Two-time Olympic gold medalist and snowboarding icon Jamie Anderson announced her official return to World Cup competition in an interview with NBC. After stepping away from competition to focus on family and personal projects, Anderson is back, this time with two young daughters by her side, as she sets her sights on qualifying for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games.

Widely regarded as one of the most influential riders in snowboarding history, Anderson returns with renewed energy and perspective, ready to rejoin the international stage as part of the Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team.

“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.”

"What sets Jamie apart isn’t just talent — it’s resilience, discipline, and heart,” said Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team slopestyle & big air head coach Mike Ramirez. Watching her step back into Snowboarding after becoming a mother of two is inspiring on so many levels, and we feel privileged to be part of this chapter in her journey."

A Legendary Career

Anderson first made history at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games, becoming the inaugural women’s Olympic slopestyle gold medalist. Four years later, she not only defended her slopestyle Olympic gold medal in PyeongChang but showcased her versatility by adding a big air Olympic silver medal to her resume.

In addition to her Olympic-level 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. 

A New Chapter: Motherhood and Beyond

Anderson has spent the past few years embracing family life and creative projects, including Great Alaskan Adventure, a backcountry film project created with her fiancé, Tyler Nicholson, documenting their journey as new parents exploring untamed terrain with daughter Misty Rose, born in March 2023, in tow. The two welcomed a second daughter, Nova Sky, in April 2025.

With an uncanny ability to transfer contest-winning precision into unpredictable terrain, Anderson took third place in the 2024 Natural Selection final—proving she could still compete at the highest level of snowboarding.

Her return is fueled not only by unfinished business on the competition stage, but also by the chance 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,” Anderson 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.”

Nonprofit Work

Anderson’s achievements extend beyond the podium. She has played a pivotal role in progressing women’s snowboarding, notably collaborating with longtime resort partner Woodward to how her enJOY event, which provided women from around the world with the tools 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 inception, the foundation has helped thousands of children and families overcome barriers to snowboarding and other outdoor activities.

In addition, Anderson has partnered with Protect Our Winters (POW) to advocate for environmental sustainability and climate change awareness.

Looking To Milano Cortina

With eyes set on the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, Anderson is poised to showcase once again the talent and style that have earned her a reputation as a legend in snowboarding. Now, with her family in tow, 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.

“I don’t know where it’s coming from, but I’m fired up,” said Anderson. “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.”

With only two months remaining before the next Olympic qualifier, Anderson joins the Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team in New Zealand for an on-snow training camp. 

Follow Jamie on Instagram here.

Follow the Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team on Instagram here.

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Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team’s Cody Winters has steadily risen through the ranks of international competition on the FIS World Cup circuit in both snowboard cross and alpine snowboard disciplines. The Steamboat Springs native made his Olympic debut at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in the men’s parallel giant slalom and has his eyes set on making history in 2026 by becoming the first American to compete in both alpine snowboard and snowboard cross disciplines in one Olympic Winter Games.

The 2024-25 season was the strongest of Winter’s career thus far, earning his first World Cup podium in both parallel slalom and snowboard cross events only a few weeks apart. At the 2025 FIS Freestyle Ski & Snowboard World Championships in Engadin, Switzerland, Winters delivered solid individual performances in both disciplines, placing fifth in parallel giant slalom and advancing through the snowboard cross qualification rounds.

Winters’ is the latest athlete featured in U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s “On the Rise” series, presented by Zions Bank. Through community service, sponsorships and charitable donations, Zions Bank is committed to fueling economic growth and enhancing quality of life in Idaho, Utah and Wyoming.

We caught up with Winters to dive into his background, reflect on a season of milestones, and look ahead to his goals for 2025-26.

Q: What initially drew you to the sport?
CODY WINTERS: Family, snowboarding started out as a family adventure for me. My dad and brother are the ones who taught me to do it. It’s how we spent our winter weekends as a family.

Q: When you were younger and getting into the sport, what were your goals?
CW: My only goal was to be better than my older brother 😂 still working on that one and he retired 7 years ago. 

Q: What is your biggest accomplishment?
CW: Getting a podium in and two different disciplines within a month of each other. 

Q: What is your ultimate goal?
CW: To be a true professional snowboarder and make a living off of my true passion 

Q: Who are your heroes? Both in & out of the sport.
CW: Inside the sport of snowboarding, I draw inspiration across all the different disciplines. Some of my heroes include Jeremy Jones, Terii Hawkinson, Danny Davis. Benjamin Carl, and Eliot GrondIn. Outside of the sport, some of my heroes include Kobe Bryant, David Goggins, & the Dwane the Rock Johnson.

Questions sponsored by Zion's Bank.

Q: You win $5,000 in prize money: What do you do with it?
CW: I invest it all  back into snowboarding from buying flights paying for hotels, ski passes and hiring a coach. I can make $5000 move pretty quick.

Q: Do you budget or follow any structure related to spending?
CW: No but I want to start, one of my new years resolutions was too have better organization of my spending. 

Q: What’s one money habit you follow?
CW: "Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.” - Benjamin Franklin ... and "Don't spend money you don't have"

Keep up with Cody on Instagram HERE!