Brooklyn DePriest is quickly emerging as one of the most exciting young competitors on the men’s snowboarding circuit. Over the 2024–25 season, the Ski & Snowboard Club Vail rider notched his best big air World Cup result with a standout fifth place finish in Secret Garden, showing he can contend with the sport’s elite on the biggest stages.
DePriest 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 DePriest to dive into his background, reflect on a his young career and learn about his goals in the future.
Q: What initially drew you to the sport?
BROOKLYN DEPRIEST: Initially, I can't really pin any specific thing or moment that drew me to the sport. But there was this one day at Northstar where I was watching Chas and Toby get sled laps on the big jumps and being so amazed. Pretty sure he was doing double 10s and I was on the chair thinking like that is exactly what I want to do. I found that the process of building smaller tricks and getting steadily better and having infinite things to learn is such an addicting feeling.
Q: When you were younger and getting into the sport, what were your goals?
BD: I wanted to be a pro snowboarder. I didn't really know at the time what that meant, but I knew that I wanted to win to say I was pro. Even before I started competing at around 8 years old, I wanted to be a pro and wanted to be the best. Though as soon as I started competing, I quickly found out that my goals were to win contests. Even at a young age, I loved the contest nerves and loved the feeling of landing runs. That feeling was one I couldn't shake and still can't to this day.
Q: What is your biggest accomplishment?
BD: Either my 5th place Big Air finish at the Secret Garden World Cup or my 8th place at the first ever Rockstar Open Parkstyle event. The actual finishing rank doesn't mean as much to me as how I felt on my board those days. Finally figuring out how to do tech lines and bigger tricks, all while having the best time on my snowboard, is by far my biggest accomplishment. I've recently fallen in love with the sport in a new way, and having fun with my friends, all while getting to snowboard and compete, has led me to these finishes. That's what I'm most stoked on.
Q: What is your ultimate goal?
BD: Right now, I'd have to say an Olympic medal. Though I do feel that once I make the Olympics and perform at that level, I feel like my goals will change. Realistically, I want to leave a legacy and a name in the sport. Maybe even having style that kids getting into the sport are trying to emulate. So yeah, short term would be the Olympics and then the long term would be getting into the backcountry and trying to immerse myself in the sport even more.
Q: Who are your heroes? Both in & out of the sport.
BD: In the sport, it would have to be Mark McMorris. I've been watching him ever since I started watching snowboarding and his stories are wild. Coming back from injury and still being at the top of the game after all of these years is insane. He also spoke at my high school graduation, so that was pretty epic.
Out of the sport, it would be my dad. I don't look up to that many people, but he was one of those people that I try to take after. He has supported me in so many ways for so many years and his work ethic is something I always try and strive to mimic. He has worked so hard for my family and still kicks ass on his snowboard, mountain bike, and skateboard. By far my hero in and out of the sport.
Questions sponsored by Zion's Bank.
Q: You win $5,000 in prize money: What do you do with it?
BD: Most of the time, I will invest any winnings or throw them into my savings account. Though I do always try to move it somewhere that'll appreciate over time.
Q: Do you budget or follow any structure related to spending?
BD: Overall, I like to try and spend as little as possible, but I do have a budget that I created based on my spending habits and how much I'm making. Most of the time, my earnings look very different every month, depending on how I'm doing in competition, haha.
Q: What’s one money habit you follow?
BD: Invest at least a certain amount of money every single month. I've seen how money can compound in stocks and CDs so I like to just throw money in every month and stay patient. I also like to buy something nice every here and there just to remind myself that it doesn't have to be a perfect process.
Keep up with Brooklyn on Instagram HERE!
