- Two-time snowboarding gold medalist Jamie Anderson is returning to World Cup competition.
- Now a mother of two, Anderson has her eye on the 2026 Winter Games in Italy.
- The U.S. snowboard team is training in New Zealand for the upcoming season.
After spending the past few years embracing family life, Olympic champion and mother of two Jamie Anderson is returning to World Cup snowboarding competition with an eye on the qualifying for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games.
The 35-year-old South Lake Tahoe, California, native’s return is fueled not only by unfinished business on the snow, but by an opportunity to redefine what’s possible for women — and mothers — in elite sport.
“I feel excited to have the opportunity to return and hopefully inspire other women and mothers that we can do it,” she told NBC in an interview announcing her comeback. “Some people say coming back as a mother gives you an extra superpower, so we’ll see how that plays out.”
A snowboarding pioneer
Anderson is widely regarded as one of the most influential riders in snowboarding history. She won the inaugural Olympic women’s slopestyle contest at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. Four years later, she not only defended her slopestyle gold medal in Pyeong Chang, South Korea, but showcased her versatility with a big air silver medal.
In addition to her Olympic success, Anderson is the most decorated woman in X Games history with 21 medals in just 23 appearances. She’s also a five-time ESPY Female Action Sports Award winner, has 11 career World Cup wins and is a two-time FIS World Championship medalist.
“Jamie is one of the greatest slopestyle athletes of all time and will continue to be a pioneer in the sport of snowboarding,” said Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team sport director Rick Bower. “I have no doubt that if she puts her mind and her energy into it, she will have a successful go at competing again.”
While away from competition, Anderson and her fiancé, Tyler Nicholson, documented their journey as new parents exploring untamed terrain with their daughters in a backcountry film project titled Great Alaskan Adventure. Misty Rose was born in March 2023 and Nova Sky this past April.
A family affair
Anderson returns to the sport with a renewed sense of joy and excitement in rediscovering her love for competing on the world’s biggest stage — and with her family in tow.
“I don’t know where it’s coming from, but I’m fired up,” Anderson said. “As always, I’m going to go with the flow, trust my intuition and play it by ear. It will probably be mayhem traveling with a family of four, but I’m feeling inspired to get some tricks I was doing pre-motherhood back on the table.”
Anderson said she wants Misty to see her doing what she loves and “lead by example of following your heart.”
Anderson hasn’t competed in a slopestyle event since the 2022 Winter Games in China, where she placed ninth. She also finished 15th in big air.
With only two months before the next Olympic qualifier, she is heading to New Zealand with the U.S. team for an on-snow training camp.
“New Zealand is kind of like the first testing the waters,” Anderson told NBC. “If it’s just not feeling good in my heart, I’m happy to play it out. I’m not, like, dead on (that) this has to happen.”
Helping the next generation
Outside of competition, Anderson has played a pivotal role in progressing women’s snowboarding, notably hosting “Enjoy Woodward” with longtime resort partner Woodward to provide female riders in the Tahoe area with the skills and encouragement needed to break into the sport.
She is also the founder of the Jamie Anderson Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth in action sports by providing equipment, financial aid and access to mountain experiences. Since its creation, the foundation has helped thousands of children and families break down barriers to snowboarding and other outdoor activities.
Anderson has also partnered with Protect Our Winters to advocate for environmental sustainability and climate change awareness.