per regular catch 2 points for a handle catch.

Quaffer must stand two feet from edge of table.

3, 1-minute rounds 2-minute final round.

and the roots of the Jackson Hole Air Force, as shared by Powder Magazine. Deep., a film that chronicles the evolution of the hardcore ski culture in the U.S. “When Pepi Steigler used to jump, they’d say, ‘gelandespring,’…quaffing is when you slam your beer…, so we called it ‘gelande quaffing,” Howard Henderson explained in the documentary, Swift. The crowd’s elation bore one of the greatest games of all skiers’ time: to throw beer, catch beer, drink beer and repeat. The excitement and anticipation of carving into the deep snow inspired what would become gelande quaffing: the bartender slid a foam-capped mug of beer down the countertop, the glass flew off the edge, and one JH Air Force member caught the flying beverage followed by hearty consumption-all before the glass shattered on the floor.

In the 1980s, a core crew of local expert skiers in the Tetons-dubbed the Jackson Hole Air Force-was waiting for the lift to open at the Bear Claw Café during a mega snowstorm that dropped 14 feet of powder, according to the folklore. The last team standing is crowned GQ World Champion. As the competition progresses, teams are either eliminated-or disqualified, such as for premature pitches or for “wearing” the beer instead of drinking it. Only sixteen teams are allowed to compete at the World Championship game, held each year at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Between each catch, tricks are added, which accumulate more points. One slides a beer down the smooth surface and when the glass leaves the table, the other teammate catches the brew mid-flight to quickly guzzle it down. Two teammates stand at the end of 10-foot long bar tops. The annual “sporting” event is a ski and snowboarder’s iteration of the football lover’s Super Bowl-however, the game includes a higher density of beer, fireworks, smoke, wild creatures, party tricks, costumes and hula hoops.

Gelande quaffing is a dream-come-true competition for snow-obsessed mountain dwellers and visitors. By Morgan Tilton The Ultimate Game for Snow and Beer Lovers

Catch beer game